Characteristics of Autism and How SLPs Can Help

As a speech-language pathologist, one of the most common questions I hear is, “Should I be concerned about my child’s communication?”

Every child develops at their own pace, and no single behavior means a child is autistic. Instead, professionals look at patterns of social communication, play, and behavior over time.

If you’re noticing several of the signs below, it may be worth discussing your concerns with your child’s pediatrician or scheduling a speech-language evaluation.

Early signs of autism may include:

• Limited babbling or back-and-forth vocal play by around 12 months
• Not pointing to request something or share interest
• Rarely showing toys or objects to caregivers
• Limited use of gestures, such as waving, reaching to be picked up, or shaking their head “no”
• Limited eye contact during play or communication
• Not consistently responding to their name
• Difficulty following another person’s point or gaze
• Limited imitation of actions, facial expressions, or sounds
• Spending much more time focused on objects than people
• Repetitive movements or repetitive ways of playing with toys
• Limited pretend play
• Loss of previously acquired words, gestures, or social interaction skills

It’s important to remember that many young children will occasionally show one or two of these behaviors. What matters most is the overall pattern of development rather than any single characteristic.

What should I do if I’m concerned?

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that families should simply “wait and see.” While some children do develop skills later than others, it’s always appropriate to seek an evaluation if you have concerns.

You don’t need to wait for an autism diagnosis before seeking support.

Some good first steps include:

• Talk with your child’s pediatrician.
• Schedule a speech-language evaluation to assess communication and social communication skills.
• Make sure your child’s hearing has been evaluated if speech or language development is delayed.
• If appropriate, ask about a developmental evaluation for autism.

Early intervention can support communication, play, social interaction, and participation in everyday routines. The earlier concerns are addressed, the more opportunities children have to build new skills during a period of rapid development.

How can a speech-language pathologist help?

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) support many aspects of communication, including:

• Early communication skills
• Social communication
• Play skills
• Parent coaching
• Language development
• Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), when appropriate

One of my favorite parts of working with families is helping parents learn strategies they can naturally use during everyday routines like playtime, meals, bath time, and reading together. Those small moments throughout the day often provide the best opportunities for communication growth.

My approach

I have completed more than 100 hours of additional continuing education focused on autism and neurodiversity-affirming practice, including:

• Hanen More Than Words®
• Hanen TalkAbility®
• Inside Out Sensory Certificate (Jessie Ginsburg)
• Meaningful Speech® Natural Language Acquisition training

My goal is to help children build meaningful communication while partnering with families and honoring each child’s unique strengths, interests, and communication style.

Helpful resources

For additional information about the early signs of autism, I recommend these excellent resources:

• The Hanen Centre: Early Signs of Autism (the original article that inspired this post)
• CDC: Learn the Signs. Act Early.
• First Words Project: Autism Navigator and video examples of early communication development