| Child PDD can present parents with unexpected | | | | 7. They seem to be more attached to an item than to |
| challenges, but they can be overcome with proper | | | | their parents or siblings. |
| treatment and training. The birth of a child is like the | | | | 8. Play comes difficult for them. They are more likely |
| promise of renewal. There is so much that parents | | | | to line up the toys than to play with them. |
| want to do for their child and their hopes for that child's | | | | 9. The child does not smile. |
| promise and what they may accomplish in their lives | | | | 10. You wonder if they have a hearing problem. |
| are overflowing. This all comes to an abrupt end when | | | | 11. Even as an infant the child didn't crave attention. |
| they begin to notice differences in their child's behavior. | | | | They prefer to be left alone, not held or cuddled as |
| These differences may be reflected in the | | | | most babies crave. |
| developments they have watched in their other | | | | If you child has these signs then it is necessary to get |
| children, the children of friends or just noticing that their | | | | them to your health care provider for a complete |
| child is not meeting the normal milestones they are | | | | check up including a developmental screening. This |
| expected to conquer. | | | | may include filling out reams of forms that are specially |
| They may see any of the symptoms below that over | | | | designed to look for signs of autism. That includes the |
| time are telling them their child, three times more likely | | | | Checklist of Autism in Toddlers or if your child is over |
| their sons than daughters, are not developing along | | | | four years olds, the Social Communication |
| normal expectations. | | | | Questionnaire. There are many others and all will have |
| 1. By a year their child does not babble. | | | | to be filled out as concisely as possible. The health |
| 2. Still at a year, they do not point when they want | | | | care provider may even ask to see any family videos |
| something, nor make any gestures that are attempts | | | | you have to see how the child developed previously to |
| to communicate. | | | | the parents current concerns. All these tests are |
| 3. The child has no words by the time they are sixteen | | | | designed to determine verbal and non-verbal |
| months old. | | | | communication skills, social interplay abilities and play |
| 4. By the time they have reached two years old they | | | | skills. Once this is done, if the child is diagnosed as |
| do not combine two words together. | | | | autistic, the health care provider will suggest early |
| 5. The child does not respond when you use their | | | | intervention to promote the best possibilities to teach |
| name. This should come naturally by the time they are | | | | the autistic child and hopefully eventually mainstream |
| a year old. | | | | them into a regular school system. |
| 6. The child does not make normal eye contact. | | | | |