It’s normal for parents to watch their baby’s development and wonder if everything is proceeding as expected. But detecting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at a very early age is challenging. Many of the red flags for autism that start to emerge between 12-24 months may not be obvious at 5 months. However, some early signs can be apparent even this early, so paying close attention to your baby’s development is important.
What are the early signs of autism?
Some key signs to look for that may indicate autism at 5 months include:
– Lack of eye contact – Not looking at faces or making eye contact. Babies typically start engaging in eye contact around 2-3 months.
– Lack of response to name – Not responding consistently when name is called. By around 4-5 months babies recognize their name.
– Poor motor control – Seems stiff, floppy, or displays unusual body postures compared to other babies the same age.
– Lack of babbling – Babies typically start cooing and babbling around 3-4 months, building up to first words around 12 months. Lack of babbling could be a red flag.
– Lack of smiling/engagement – Babies are very socially motivated at this age. Lack of back-and-forth smiling or interest in interacting is concerning.
However, every baby develops differently. If you have concerns, discuss them with your pediatrician, but don’t panic. There are various developmental delays or medical issues that can cause similar symptoms that are not autism.
Core symptom areas
The core symptom areas to pay attention to for detecting possible autism at 5 months include:
Social communication and interaction
– Lack of eye contact
– Doesn’t respond to their name
– Doesn’t interact through gestures like pointing, waving, reaching
– Lack of interest in faces and facial expressions
– Poor response to cuddling and holding
Restricted, repetitive behaviors
– Repetitive motions like rocking, arm flapping
– Unusual posturing of fingers or hands
– Overly focused on certain objects or parts of objects
– Excessive mouthing and chewing on non-food items
Sensory differences
– Heightened or low sensitivity to pain, temperature, textures
– Adverse response to loud noises, bright lights, certain textures
– Unusual interest in smells, tastes, or the feel of surfaces
Keep in mind restricted and repetitive behaviors don’t usually emerge until after 6 months. Sensory differences can be hard to spot this early too. So the main symptoms to look for at 5 months are in the social communication realm.
When to see a doctor
If your baby is showing multiple signs of delayed social communication by 5 months, bring up your concerns with your pediatrician. Some specific scenarios where you should urgently consult a doctor include:
– No eye contact or interest in faces by 3-4 months
– Not smiling by 4 months
– Not cooing or babbling by 4 months
– Not responding to sounds or voices by 4-5 months
Early intervention is so important if autism is suspected. Diagnosis before age 2 can help get crucial therapies started right away during this critical window of development.
Screening and assessment
There are some autism screening tools that can be used with infants as young as 6 months, such as the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS). But screens have limitations. Your pediatrician will do an evaluation involving:
– Developmental history – Looking at developmental milestones and any areas of concern from birth until now.
– Parent interview – Discussing your baby’s behaviors and symptoms you’ve observed.
– Physical exam – Assessing general health, muscle tone, reflexes.
– Observation – Watching how your baby responds and interacts during the appointment.
– Further testing – If needed, referring to a specialist for more extensive developmental testing.
Standardized autism diagnostic tools are not considered valid and reliable until after 12 months of age. But experienced clinicians may still be able to identify probable autism at younger ages. If there are strong early concerns, your doctor may want to monitor very closely or make a provisional ASD diagnosis.
What if my baby has early signs of ASD?
If your 5 month old is showing multiple red flags for autism, don’t panic – but take it seriously and act quickly. Next steps if autism seems likely:
– Get connected to early intervention services – Speech, occupational, and behavioral therapies can make a huge impact.
– Talk to your pediatrician frequently – Closely monitor development at regular check-ups.
– Reach out for support – Connect with other families through support groups and autism organizations.
– Learn more – Educate yourself about ASD through reputable resources.
– Focus on bonding – Spend time each day following your baby’s lead, engaging face-to-face, and fostering two-way communication.
– Self-care – Take care of yourself too – this is a stressful time. Lean on loved ones for support.
The uncertainty is scary. But if it is autism, early action sets your child up for the best possible outcome. Over the next several months, some signs may resolve on their own while other ASD characteristics could become more pronounced. Your child’s development will tell you a lot. Stay hopeful and remember you don’t have to navigate this alone.
Are autism rates increasing?
