A child’s first words, gestures, eye contact, and social responses can change quickly between 12 and 18 months. But what if your toddler is not pointing, rarely responds to their name, uses very few gestures, or seems less interested in sharing moments with you? These patterns can raise understandable concerns about autism.
Early signs of autism in children ages 12-18 months may include differences in social communication, interaction, play, and repetitive or sensory behaviors. This guide explains what is normal for parents to see, when to pay attention to behavior, and when developmental screening might be appropriate.
What Are the Signs of Autism in Children Ages 12-18 Months?
Babies and young toddlers are always developing new ways to relate to their environment. Autism is a developmental difference that can affect a child’s ability to interact, express feelings, respond to typical sounds and textures, and play with toys. Doctors look at several areas together, including social engagement, communication, gestures, and repetitive behaviors, rather than any single sign on its own.
1. Limited or Different Eye Contact
One of the most common ways children tell us they are listening and sharing a moment with us is by making eye contact.
- Does not regularly make eye contact during interaction: Your child might look away often during feeding, cuddling, or playing, rather than looking you in the eye.
- May be less interested in social games or mutual interaction: They may not be interested in simple games such as peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, or chasing each other around the room.
- May be less likely to reach out and involve familiar people: In extended play periods, they may be quite happy playing alone and may not reach out to bring you into their world.
2. Not Responding Consistently to Their Name
By the time a toddler reaches 12 months, they usually turn their head right away when you call their name.
- May not respond when their name is called repeatedly: When you call your child’s name a few times, they don’t turn or look up at you.
- May seem focused on something else instead: They might act as if they did not hear you at all because their attention is completely locked onto a toy or something in the room.
- Hearing concerns can also affect how a child responds: Before diagnosing autism, doctors always check for fluid in the ears or simple hearing loss, which can cause the same behavior.
3. Limited Gestures and Nonverbal Communication
Before children learn to speak full words, they rely on body language to tell us what they want.
- Less pointing, waving, reaching, or showing objects to others: Your child might not wave “bye-bye” to visitors, or clap along during a favorite song.
- May not use gestures to communicate needs or interests: Instead of pointing at a cup on the counter to ask for water, they might not try to communicate at all.
- May have fewer attempts to share experiences with others: They rarely bring toys over to drop in your lap just to show you what they are playing with.
4. Delayed or Limited Language Development
Language skills grow fast at this age, but every child picks up words on their own schedule.
- Limited babbling or spoken words: Your child might make very few sounds like “ba-ba” or “da-da,” or they may not have used their first real word yet.
- Fewer attempts to copy sounds or communicate: They might not try to copy the sounds you make or echo back simple words when you speak to them.
- A speech delay alone does not necessarily mean autism: Many children have simple speech delays without being autistic, and speech therapy easily helps many kids catch up.
5. Reduced Joint Attention
Shared attention simply means two people looking at the exact same thing together. For example, if a cat walks into the room, a child looks at the cat, points, and then looks at you to make sure you see it too.
- Does not often point to show something interesting: Your toddler might look at an airplane in the sky, but they will not point up at it to show you.
- May not follow someone’s point: Point across the room and say “Look at the big ball.” Your child may look at your finger rather than the ball.
- May not be as good at sharing excitement or interest with others: They may not want to share what they are doing, or check to see if you are sharing in it too.
6. Repetitive Movements and Behaviors
Autistic toddlers are frequently calmed by repeating the same physical motions and movements again and again.
- Repeated body movements: Your child may rock back and forth while sitting to play, or spin their whole body in circles in the middle of the room.
- Lining up or focusing on specific objects repeatedly: They may line up shoes, blocks, or cars for a long time to keep them perfectly straight rather than playing with them.
- Repeating the same actions: They may switch a light switch on and off several times or open and close a door several times in succession.
7. Unusual Reactions to Sounds, Textures, or Other Sensory Input
Everyday sights, sounds, and feelings can be more intense or less intense for an autistic child.
- Intense responses to some sounds, lights, smells, textures, or touch: Some sounds, such as a kitchen blender starting suddenly or water running in the sink, may provoke fear and crying.
- Holding hands over ears or reacting to normal sounds: Your child may cover their ears or become distressed when hearing normal sounds.
