(4-3-07)
- Reliable risk factors of autism
- being a sibling of a child diagnosed with autism
- Possible warning signs of autism
- 6 months
- absence of big smiles and joyful expressions
- 9 months
- absence of reciprocal communication (by sounds, smiles, facial expression)
- 12 months
- failure to respond to first name
- absence of reciprocal gesture (pointing, waving bye-bye, showing, reaching)
- absence of babbling
- 16 months
- absence of single words
- 24 months
- absence of two word functional expressions (not echolalia)
- failure to orient to name
- gaze and face avoidance
- failure to orient to sound of human voice
- failure to imitate
- 6 months
- any age: loss of language or social skills
(see extended discussion in Brock, Kimerson, & Hansen, 2006 and recent report in Journal of Pediatrics)