Our child who doesn't make eye contact, could it be autism?

Avoid making eye contact

Some infants show signs of autism during the first few months. However, most infants do not show any signs until they become toddlers. Not making eye contact when the infant turns their face can be a sign that occurs very early on.

Dr. Sha explained, "The reason most children with autism do not make eye contact is because it helps reduce anxiety," and added, "The reasons why autistic individuals do not make eye contact vary, and not all autistic people avoid eye contact."

Sensory sensitivity

One of the most noticeable sensory differences in children with autism is their discomfort with loud noises. Due to this sensory sensitivity, it is difficult to filter out irrelevant sounds, making it hard to avoid discomfort or distraction, and they may feel overwhelmed emotionally.

Dr. Sha said, "Generally, children with autism exhibit sensory sensitivities to various stimuli," adding, "These could be predictable things like bright lights or loud noises, or they could be unusual colors or patterns."

Difficulty speaking

Repeating words or phrases, not speaking as much as other children, and 'conversing' with others are all signs of autism. Dr. Sha said, "Language development in children with autism is generally slightly delayed, but not always," and "Another sign is repetitive sounds or words, which are also called echolalia, and this can be a characteristic of autism."

Repetitive behavior

Preferring a very strict daily routine and getting angry when it changes are signs that a child may have autism. Dr. Sha explained, "This need for routine can manifest in various ways, and due to their unique characteristics, children may develop unusual habits or behaviors."

Repetitive movements

It can manifest through actions such as waving hands, snapping fingers, or shaking the body. It may also appear through related behaviors like turning the wheels of a toy train, looking at the bars of a fence, or listening to the theme song of a favorite program.

Misunderstanding of emotions

Children with autism often have difficulty making friends and may choose to play alone. Some children may struggle to express their emotions and sometimes have trouble understanding what others are feeling. In the case of young girls with autism, they may hide some symptoms of autism by mimicking the behaviors and play styles of other children, so these symptoms may present differently.