In clinical terms, there are a few “absolute indicators” often referred to as “red flags” that indicate a child should be evaluated.  These “red flags” indicate that your child should be screened to ensure that they are on the right developmental path. 

Answer YES or NO to the following questions.

Does your baby:
4 months
Follow and react to bright colours, movement and objects?
Turn towards sounds?
Show interest in watching people’s faces?
Smile back when you smile?

6 months            
Express joyful expressions,  big smiles or other warm expressions?
Smile often while playing with you?
Coo or babble when happy?
Cry when unhappy?

9 months             
Have a back and forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions?
Smile and laugh while looking at you?
Exchange back and forth gestures with you, such as giving, taking and reaching?

12 months          
Use a few gestures, one after another, to get needs met, like giving, showing, reaching,
Waving and pointing?
Play peek-a-boo or other social games?
Make sounds like “ma”, “ba”, “na”, “da”, and “ga”?
Respond when their name is called?

15 months         
Exchange with you many back-and-forth smiles, sounds, and gestures in a row?
Use pointing or other “showing” gestures to draw attention to something of interest?
Use different sounds to get needs met and draw attention to something of interest?
Use and understand at least three words, such as “mama”, “dada”, “bottle”, or “bye-bye

18 months:           
Use lots of guestures with words to get needs met, like pointing or taking you by the hand and saying “want juice”
Use at least 4 different consonants in babbling or words, such as m,n,p,b,t and d?
Use and understand at least 10 words?
Do simple pretend play, like feeding a doll or stuffed animal, and attracting your attention by looking at them when they are named?           

24 months           
Use and understand at least 50 words? Use at least two words together (without imitating or repeating) in a way that makes sense, like “want juice”?
Enjoy being next to children of the same age and show interest in playing with them, perhaps giving the toy to another child?

36 months:           
Enjoy pretending to play different characters with you or talking to dolls or action figures?
Enjoy playing with children of the same age, perhaps showing and telling another child about a favourite toy?
Use thoughts and actions together in speech and in play in a way that makes sense, like “sleepy, go take nap” and “baby hungry, feed bottle.”?
Answer “what”, “where” and “who” questions easily?
Talk about interests and feelings about the past and the future?

This is not a full and comprehensive list of symptoms, merely a guideline.
If your are concerned about anything on this list relating to your child’s development,
please contact your paediatrician, general practitioner,
or consult an ASD professional for an immediate evaluation.
Click on the Local Do-Gooders Link to find a professional who can help.

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