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Early detection changes lives. Learn the critical autism symptoms, the concept of “masking” in girls, and the genetic risk factors every parent should know.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Autism is not a disease that appears overnight. It is a developmental pathway that looks different from the “neurotypical” norm. Signs often appear gradually. A parent might notice their baby is unusually quiet, doesn’t like to cuddle, or seems fascinated by ceiling fans but ignores people.
At LIV Hospital, we teach parents that these behaviors are forms of communication. The child is not being difficult; they are processing the world differently. Recognizing warning signs of autism early, often before a child can even speak, is the key to unlocking their potential. While every child develops at their own pace, consistent delays in social engagement are the strongest indicators that an evaluation is needed.
Social disconnect is the hallmark of ASD. These signs are often the first to be noticed by parents or caregivers.
Play Differences: Difficulty with “pretend play” (like feeding a doll) or preferring to play alone rather than with peers.
These behaviors are often attempts by the child to regulate their sensory system or create predictability.
Sensory Sensitivities: extreme reactions to specific sounds, textures, or lights. Conversely, they might have a high pain tolerance.
Autism itself is not a medical emergency. However, two specific situations require urgent professional attention.
Self-Injurious Behavior: In severe cases or during meltdowns, a child may bang their head, bite themselves, or scratch aggressively. This requires immediate behavioral and medical intervention to ensure physical safety.
While the primary causes of autism are biological, certain environmental factors during pregnancy are linked to a higher risk. Managing these can support healthy brain development.
Toxin Avoidance: Minimizing exposure to heavy metals and air pollution during pregnancy is a general recommendation for fetal health.
The strongest drivers of autism are genetic and biological. These autism risk factors help doctors determine which children need closer monitoring.
Gender: Boys are about four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
The statistic that “boys get autism more than girls” is being challenged. Experts now believe girls are simply underdiagnosed because their symptoms look different.
Girls often display “internalizing” symptoms. They are often quieter and more passive. Crucially, girls are better at “masking” or camouflaging. They may copy the social behaviors of other children to fit in, hiding their confusion. Because they appear sociable, they are often missed by teachers and doctors until the social demands of adolescence become too high to fake.
It is rarely one single gene or event that causes autism. It is likely a combination of genetic predisposition interacting with environmental triggers. For example, a child with a genetic marker for ASD who is also born prematurely has a higher total risk profile.
At LIV Hospital, we look at the whole picture. We take a detailed family history and review prenatal records. Understanding these risks prevents us from dismissing parental concerns. If a child is in a high-risk category, we do not “wait and see.” We screen early and aggressively, ensuring that if the child is on the spectrum, they get support the moment they need it.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Common warning signs include delayed speech, lack of eye contact, and not responding to their name by 12 months. You might also notice repetitive behaviors like hand flapping or lining up toys, and extreme distress when routines are changed.
Children with a sibling who has autism are at the highest risk due to genetics. Babies born prematurely or to older parents are also in a higher risk category. Additionally, boys are statistically more likely to receive a diagnosis than girls.
Yes. Boys often show more obvious repetitive behaviors and social withdrawal. Girls are often better at mimicking social interactions (“masking”) and may have more socially acceptable obsessions (like animals or dolls), leading to missed or delayed diagnoses.
While lifestyle does not cause autism directly, certain factors during pregnancy can influence risk. Taking certain anti-seizure medications (like valproate) during pregnancy or having short intervals between pregnancies (less than a year) has been associated with a slightly higher risk.
Many patients getting radiation therapy worry about being “radioactive.” They fear it might harm their loved ones. This worry is real because the treatment uses
