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The following behaviors have been suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics (2006) and others as red flags for ASD in the first two years of life:

• Lack of appropriate gaze;
• Lack of warm, joyful expressions with gaze;
• Lack of sharing enjoyment or interests;
• Lack of alternating to-and-fro vocalizations with parents;
• Lack of response to name;
• Delayed onset of babbling past 9 months of age;
• Decreased or absent use of pre-speech gestures (waving, pointing, showing);
• No single words by 16 months;
• No two-word utterances by 24 months;
• Repetitive movements or posturing of body, arms, hands, or fingers;
• Loss of language or social skills at any age.

The below video illustrates defined patterns of early onset.  It is so important that doctors recognize the signs.  Remember that Early Intervention is the best treatment!  For more information go to http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/content/video-early-onset