Is Your Child Autistic? Signs and Resources

As April draws to a close (bring on the May flowers already!), we want to have one more conversation about autism and Autism Awareness Month.

And this is a tough one.

Let’s talk about potential signs that your child might have some form of autism.

As a parent, we like to get familiar with “symptom lists”, something we can go down noting yes/no and true/false, adding all of our answers up at the end for a Definitive Answer. But autism is not like the quiz in the back of a Cosmo magazine, and assessing how your child’s brain works is a heck of a lot more complicated than running down a checklist.

That being said, there are a few signs that may indicate your child has autism, including:

• Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age
• Does not speak one word by 16 months
• Does not combine two words by 2 years
• Does not respond to name
• Loses language or social skills
• Poor eye contact
• Doesn’t seem to know how to play with toys
• Excessively lines up toys or other objects
• Is attached to one particular toy or object
• Doesn’t smile
• At times seems to be hearing impaired

(according to National Institute of Mental Health)

So now what? What do you do if you suspect your child has autism?

Take a deep breath. Contact your pediatrician. Reach out.

As we’ve talked about already this month, autism does not come with a specific set of “symptoms” or a universally accepted guidebook. Each journey is as unique as the child and family who must take it. That does not mean that you have to take the journey alone, however. Sites like 5 Minutes for Special Needs can help you find other people who are sharing their journey and are ready to hear about yours.

And what about the rest of us?

What if your child does not have autism? How can we support our fellow parents as they navigate an unfamiliar path?

We can become informed so that we are better equipped to listen, understand, and support. We can read their stories and learn more about what autism is (and is not).

And we can give.

In April, Aiming Low Does Good has come together to support Autism Speaks, America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization. We appreciate that this organization doesn’t speak for everyone, but we are honored to have been able to do a little something to support ongoing research and awareness. We are humbled and grateful that many of you have also reached into your pockets to give your own cold hard cash to this cause.

We are also pretty darn excited that one of you is going to win a Blackberry PlayBook.

Oh that’s right!

As a special thank you (and, OK, maybe a little incentive) for supporting Austim Speaks this month, we’re offering up a chance to win a brand spanking new PlayBook, the new tablet from Blackberry.

Here’s how it works.

Make a donation in April to Autism Speaks through Aiming Low’s Donation Page and we’ll put your name in our little hat.

We’ll choose one person from the U.S. or Canada out of our magical hat to receive a voucher for a free Blackberry Playbook.

Ta-da!

That’s it.

Click Here to Donate

And seriously. Big, fat, on-the-mouth kisses for all of you who have given, shared, and supported Autism Awareness this month. You guys rock the big blue mug.

If you’d like to put your name in the hat without donating, send a self-addressed-stamped-envelope to:22 Rayner Dr Newnan, GA 30265 with your name, age, address, phone #, and email. Mail entries must be received by Saturday April 30th.