Parents can notice the earliest signs of autism, such as limited eye contact, minimal social interaction and repetitive behaviors, during their child’s first two years. Autism can be diagnosed as early as age 2.
And while it can be overwhelming to learn that your toddler has autism, it also provides the opportunity for early interventions, which have been shown to be most effective for skill-building in the long-term.
“The news can be really hard for parents to hear initially, but autistic children have a lot of amazing strengths,” says Christina Corsello, PhD, director of clinical services at the UNC TEACCH Autism Program. “There’s good help out there, and children can do really well.”
Here are some of the next steps you can take after your young child receives an autism diagnosis.
Gather Information and Connect with Local Resources
Autism is incredibly common—according to the most recent data, 1 in 31 children in the United States receive a diagnosis before the age of 8—but it affects people in different ways. People with autism may struggle with communication, social understanding or sensory processing, among other challenges.
Even though your child is still a toddler, understanding how autism affects others can help you learn how to support your child, now and in the future. But you don’t have to do that alone.
“The evaluator who makes your child’s diagnosis should provide a written report that shares what this diagnosis means, how it relates to your child, and recommendations for intervention,” Dr. Corsello says. “Then, there are both national and local resources with family-friendly websites and information about what services are available and questions to ask when choosing them.”
It’s important to remember that available services will vary by location.
“Each state has their own service systems, so it’s helpful to connect with local resources,” Dr. Corsello says. “In North Carolina, we have family navigators and resource specialists available who can help you think through your needs and what is available, and they can help you access supports and services.”
It can be helpful to join a support group, where other parents can provide recommendations and reassurance.
“There’s a lot of information out there, a lot of options, and it can be overwhelming,” Dr. Corsello says. “Talking to other families can help both with the emotional processing of the diagnosis and finding resources.”
Learn About Treatment Options
The treatments and interventions your child needs vary by age and development, but the evaluator who provided your diagnosis can make recommendations, which may include one-on-one or group therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy or physical therapy. A resource specialist or family navigator can also provide education on available options.
“With younger children, two key areas to focus on are social interactions and communication,” Dr. Corsello says. “It’s important to help children engage with their environment and other people, communicate and engage in back-and-forth interactions.”
For young children, Dr. Corsello says to look for programs that use Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions, or NDBIs. NDBI is an umbrella term that encompasses different models and approaches (Early Start Denver Model and Pivotal Response Treatment are two examples), but the interventions share some characteristics.
“These behavioral interventions are a way to teach or develop skills during the child’s naturally occurring daily activities, such as snack, play or bathtime,” Dr. Corsello says. “They should be appropriate for the child’s development level, and for very young children, incorporated into play.”
NDBIs may not look very different from regular play, which is the point, but if regularly implemented, they can teach or reinforce skills such as eye contact, engagement with another person and communicating a desire to continue an activity. For example, playing peekaboo with a young child can do all of those things.
Consider What Treatment Approach Works Best for Your Family
Treatment for autism can be provided in a variety of settings. A provider can come to your home, or you can see someone in a clinic, where there is space for your child to learn and play. You could choose, as the parent, to be the primary person to implement these activities regularly with your child, after getting some coaching and forming a plan with a professional, or you may prefer to have a therapist do the primary work with your child while you reinforce their learning at home.
“There are a lot of factors that affect that choice, like distance to programs or costs,” Dr. Corsello says. “You also have to think about how much time and bandwidth the parent has to do the intervention. You might need a program where you drop the child off and do other things, or you might need someone to come to you.”
With coaching, parents can implement interventions effectively themselves; some choose telehealth appointments with a professional who can guide you and your child over video.
“Even if others are working with your child, you should feel included and get some coaching from them on how to incorporate these strategies into the day,” Dr. Corsello says.
Continue to Build Your Child’s Routine and Encourage Play
You may identify a preferred program for your child, but you may not be able to start receiving services right away.
“One hard thing for parents can be the wait times for some programs, which is an important thing to be aware of,” Dr. Corsello says. “There are a lot of resources that can help you work with your child while you’re waiting,” including the TEACCH for Toddlers activity library.
It’s helpful to focus on routines and play, which will be emphasized in treatment.
“A lot of autistic children feel comfortable with routines but have difficulty using and understanding language, so using routines and visual cues, such as objects, can be a powerful way to teach language or improve comprehension,” Dr. Corsello says “With toddlers, you might sing ‘Old McDonald’ every day while holding up the animals in a farm set, or pair an object with an activity, like giving a child his shoes for time outside, which increases understanding and eventually use of words.”
Finding time to play with your child is also important, even if you don’t yet know how to teach a specific skill or feel like your child isn’t fully engaging with you.
“A lot of learning and modeling happens during play—watching, imitating, reciprocating,” Dr. Corsello says. “Play helps with creativity and positive affect, and those are building blocks for learning.”
If you have questions about autism, talk to your doctor. If you need a doctor, find one near you.