Autism rates have increased dramatically over recent decades. For example, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows:
– In 2000, 1 in 150 children were identified with autism
– In 2010, rates reached 1 in 68 children
– In 2016, 1 in 54 children were diagnosed with ASD
This upwards trend has continued. Today, recent estimates suggest 1 in 44 children have autism.
Potential reasons for the increase include:
– Expanded diagnostic criteria – The diagnostic definition of autism has evolved to include more mild forms, including Asperger syndrome.
– Better awareness – More parents, doctors, and educators are able to recognize the early signs of ASD.
– Improved screening – Tools to systematically screen all children for autism risks have enhanced detection rates.
– diagnostic substitution – Some of the increase may be due to children diagnosed previously with intellectual disability or language disorders now being classified as having autism.
– Unknown environmental risks – Research continues into potential environmental influences on autism, but nothing has been conclusively identified.
Rising autism rates emphasize the importance of awareness, early detection, and early intervention. Children identified and treated young have the best chance of reaching their full potential.
Can autism be cured?
There is no medical “cure” for autism. Autism spectrum disorder involves differences in brain development that affect behavior, communication, and social skills. Autism is considered a lifelong but very treatable condition.
With early, intensive behavioral and developmental therapies, many young children on the spectrum can gain skills, function adaptively, and significantly improve outcomes.
Educational interventions, speech therapy, behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and medications (if indicated) can help reduce the core symptoms of autism and often dramatically improve a child’s abilities to communicate, relate, and function day-to-day.
While autism itself may not be “curable,” the right treatment approach can help a child overcome challenges and develop to their full potential.
What is the best therapy for autism?
There is no one universally best therapy for autism, since the condition varies so much from person to person. Current recommended best practices involve early intensive behavioral and developmental intervention using approaches backed by research evidence of effectiveness.
Some top evidence-based autism therapies to consider include:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
– Uses rewards to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce negative behaviors.
– Helps teach communication, social, academic, motor, and adaptive living skills.
– Works to increase behaviors that allow greater independence.
Speech Therapy
– Targets delays in language development and verbal communication skills.
– Works on speech production, volume, pronunciation, conversational abilities.
Occupational Therapy
– Helps with sensory processing issues, motor skills delays, and self-care skills.
– Teaches everyday tasks like dressing, grooming, using utensils.
Developmental Interventions
– Uses play-based strategies to build cognitive, communication, and social skills.
– Develops joint engagement, imitation, and early learning abilities.
Parent-Mediated Therapy
– Coaches parents on techniques to incorporate into daily routines and activities.
– Helps generalize communication and social skills into the home setting.
Using a tailored combination of therapies based on the individual child’s needs offers the best results. Your child’s treatment team will work with you to develop an appropriate plan. Consistency, intensity, and keeping interventions aligned across settings is key.
What is the difference between autism and ADHD?
Autism and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are two separate conditions, but they do share some similar symptoms like:
– Difficulty with social interactions
– Repetitive behaviors
– Impulsivity
– Difficulty staying focused
However, there are also distinct differences between autism and ADHD in terms of the core features of each disorder:
Autism
– Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction.
– Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.
– Symptoms present early in childhood, typically before age 3.
ADHD
– Inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity
– Onset of symptoms before age 12.
– Symptoms occur in two or more settings (e.g., home and school).
Autism is categorized as a developmental disorder, while ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Children with ADHD do not typically have language delays or differences in language development like those with autism often do.
Some key points in telling the conditions apart:
– Autism impacts socialization and communication skills. ADHD does not.
– ADHD involves poor sustained attention. This is not a core deficit in autism.
– Hyperactivity is central to ADHD but not autism.
– Autism symptoms are more pronounced in early childhood. ADHD increases in impact as expectations increase with age.
It is possible for a child to have both autism and ADHD. An experienced clinician can help distinguish between the two conditions through evaluation.
Can you fully recover from autism?
While there is no medical “cure” for autism, some children who receive early intensive treatment make exceptional progress and enter mainstream school with few or no remaining symptoms.
Several long-term studies have found a subset of children described as having achieved “optimal outcomes” from autism:
– They were diagnosed with autism by experienced clinicians before age 5.
– After early interventions, they functioned academically and socially within the average range.
