The Autism Symptoms Parents Should Watch For

“Will my child speak?” “Will he be able to live independently?” “Will she have friends?”

Questions like these are common for parents who are worried about their child’s development. And while it’s natural to feel uncertain, it’s also important to know that autism looks different for every child.

Today, we understand autism as a spectrum — meaning symptoms and support needs can vary widely. As awareness has grown, more families are seeking evaluations, which has led to an increase in diagnoses, including in California.

So what’s behind that rise — and what signs should parents look for? Neal Rojas, M.D., a board-certified developmental and behavioral pediatrician with Sutter, shares what families should know.

California’s Rise in Autism Rates

What’s behind the rise in autism rates in California? Rojas says there isn’t a single reason autism diagnoses are increasing. Instead, several factors may be contributing.

Improved Survival for Premature Babies

Advances in neonatal care mean more premature and medically fragile babies are surviving — and some of these children may have a higher likelihood of developmental differences, including autism.

“These children are now growing up,” Rojas explains. “Some are doing very well, while others may need additional support for neurodevelopmental differences.”

Greater Awareness

As understanding of autism has improved, so has access to evaluation and services.

“In California, policies have expanded access to medically necessary services for children with autism,” Rojas says. “As more families seek evaluations, it’s expected that more diagnoses will follow.”

In other words, part of the increase reflects better recognition — not necessarily a sudden change in how common autism is.

Environmental Factors

Researchers are also exploring whether environmental exposures may play a role.

“There is some evidence showing links between certain environmental factors and higher autism rates,” Rojas says. “But these are complex relationships, and it’s difficult to prove cause and effect.”

Autism Symptoms to Watch For

Autism can show up in different ways, but two areas are often affected: social communication and patterns of behavior.

Socially, a child with autism may have difficulty with:

• Feeling overwhelmed in social situations or interpreting social cues or voice tone
• Making meaningful eye contact
• Making friends and playing with peers
• Starting and taking turns in conversations or even speaking
• Understanding boundaries and personal space
• Understanding what others are thinking or feeling, their body language or facial expressions

You might also observe repetitive behaviors, such as:

• Extreme interest in narrow topics
• Lining up toys in a row, flipping switches repeatedly
• Insistence on routine and extreme distress at changes in routine
• Repeating what others say verbatim
• Repetitive body movements such as rocking or hand flapping
• Repetitive movements or speech patterns
• Sensory issues, like extreme sensitivity to light, sound, touch or texture
• Sensory-seeking behaviors, such as smelling or touching of objects

“People often notice the repetitive behaviors first because they’re more visible,” Rojas says. “But differences in social communication are at the core of autism.”

What Parents Can Do

Your child’s pediatrician may screen for developmental differences during routine visits — but your observations at home are just as important.

“Before each well-child visit, it can help to think about how your child is growing and changing,” Rojas says. “What new things are they doing? How are they connecting with others?”

You might notice things like whether your child responds to their name, uses gestures to communicate or makes eye contact during interactions. As language develops, consider whether they’re using words to connect with people — or focusing more on objects or patterns.

If something doesn’t feel quite right, trust your instincts and talk with your child’s pediatrician. Screening tools like the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) used by your pediatrician can help identify early signs and guide next steps.

If your child is diagnosed with autism, it’s important to know that support is available — and early intervention can make a meaningful difference.

“Autism doesn’t limit a person’s ability to live a meaningful and fulfilling life,” Rojas says. “With the right support, many individuals with autism thrive.”