Signs of Autism in Children

If you’re concerned about undiagnosed autism in your child, you aren’t alone. In fact, around 1 in 57 children in the UK are on the autism spectrum. 

Being aware of the signs of autism in children is one of the best ways you can help ensure your child receives the diagnosis and support they need as early as possible. While autism affects each child in their own individual way, there are common signs you can look out for. 

By the end of this blog, you’ll know the common signs and symptoms of autism in children, how they can change with age, as well as what to do if you notice them in your own child. 

How Autism Signs Differ by Age

We’re going to look at how the signs of autism in children develop as they age. Before we do this, it’s important to keep in mind that not every child is the same. 

For some, the signs may be obvious. However, masking symptoms can be quite common for autistic children, making them a bit trickier to spot. While both boys and girls can do this, it’s more common for girls to mask their symptoms, meaning their signs may appear more subtle. 

In general, you can expect a few common symptoms to present around specific ages. Keep reading below for a breakdown. 

Signs of Autism in Babies and Infants (0-12 Months)

The first signs of autism in children can start showing as early as 12 months or younger. Symptoms mostly affect non-verbal communication and behaviour, including signs such as: 

• Lack of eye contact, particularly during play or feeding
• Limited response to their name or sounds 
• Little interest in toys, surroundings, or faces 
• Showing distress at particular sounds, lights, or textures
• Little to no babbling by 7-12 months

Spotting such early signs of autism in children can be difficult. As such, in most cases, the earliest possible diagnosis is around 18 months. However, spotting these signs early on means you can help them get the care they need quickly. 

Signs of Autism in Young Children (1-5 Years)

Toddlers (12-24 Months)

By the age of 12 months, the early signs of autism can become a bit more noticeable to parents or carers who spend significant time with the child. For toddlers, these signs can include: 

• Lack of gestures (waving, pointing)
• Doesn’t respond consistently to their name
• Limited pretend play (pretending to cook, feeding a toy)
• Repeating movements, such as rocking or hand-flapping
• More interest in objects than people 
• Signs of distress at small routine changes 

Signs of distress in a toddler can include sleep difficulties, clinginess, crying or outbursts of anger, and complaints of pain such as a tummy ache or headache. 

Aged 2 to 3 Years

At 2 to 3 years old, signs of autism in children can make it seem as though they’ve regressed. In fact, data suggests around 20% of children with autism experience regression. As such, common symptoms include: 

• Speech delay or using fewer words than they did before
• Difficulty engaging in group activities and play 
• Resistant to sharing their toys 
• Selective eating habits 
• Strong reactions to specific noises, textures, or smells 
• Lack of facial expression

Echolalia is another sign of autism in children around this age. It’s a communication behaviour recognised by the repetition of words, sounds, or phrases said by others. While echolalia is a normal part of development, if continued past the age of 3, it can be a sign of autism. 

Aged 4 to 5 Years

As communication and social skills develop, signs and symptoms of autism in children can become a lot easier to spot. 

By ages 4 to 5, you’ll notice a difference in their verbal and non-verbal communication, behaviour, and sensory signs, which can look like the following: 

• Difficulty understanding jokes or sarcasm
• Taking common turns of expression literally 
• Repetitive play patterns
• Limited close friendships 
• Intense and specific interest in specific topics 
• Strong emotional reaction to changes in routine 

Signs of Autism in Older Children (Up to 12 Years)

Signs of autism in older children can change as expectations and social pressures build during the early years of secondary school. Common signs include: 

• Sensory overwhelm in loud environments (canteens, playgrounds, or assemblies)
• Struggling to adapt to changing school timetables
• Difficulty with group work or play during lunchtimes
• Specific interests or hyperfixations that take up most free time
• Feeling anxious or showing signs of anxiety

Stimming is the repetition of words or phrases, particularly when excited or stressed, and it’s another sign of autism in older children to look out for. It can be easier to spot stimming in older children, as communication and language skills will likely have developed by this age. 

How Do Signs of Autism in Children Present in the Day-to-Day?

While there are common signs of autism in children to be aware of, how they can actually present in the day-to-day often differs between each child. 

For example, one child may hyperfixate on cars, while another might hyperfixate on a certain movie. They might strive for perfection at home, but show disinterest in school, while another child excels at school, but is overwhelmed by life at home. 

Often, dealing with symptoms of autism as a child can be emotionally draining, particularly for those masking their symptoms. It’s common for autistic children to show signs of anxiety or even depression as a result. 

In fact, studies show that 40% of children with autism also experience anxiety, while around 15% to 30% also struggle with depression. 

What Do I Do if I Notice Signs of Autism in My Child?

If you’re concerned about signs of autism in your child, it’s important to get in touch with their GP early on to get them on the waitlist sooner rather than later. 

Across the UK, the NHS is experiencing high volumes of requests for autism diagnosis, resulting in lengthy waitlists for assessments. As a parent caring for a child with autism, we know it can be difficult to wait for support, but you can help them in the meantime. 

You can document specific behaviours of concern to present to the doctor once their appointment has been booked. 

Speaking to your child’s school about your worries means help can be put in place to support their educational needs. 

Waiting for a diagnosis isn’t always easy, so try to be patient with both your child and yourself, too. There are support groups across the UK who’re happy to help those awaiting a diagnosis. For services local to you, check out the National Autistic Society directory.

Neuroaffinity Provide Expert Autism Diagnosis for Children

Here at Neuroaffinity, we believe autism diagnosis should be easily accessible for all – that’s why we offer dedicated child autism assessment. 

With us, you can skip the wait times to get your child the answers they need and the care they deserve that bit faster. Plus, we offer interest-free instalment payment options to help you spread the cost. 

Get in touch with us today to discuss an autism assessment for your child. Call us on 0776 856 5162, email enquiries@neuroaffinity.co.uk, or fill out our contact form for a callback.