Behaviour Disorders inactivity, passivity, slow to respond
clingy 'like glue'
increased sensory/ sensation
dominated activities, e.g. rubbing
himself, stroking, rocking, fiddling,
sucking tongue repetitive,
stereotypical behaviours lack of
stranger anxiety
clinging to ‘autistic objects’
sleeping problems
Eating Disorders not wanting to eat/ swallow/ suck,
to be fed (anorexia)
holding food in mouth
ruminating (sucking on regurgitated milk/ food)
vomiting, retching
Email: info@reachingautism.org
% Early Warning Signs
32.6% Relationship and Sensory Disorders e.g. doesn’t look at you, in a world
of his own, lack of anticipatory attitude, doesn’t seem to understand
Often noticeable before 9 months
26.5% Posture, Tonicity and Motor Development e.g. lifeless, physically stuck
to mother, passive, lack of postural adjustments
Often noticeable before 10 months
10.2% Eating Disorders e.g. problems with sucking and feeding, vomiting
Often noticeable before 6 months
8% Crying, anger, opposition
8% Stereotypical activities
8% Prelinguistic communication problems e.g. no sharing emotional states
of mind, face-to-face play,lack of affect attunement and primary
intersubjectivity
4% Phobias
2% Speech problems
?% Other ‘normal’ disturbances e.g. sleeping problems, with
particular intensity
32.6% Relationship and Sensory Disorders e.g. doesn’t look at you, in a world
of his own, lack of anticipatory attitude, doesn’t seem to understand
Often noticeable before 9 months
26.5% Posture, Tonicity and Motor Development e.g. lifeless, physically stuck
to mother, passive, lack of postural adjustments
Often noticeable before 10 months
10.2% Eating Disorders e.g. problems with sucking and feeding, vomiting
Often noticeable before 6 months
8% Crying, anger, opposition
8% Stereotypical activities
8% Prelinguistic communication problems e.g. no sharing emotional states
of mind, face-to-face play,lack of affect attunement and primary
intersubjectivity
4% Phobias
2% Speech problems
?% Other ‘normal’ disturbances e.g. sleeping problems, with
particular intensity
Babies at Risk of Autism: Early Warning Signs
Lack of Anticipatory Attitude e.g. when being picked up
Lack of Postural Adjustment baby does not mould himself to other
when held (like a bag of sand or stiff like
a board)
Communication Problems lack of reciprocity
with others in smiling, eye-
contact, touch, vocalising, imitation (primary
intersubjectivity)
lack of emotional sharing/ eye-contact
with others
absence of babbling, vocalising
no vocal exchange/ turn-taking with others
staring blankly
unconsolable screaming
Lack of Anticipatory Attitude e.g. when being picked up
Lack of Postural Adjustment baby does not mould himself to other
when held (like a bag of sand or stiff like
a board)
Communication Problems lack of reciprocity
with others in smiling, eye-
contact, touch, vocalising, imitation (primary
intersubjectivity)
lack of emotional sharing/ eye-contact
with others
absence of babbling, vocalising
no vocal exchange/ turn-taking with others
staring blankly
unconsolable screaming