ASD is becoming more common over time, with that in mind see our below 10 signs of autism in a child.

Before continuing it is worth noting that our site is curated by people who have been in your shoes.

We are parents raising autistic children so have first hand experience of noticing signs.

So these are not some of the heartless scientific descriptions which are online.

These are first hand experiences relating to children who turned out to be autistic.

This post is not made to scare any parent, it is just a documentation of our collective experiences.

We hope it helps.

What signs did we notice?

It is important to note that many of these signs can occur in neuro-typical children.

An autism diagnosis is a complicated process and involves a wide range of observations.

With that said however, here are 10 signs of autism we noticed in our children.

1) Not responding to their name

A child not responding to their name is a universally recognised sign of autism.

As will be a common point however, it categorically doesn’t mean that they are autistic.

We witnessed just an inability to get our children’s attention.

Calling their name drew no reaction and at times we had to physically stand in front of them to evoke a response.

This is why a common process in the journey to a diagnosis is a hearing test.

At times parents can be unsure if their child has an issue with their hearing or if it is a sign of neurodiversity.

2) Excessive mouthing of items

Again, common in a lot of children but those with autism can take it to the extreme.

An autistic child will often mouth items for far longer periods and when older than neuro-typical peers.

They may have a preference for a certain texture or type of object or it could be anything they get their hands on.

It may be that they put objects fully in their mouth or they just like licking things.

3) Flapping of hands

Those with autism often feel and interact with the world differently to neuro-typical peers.

This can mean that they find pleasure in some movements which may seem odd to the neuro-typical.

The flapping can be at times of excitement or classically when they are feeling overwhelmed.

4) Spinning

Again another common and almost cliche sign of autism in children.

Once more this relates to the way in which they experience the world, with spinning providing them pleasure.

Many children like to spin but with our experience of autism it is more regularly and for longer periods.

5) Reduced eye contact

For many of those with autism, eye contact can almost make them feel uncomfortable. This can be very noticeable in adults but also is picked up in children.

We experienced our children almost actively avoiding eye contact, straining to look away instead of directly in the eyes.

6) Problems with sleep

We all appreciate that many children struggle with their sleep. So if this is relevant to your child, do not panic unduly.

With that said however, struggles with sleep can be a sign of autism.

The reasons for this will vary but it is often linked to their hypersensitivity to sound and noise.

7) Covering their ears

Linking in to the above sensitivity to sound, a common sign of autism is a child covering their ears.

What is noticeable is when the ear covering isn’t at excessively loud times.

For example if a child covers their ears at the sound of a jet engine that is understandable.

However if the sound in question is just traffic from a residential street then that could be a sign of autism.

8) Tip Toe Walking

This sign is an interesting one because it can be hard to see how it is appealing.

As a neuro-typical individual it is difficult to understand how tip toe walking isn’t painful/tiring.

But it is a fact that a lot of children with autism engage in this behaviour, usually due to the feedback it provides.

The consistent caveat applies here in that it is also something which some neuro-typical children engage in.

9) Rocking

Probably one of the more noticeable behaviours would be a child repeatedly rocking.

The rocking may take place in a number of environments but in high chairs and car seats was common for us.

10) Delayed communication

Another sign of autism which presents itself regularly is delayed speech development.

Typically children start saying their first words from about 12-24 months. With autistic children however this can be much later or even not at all.

Like so much however there are natural variances. These include the fact that some autistic children develop speech at the same time as peers.

Likewise some neuro-typical children can simply have delayed speech without autism.

11) Fussiness with food (one we couldn’t leave out)

All of us reported struggles with feeding our children at various points.

The struggles vary from children just preferring foods of a specific colour to preferring a specific texture.

The issues could also be summarised by our children being reluctant to try new food types.

As with so many of the other signs of autism, fussiness is also very common in neuro-typical children.

Summary – 10 Signs of autism in a child

So there you have our 10 signs of autism, well it ended up as 11.

If you are reading this and you think that your child is displaying some of these signs, don’t panic.

Firstly it is important to note that a diagnosis is a complicated process. It involves an assessment by multiple professionals involves a wide range of tests.

Put simply any DIY assessment is unlikely to be accurate.

It is therefore too early to be rushing to self diagnose your child.

Any number of these traits could also be relevant for neuro-typical children.

But with that said it is important to note that early intervention has proven to be crucial for autistic children.

The quicker you recognise autism and start to provide tailored support the more likely you will be able to minimise the impact.

So we wouldn’t advise anyone to sit on concerns for any length of time. If you are worried about your child, speak to a doctor, health visitor or other expert.

They may put your mind at rest or they may provide you with the building blocks to support your child as best as possible.

We wish each and every one of you the best of luck and bright futures with your amazing children.