What Is Autism?

2 MONTHS OLD

• Does not respond to loud sounds
• Does not visually track objects as they move
• Does not smile at people
• Does not bring hands to mouth
• Cannot hold head up when pushing up from lying on stomach

4 MONTHS OLD

• Does not visually track objects as he or she moves
• Does not smile at people
• Cannot hold head steady
• Does not coo or make sounds
• Does not bring things to mouth
• Does not push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
• Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions

6 MONTHS OLD

• Does not try to get things that are in reach
• Shows no affection for caregivers
• Does not respond to sounds around him
• Has difficulty getting things to mouth
• Does not make vowel sounds (“ah”, “eh”, “oh”)
• Does not roll over in either direction
• Does not laugh or make squealing sounds
• Seems very stiff, with tight muscles, or seems very floppy, like a rag doll

9 MONTHS OLD

• Does not bear weight on legs with support
• Does not sit with help
• Does not babble (“mama”, “baba”, “dada”)
• Does not play any games involving back-and-forth play
• Does not respond to his or her own name
• Does not seem to recognize familiar people
• Does not look where you point
• Does not transfer toys from one hand to the other

12 MONTHS OLD

• Does not crawl
• Cannot stand when supported
• Does not search for things that he or she sees you hide
• Does not say single words like “mama” or “dada”
• Does not learn gestures like waving or shaking head
• Does not point to things
• Loses skills he or she once had

18 MONTHS OLD

• Does not point to show things to others
• Cannot walk
• Does not know what familiar things are for
• Does not copy others
• Does not gain new words
• Does not have at least 6 words
• Does not notice or mind when a caregiver leaves or returns
• Loses skills he or she once had

24 MONTHS OLD

• Does not use 2-word phrases (for example, “drink milk”)
• Does not know what to do with common things, like a brush, phone, fork, or spoon
• Does not copy actions and words
• Does not follow simple instructions
• Does not walk steadily
• Loses skills he or she once had

3 YEARS OLD

• Falls down a lot or has trouble with stairs
• Drools or has very unclear speech
• Cannot work simple toys (such as peg boards, simple puzzles, turning handle)
• Does not speak in sentences
• Does not understand simple instructions
• Does not play pretend or make-believe
• Does not want to play with other children or with toys
• Does not make eye contact
• Loses skills he or she once had

4 YEARS OLD

• Cannot jump in place
• Has trouble scribbling
• Shows no interest in interactive games or make-believe
• Ignores other children
• Does not respond to people outside the family
• Resists dressing, sleeping, and using the toilet
• Cannot retell a favorite story
• Does not follow 3-part commands
• Does not understand “same” and “different”
• Does not use “me” and “you” correctly
• Speaks unclearly
• Loses skills he or she once had

5 YEARS OLD

• Does not show a wide range of emotions
• Shows extreme behavior (unusually fearful, aggressive, shy or sad)
• Unusually withdrawn and not active
• Is easily distracted, has trouble focusing on one activity for more than 5 minutes
• Does not respond to people, or responds only superficially
• Cannot tell what is real from make-believe
• Does not play a variety of games and activities
• Cannot give first and last name
• Does not use plurals or past tense properly
• Does not talk about daily activities or experiences
• Does not draw pictures
• Cannot brush teeth, wash and dry hands, or get undressed without help
• Loses skills he or she once had