Autism "Red Flags" Checklist

Signs of autism can be apparent in children at a very young age. It is important to remember that autism is a spectrum and characteristics can vary greatly from one child to another. Here are some possible "red flags" for autism.

- Lacking eye contact

- Not pointing at objects to show interest (e.g., pointing to show you a dog walking by)

- Using few gestures

- Not responding to his/her name by 12 months

- Not engaging in pretend play by 18 months (e.g., pretending to eat)

- Having delayed development of language

- Showing difficulty with understanding others' and his/her own feelings

- Repeating words or phrases

- Imitating dialogue from TV shows word for word

- Having difficulties adjusting to small changes

- Showing restricted interests

- Spinning in circles, rocking body, or flapping hands

- Lining up toys

- Being a picky eater

If you live in Los Angeles and would like your child to be assessed for autism, you can contact one of the following facilities:

-Regional Center

-Children's Hospital Los Angeles

-UCLA

Johnson, C.P. Early Clinical Characteristics of Children with Autism. In: Gupta, V.B. ed: Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Children. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2004:85-123.