Babies with autism may exhibit developmental delays or disorders present from birth. Although the three basic areas of disability occur in any child with autism, the specific behaviors exhibited differ from one child to another.
Social relations
The baby with autism may:
Delay to smile or not smile
Avoid the gaze of others
Do not reach out, even in anticipation of being carried
Refusing to be comforted or may be difficult to soothe
Prefer solitude
Pushing the embrace
Do not show attachment vis-à-vis the main person taking care of him
Communication
Communication difficulties may consist in particular:
A lack of nonverbal communication
A lack of sign communication
A lack of reaction to body language
A refusal to imitate facial expressions or certain gestures, like pointing, clapping or greet
Impassive face of attempts to communicate with the child
Repetitive behaviors
Examples in the baby:
The repetition of simple acts of the body, such as hand flapping or rocking
The repetition of simple actions with objects, like the wheels of a toy car
An aversion to any change of habits or common environmental
Characteristics related
Babies with autism may in addition:
Have faced abnormal visual responses to objects, such as securing an object or light for long periods
Have problems sleeping or eating
Be skeptical of the exploration
Be hyperactive or lethargic
Have abnormal responses to sensory stimuli such as sounds, smells, touch or pain