Every child develops at their own pace. Some children begin speaking early, while others communicate first through gestures, sounds, pictures, or other methods. Differences in play, movement, social interaction, and daily routines may also appear as children grow.
Parents often notice when something about their child’s development feels different. A toddler may rarely respond to their name, use few gestures, repeat certain movements, or become very upset when a routine changes.
These behaviors do not automatically mean a child has autism. They may, however, give parents a reason to speak with a pediatrician and ask about developmental screening.
Learning about the early signs of autism can help New Jersey families understand what they are seeing and decide what to do next.
What Is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder, commonly called autism or ASD, is a developmental condition characterized by differences in social communication and interaction, along with restricted or repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities.
Autism looks different from one child to another. One child may speak in full sentences but struggle with conversation or social cues. Another may communicate through gestures, pictures, signs, or a communication device.
Some children need substantial help with everyday routines, while others need assistance in only a few areas.
Signs may appear during the first years of life, although they may not become noticeable until age two or later.
What Are the Early Signs of Autism?
Early signs often appear in how a child communicates, interacts, plays, responds to sensory experiences, and handles routines.
No single behavior confirms autism. Parents and professionals look for patterns across several areas of development.
Differences in Social Communication
Young children communicate before they begin using full sentences. They may point, wave, copy facial expressions, look toward a parent, or bring someone an object to share their interest.
Possible early differences may include:
- Rarely responding to their name
- Using few gestures, such as pointing or waving
- Making limited eye contact
- Showing fewer facial expressions
- Rarely bringing objects to show a parent
- Showing limited interest in interactive games
- Having difficulty following another person’s point
- Preferring to play alone most of the time
- Showing limited interest in other children
Autistic children can show these traits in different ways. Some make eye contact, seek affection, and enjoy interacting with others. Autism is identified by a broader pattern of developmental differences, not any single behavior.
Speech and Language Differences
Speech delays can have many causes and are not specific to autism. Developmental screening can be helpful if communication differences are accompanied by social, behavioral, or sensory differences.
Parents may notice that their child:
- Uses fewer words than expected for their age
- Does not begin combining words
- Repeats words or phrases
- Uses language mainly to label objects
- Has difficulty asking for help
- Speaks with an unusual rhythm, volume, or tone
- Does not consistently answer simple questions
- Loses words they previously used
A child does not need spoken language to communicate successfully. Gestures, signs, pictures, and communication devices are also valid forms of communication.
Repetitive Movements or Play
Repetition can be a normal part of childhood. Many young children enjoy watching the same video, lining up toys, or repeating a favorite action.
Parents may want to discuss repetitive behavior with a professional when it becomes frequent, intense, or difficult to interrupt.
Examples may include:
- Flapping hands
- Rocking or spinning
- Walking on the toes
- Flicking fingers near the eyes
- Opening and closing doors repeatedly
- Spinning the wheels of a toy
- Lining up objects in a specific order
- Repeating the same part of an activity
- Becoming very upset when objects are moved
Repetitive movements may help a child manage excitement, anxiety, or sensory input. Harmless movements should not automatically be treated as behaviors that need to stop.
Strong Preferences for Routines
Autistic children may feel more comfortable when daily activities remain predictable.
Parents may notice:
- Distress when a routine changes
- Difficulty moving between activities
- Strong preferences for taking the same route
- Insistence that activities happen in a certain order
- Trouble adjusting to a different caregiver or teacher
- A strong attachment to a specific object
- Difficulty accepting changes to food, clothing, or familiar activities
A child may cry, withdraw, try to leave, or become physically upset when plans change. These reactions may reflect overwhelm rather than deliberate misbehavior.
Sensory Differences
Children process information through sound, sight, touch, taste, smell, movement, and body awareness. An autistic child may be more or less sensitive to certain sensory experiences.
Possible differences include:
- Covering the ears around everyday sounds
- Becoming distressed by hand dryers, alarms, or crowded rooms
- Avoiding certain clothing textures
- Refusing foods because of texture, smell, color, or temperature
- Disliking haircuts, toothbrushing, or nail trimming
- Seeking frequent jumping, spinning, or movement
- Looking closely at lights or moving objects
- Appearing less responsive to pain, cold, or noise
- Frequently touching, smelling, or examining objects
Sensory differences may affect eating, dressing, sleep, school participation, and family routines.
Focused Interests
Many children have intense interests. An autistic child may fixate on specific things, like a topic, object, activity, or category of information.
A preschool child could become fascinated with letters, numbers, certain toys, fans, maps, or parts of toys.
A focused interest is not necessarily a bad thing; parents and therapists can use the fascination to engage the child and teach them a new skill or way of communicating.
