Eye contact in infants can be observed as early as the age of six months, making it a very important source of the earliest possible indication of autism. As per the growth milestones set by pediatricians, most babies start to make eye contact at around three months of age. If an infant fails to make eye contact in the first six months, an immediate consultation with an expert is recommended. Pediatricians can further evaluate the eye contact problem by observing and asking parents about the following infant behavior traits:.
Observation: Poor eye contact, or staring from unusual angle. Although the eye contact problem is significantly related to autism, it should be used only as a potential risk indicator of rather than a source of firm diagnosis.
Significance of Eye Contact Problem. One major reason why children with autism are apprehensive about establishing eye contact is because they lack social ability to communicate. Some children with autism require immense concentration on the situation resulting in lack of eye contact. In most cases, children with autism establish a habit of proper eye contact but would soon lose concentration on the situation or on the person he is looking at. The severity of the problem suggests a consultation with a certified professional behaviorist and proper application of the result-oriented ABA or DTT procedures.
Furthermore, it is important for parents not to force their child to have eye contact because it will only establish anxiety and frustration. The child has to develop eye contact behavior naturally through ABA, rather than by force.
It also makes bonding stronger between parent and child, since it shows you that your baby does know who you are and how important you are in her life. One major concern when a baby does not develop eye contact is the possibility of a future diagnosis of autism.
Autistic children have trouble making eye contact with others, but other signs and symptoms are also present in autistics, so missing this single developmental milestone isn't enough for a definitive diagnosis. It is truly a concern only when the child also does not develop the ability to follow someone else's gaze to look at something, known as exhibiting joint attention, nor understand other aspects of social communication.
A baby needs to be calm and alert to initiate eye contact, so don't try to assess this developmental milestone when she is hungry, upset or sleepy. If your baby is over 3 months old and still not making eye contact, have her pediatrician check her for vision problems. If your baby's vision testing comes out fine, but she still isn't making eye contact, the doctor might suggest testing her for attachment or behavior problems or adopting a wait-and-see attitude of observing her development over the next few months before trying to diagnose a problem.
Bridget Coila specializes in health, nutrition, pregnancy, pet and parenting topics. Her articles have appeared in Oxygen, American Fitness and on various websites.
The data showed that distinct differences in eye interest became apparent when the babies were between 2 and 6 months old. The researchers also found that steeper declines in eye interest tended to be linked to more severe cases of social disability.
Other differences emerged as well. If the results are confirmed and doctors are able to identify children with autism as early as 2 months of age, therapists could intervene earlier — and perhaps get better results. Brain wave study sheds light on autism among toddlers. Brains of women with autism show masculine traits. Karen Kaplan is science and medicine editor at the Los Angeles Times.
Before joining the science group, she covered technology in the Business section. This scientist is finding out. All Sections.
0コメント