Understanding Autism Page 13

Developmental Red Flags

Page 13

Signs of ASD typically appear during early childhood and will last throughout the person’s life. The earliest signs of autism usually involve the absence of typical behaviors, so they can sometimes be difficult to spot.

Please be aware that just because a child has one or even several of the following signs, it does not necessarily mean that they have autism.

Studies have shown that one third to half of parents of children with an ASD noticed a problem before their child’s first birthday, and nearly 80%–90% saw problems by 24 months of age. This is where you as an educator come in. Although it is not appropriate for you to diagnose a child with autism (only a licensed physician can do that), you do play a key role in identifying and notifying parents of early signs of ASD.

Many of the children in your care are with you for 8+ hours a day. It is your responsibility to be knowledgeable about the early signs and red flags and to present them in a sensitive manner to your families.