Autism Warning Signs

Preschoolers with autism experience the world in a different way than other students. They need different kinds of attention and learn differently than other preschoolers. Preschoolers with autism may fall anywhere on the autistic spectrum and can vary in symptoms and severity. Symptoms may begin at birth or may not be seen until 18 months of age or later. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms but teachers may see signs that indicate further testing is required.

Causes of Autism

The cause of autism is unknown but it is suspected that genetics play a large role. Families with one autistic child are more likely to have another that falls on the autistic spectrum.  An infection within the first three months of pregnancy, such as rubella, may place a child at higher risk for developing autism.  There is also evidence that a traumatic event may trigger autism. It is known that autism affects more boys than girls. Many parents suspect that a reaction to childhood vaccinations is the reason for their child developing autism, however studies have not been able to prove any correlation between the two.

Signs of Autism in Preschoolers

The symptoms of autism are generally seen before the age of 3, but milder cases of autism may not be discovered until later. With early intervention, many preschoolers with autism are able to be integrated into a regular classroom by the time they are in kindergarten. The earlier that autism is diagnosed, the easier it is to modify or reverse the symptoms of autism.

Early autism warning signs generally include problems interacting with other preschoolers and adults. Verbal and nonverbal communication is very difficult for a preschooler with autism. They may refuse eye contact, speak later than other children or talk in the third person. Studies have shown that autistic preschoolers do not understand the correlation between facial expressions and emotion. A face that looks sad does not register any differently in their brain than a face that looks happy. This may partially explain why they struggle to feel empathy for other people.

Many preschoolers with autism are very sensitive to sensory stimulation such as touch or sound. Situations that involve other children can be overwhelming for autistic preschoolers. A very structured and predictable environment will be most conducive to learning.

Any variation in the routine can cause an autistic preschooler extreme stress. Autistic preschoolers may show repetitive behavior such as rocking or head banging. Many preschoolers with autism seem to have a reduced sensitivity to pain and do not appear to feel damage that they inflict to themselves.

Autism in the Preschool Classroom

Preschool classrooms that serve autistic preschoolers should have a small student-teacher ratio. Autistic preschoolers require more individualized attention and will learn best working one-on-one with a teacher who is trained to work with autistic preschoolers. Curriculum should focus on understanding and using language skills. Social interactions should be encouraged as much as possible in a non-threatening way. Preschoolers with autism may have problems with imaginative activity. Educational activities should be concrete in nature and geared towards the preschoolers individual needs.

Becky, a mother of two children who fall on the autistic spectrum says "My boys both went to a developmental preschool. It is funded by the state just like a regular school is. You get services through the school district like OT(occupational therapy) and SLP (speech). It is only for a couple of hours a day for four days and the 5th day is usually where the teacher plans for the week or has meetings. I like it because they get services and they work with the kids with whatever is on their IEP and they are with other kids that have a variety of disabilities."

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