Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate, interact socially, and respond to their environment. The symptoms of autism can be present in infants as young as six months old.

One of the earliest signs of autism in babies is a lack of eye contact. Infants who have autism may avoid eye contact altogether or not respond when someone tries to make eye contact with them. So, how can you spot autism in an infant’s eyes?.

1. Lack of Eye Contact

The most obvious sign that an infant may have autism is a lack of eye contact. Most infants will make eye contact with their caregivers and will hold their gaze for a few seconds.

However, infants with autism may avoid eye contact or may not respond when someone tries to make eye contact with them. Infants who avoid eye contact may have difficulty reading social cues and may have trouble communicating with others.

2. Lack of Response to Smiling

Infants who have autism may not respond to a smile or may not smile back. Smiling is an important social cue, and infants who have autism may not understand its significance.

This can make it difficult for them to form relationships with their caregivers and peers.

3. Unusual Eye Movements

Infants with autism may also have unusual eye movements. For example, they may stare at one object for an unusual amount of time or may focus on a specific part of an object rather than the whole object.

They may also avoid looking at faces or may have difficulty tracking objects with their eyes.

4. Lack of Interest in Toys

Infants who have autism may not show an interest in toys or may not engage in play. They may prefer to play with toys in an unusual way, such as lining them up or spinning them.

This can make it difficult for them to interact with their peers and may make it challenging for them to develop appropriate social skills.

5. Repetitive Behaviors

Infants who have autism may engage in repetitive behaviors, such as rocking, spinning, or flapping their hands.

These behaviors can be soothing for the child, but they can also be a sign that the child is not able to engage in play or communicate effectively with others.

Infants with autism may have difficulty understanding social cues, such as facial expressions and body language.

They may not respond appropriately to social cues, which can make it difficult for them to form relationships with their caregivers and peers.

7. Delayed Speech and Language Development

Infants with autism may have delayed speech and language development. They may not babble or make sounds, or they may not respond when someone speaks to them.

They may also have difficulty understanding language and may not respond appropriately to simple commands or questions.

8. Sensory Overload

Infants with autism may also experience sensory overload, which can make it challenging for them to process and respond to their environment.

They may be hypersensitive to certain sounds, sights, or textures, or they may seek out certain sensory experiences, such as spinning or rocking.

9. Lack of Imagination

Infants with autism may have difficulty with imaginative play. They may not engage in pretend play or may not be able to understand the concept of using one object to represent another.

This can make it challenging for them to interact with their peers and may make it difficult for them to develop appropriate social skills.

10. Uneven Development

Infants with autism may have uneven development in different areas. For example, they may have strong verbal skills but poor social and communication skills, or vice versa.

This can make it difficult for them to interact with others and may make it challenging for them to develop appropriate social skills.