- Repeating certain sensations: They may enjoy gazing at spinning fan blades or repeatedly rubbing the tags on a blanket or rough wall surfaces.
8. Unusual Play Patterns
For toddlers, play is the primary way they learn about the world, and autistic children may play in unusual ways.
- Attaching to parts of toys rather than using them as intended: Your toddler might spend a long time opening and closing a toy’s doors or lids, instead of using the toy as intended.
- Repeatedly spinning wheels or opening and closing objects: They like to do the same thing over and over, rather than creating a game.
- Limited interest in simple interactive games: May not return the ball to you when you throw it or play pretend kitchen.
What Does Developmental Regression Look Like Between 12 and 18 Months?
Developmental regression occurs when a child loses a skill they had previously gained, sometimes rapidly and sometimes gradually. One of the most apparent indicators for parents can be this.
- Ceasing the use of words they know: A toddler who spoke “mama,” “dada,” or “bye” suddenly stops saying them altogether.
- No longer waving, pointing, or using familiar gestures: A child who used to wave goodbye to grandma no longer waves, points, or uses gestures for her.
- Becoming less socially engaged or responsive: A child who used to smile, cuddle, and play peek-a-boo suddenly becomes very quiet, withdrawn, or hard to reach.
If you notice a sudden or obvious loss of any skills, inform your child’s doctor immediately. Losing skills is an important reason to get a professional medical opinion as soon as possible. Official advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that losing language or social skills at any age is a top reason to seek medical advice immediately.
Can Autism Be Diagnosed Between 12 and 18 Months?
A formal autism diagnosis is uncommon this early, but this window is exactly when standardized screening starts to become reliable.
- Screening: The M-CHAT-R, the most widely used toddler autism screening tool, is validated for children between 16 and 30 months old, which makes 16-18 months a good time for a first screening.
- Diagnosis: Experienced specialists can sometimes diagnose autism as early as 18 months, though many children are not formally diagnosed until closer to age two or later.
- Why it matters: Families do not need to wait for a formal diagnosis to get help. Early intervention services can often start based on screening results and observed delays alone.
What Should You Do If You Notice Signs of Autism?
If you see these behaviors in your child, try not to panic. Taking simple, organized steps will help you get clear answers and support your child quickly:
- Keep a small notebook or a list on your phone. Write down what your child does, how often it happens, and what time of day it is.
- Track whether the behavior is brand new, happens every day, or occurs only when your child is tired or hungry.
- Write down any words or gestures your child used to do that they have stopped doing.
- Book a routine checkup with your pediatrician, and bring your written notes so you don’t forget anything.
- Ask your doctor to run a simple, standardized screening questionnaire (like the M-CHAT) that helps spot early developmental delays.
- If you still feel worried, ask for a referral to a specialist or call your local state early intervention program for a free evaluation.
Many families also start exploring ABA therapy in Columbia, MO around this stage, since it can build directly on a child’s emerging communication, play, and social skills.
Guidelines from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry show that getting support before age two leads to the best long-term success for children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a language delay at 12-18 months always a sign of autism?
No. Many toddlers have simple speech delays that have nothing to do with autism. Delays can happen because of ear infections, hearing problems, or just taking a little extra time to talk. Autism involves speech delays along with social and behavioral differences, not language alone.
Can a child show autism signs and not be autistic?
Yes. Young children can show some of these behaviors for other reasons, such as hearing problems, general tiredness, or normal developmental phases. That is why a full evaluation by a doctor is necessary to know for sure.
Is loss of speech or other skills a warning sign?
Yes. One of the biggest red flags that your child might have autism is the loss of speech, eye contact, or social skills, and your child should be seen by a doctor immediately.
Also Read: Signs of Autism in Children Ages 9-12 Months | Signs of Autism in Children Ages 18-24 Months
Final Thoughts
Noticing the early signs of autism in children ages 12-18 months is all about watching how your child plays, talks, and connects with you. All children develop a little differently, and if your child doesn’t have all of these characteristics, they don’t automatically have autism.
When something doesn’t feel right or when you see your child losing skills, follow your instincts. New Dawn ABA is here to help your family with gentle, personalized care that fits your child’s needs. Call us now for a friendly discussion and to access the support your child deserves.
