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.