Loss of Previously Used Skills
Any loss of communication, social, movement, or self-care skills should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
A parent may notice that their child:
- Stops using words they previously said
- No longer waves, points, or uses familiar gestures
- Responds to their name less often
- Becomes less socially engaged
- Stops using a previously learned play or self-care skill
Parents should raise these changes with their child’s pediatrician as soon as possible.
Early Signs Can Look Different in Every Child
Not every autistic child shows the same signs. One child may have strong language skills but struggle with back-and-forth conversation. Another may communicate without speech while showing a strong interest in other people.
Some children imitate peers or adults to blend into social situations. Others may seem quiet, shy, highly independent, or unusually mature.
A concern does not need to match every item on a checklist to deserve attention.
When Should Parents Ask About Autism Screening?
Parents can raise developmental concerns at any time. You do not need to wait for a scheduled screening visit or for someone else to notice the same behavior.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends autism-specific screening at the 18- and 24-month well-child visits. Screening may also be appropriate whenever a parent, caregiver, or healthcare provider has concerns about a child’s development.
Screening does not diagnose autism. It helps identify children who may benefit from a more comprehensive evaluation.
Parents can prepare for an appointment by writing down:
- The behaviors they have noticed
- When the behaviors began
- How often they happen
- Whether any skills have been lost
- How the child communicates
- Which routines are most difficult
- Feedback from daycare or preschool
- Examples or videos from daily life
Specific examples can help the pediatrician better understand the family’s concerns.
What Should New Jersey Parents Do Next?
New Jersey families have several options when they are concerned about a child’s development.
Speak With Your Child’s Pediatrician
If you have concerns about your child’s development, start by talking with their pediatrician. Share the specific behaviors or changes you have noticed and ask whether developmental or autism screening may be appropriate.
The doctor can go over the child’s developmental history with you and do a screening if needed. They can also help refer you to another specialist if they think additional screening is necessary. You can ask them to refer you to someone even if you are not sure if it is autism.
Contact the New Jersey Early Intervention System
If your child is under age three, you can also contact the New Jersey Early Intervention System.
You do not need to wait for an autism diagnosis before asking for an evaluation. The program will conduct an assessment and determine eligibility based on your child’s individual needs.
Contact Your Local School District
For children age three and older, families can contact their local public school district and ask about a preschool special education evaluation.
The screening process would focus on aspects such as communication, cognition, motor skills, social skills, behavior, and adaptive skills.
Contact a Local ABA Provider
Many ABA providers offer clinic based services for children as young as 15 months old. Ask your pediatrician for provider recommendations or contact your insurance company for participating network providers. Insurance most often cover ABA services. Services can be provided at home, in centers/ clinics, or in the community.
What Happens During an Autism Evaluation?
An autism evaluation usually includes more than one observation or test.
The process may involve:
- A developmental and medical history
- Parent or caregiver interviews
- Observation of communication and play
- Standardized assessment tools
- Speech and language testing
- Learning assessments
- Review of sensory and daily living skills
- Information from daycare, preschool, or school
Professionals consider the child’s development across settings rather than basing a decision on one occurrence or specific situation.
Parents should also have opportunities to discuss their child’s strengths, interests, personality, and communication style.
How Can Early Services Help?
Children do not need to wait for every question to be answered before receiving help with a developmental need.
Early services may address:
- Functional communication
- Play
- Daily routines
- Transitions
- Safety
- Self-care
- Participation in daycare or preschool
- Interaction with family members and peers
- Parent and caregiver strategies
A child may receive speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, developmental intervention, ABA therapy, or a combination of services.
How ABA Therapy May Help
ABA therapy uses individualized teaching, practice, and positive reinforcement to help children build useful skills. The type of skill and behaviors targeted during therapy will depend on the child’s specific needs.
Depending on the child, ABA therapy may focus on:
- Asking for help
- Communicating wants and needs
- Moving between activities
- Participating in classroom routines
- Playing alone or with others
- Working on specific tasks
- Increased safety
- Greater independence
A treatment plan will be developed that considers the child’s abilities, interests, communication needs, family values, language, and environment.
ABA therapy should not try to remove harmless differences or make every child behave in the same way. Care should respect the whole child while addressing skills that may make daily life easier.
You Do Not Have to Wait and See
Many parents hesitate to raise concerns because they worry about overreacting or labeling their child too soon.
Asking for screening does not decide the outcome. An evaluation can provide more information about how your child is developing and which services may be helpful.
Hand Over Hand provides individualized ABA therapy through integrated ABA Centers, home and daycare services, school consultation, social skills development, and parent guidance in New Jersey.
Our team takes time to understand your child’s strengths, interests, needs, and daily routines before recommending services.
Contact Hand Over Hand today to learn more about the intake process and ABA therapy options for New Jersey families.