– As they reached school age, they no longer met the diagnostic criteria for autism.
Estimates vary, but researchers suggest around 10-15% of young children with rigorously diagnosed autism may progress to this optimal outcome level later.
With comprehensive treatment starting before age 3, a minority of children can overcome initial autism symptoms and function within the typical range academically, socially, and behaviorally. This phenomenon demonstrates the benefits of early intervention.
However, experts caution that autism is still considered a lifelong condition. Even those with optimal progress may continue to have some mild challenges in communication, anxiety, attention, or other areas. Ongoing support is recommended to keep successfully transitioned individuals on track.
What percentage of people with autism are considered high functioning?
There are no precise statistics on what proportion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder would be considered “high functioning.” But clinical estimates suggest:
– Around 30-60% of people with autism have average or above average intellectual ability.
– Approximately 10-30% of individuals with ASD have exceptional intellectual capacity and IQ scores above 115.
– Roughly 25-50% of children meet basic language milestones like phrase speech and conversational abilities by age 5.
So while a significant percentage have average or high average cognitive skills, communication deficits remain very common. Other factors impacting how “high functioning” someone appears include:
– Age and level of developmental support received – Younger children need more assistance.
– Co-occurring conditions – comorbid intellectual disability, ADHD, anxiety disorders, etc.
– Level of social communication deficits and repetitive behaviors.
– Adaptive functioning abilities – independent hygiene, school/work skills, friendships, etc.
– Response to early intensive interventions.
Functioning can improve dramatically with properly designed behavioral treatments. Support needs often lessen with age as well. But predicting long-term outcomes is difficult – assessing level of functioning requires looking at the whole person over time.
Can you detect autism during pregnancy?
There are currently no medical tests that can diagnose autism before birth with certainty. Diagnosis relies on recognizing behavioral symptoms that only become apparent later during development.
However, researchers have identified some possible prenatal factors that may indicate higher autism risk in a child, including:
– Genetic mutations – Changes and variants in DNA that may contribute to autism.
– Possible pregnancy complications – Exposure to high levels of certain hormones or prenatal infection.
– Exposure to heavy metals and air pollution – Potential environmental risk factors.
– Older parental age – Children born to older parents are at higher risk.
– Sibling with autism – Increased chance of having a second child with ASD.
– Male gender – Boys are 4 times more likely to develop autism.
While concerning prenatal signs may warrant extra developmental monitoring, they cannot predict an autism diagnosis. After birth, early screening combined with monitoring developmental milestones is the key to identifying possible ASD and guiding referral for diagnostic evaluation and early intervention.
Can autism go away with age?
Autism is considered a lifelong neurological difference that manifests early in childhood. However, the prominent symptoms and support needs can change significantly over time.
While autism itself does not “go away,” many children make remarkable progress with age, especially if treated intensively at a young age. Reasons autism may look different in older children and adults include:
– Early intervention can dramatically improve skills.
– Maturity and brain development help compensate for certain deficits.
– Supports at home and school help accommodate challenges.
– Development of coping mechanisms and compensatory strategies.
– Social demands change with age and become more accepting of differences.
So autism remains present, but the outward symptoms may seem less obvious in some older individuals. Symptoms that fade for many include:
– Language delays
– Toy play and imagination deficits
– Rigid behavior and difficulty with transitions
– Sensory sensitivity and self-stimulatory behavior
But symptoms that often persist as children get older involve:
– Nuanced social communication challenges
– Reading subtle non-verbal cues
– Developing meaningful friendships
– Managing anxiety
– Advocating for oneself
So while autism remains a lifelong condition, intervention and development can significantly improve outcomes. Many children are able to function very successfully as they grow into adolescence and adulthood.
Conclusion
Spotting the early signs of autism spectrum disorder can be difficult, but paying close attention to developmental milestones and any loss of social communication skills is key. If caught early, many children respond remarkably well to treatment. While autism cannot be cured, therapy focused on improving communication, social interaction, and managing behaviors can make an enormous long-term difference in your child’s abilities and quality of life. Stay hopeful and remember you don’t have to navigate an autism diagnosis alone – support and resources are out there. Consistent early intervention offers children the best chance of overcoming challenges and reaching their full potential.