Children with Autism may Display Varying Repetitive Behaviors as Early as One

Statistics show that around 1 in 68 children have been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASDs) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a group of developmental disorders that are characterized by poor communication and behavioral skills. As more information forms regarding the health issue, early treatment for the problem is key. Most suffering from the behavioral health issue are diagnosed during childhood. Yet a recent study shows that symptoms of the disorder can even be recognized in infancy.

For the study, researchers recruited 184 children who were considered at a high-risk for developing the disorder and 59 children who carried an average risk for the health issue.  High-risk children had an older sibling dealing with an ASD.

At 12 and 24-months-old, children's parents filled out a questionnaire based on repetitive behaviors, including rocking back and forth, flapping of the limbs and obsessiveness over a toy. These behaviors formed in infancy are typically normal, if done in small amounts.

However, the researchers discovered a 42 percent increased risk for children who showed more signs of repetitive behaviors, particularly at the age of one. Researchers looked for four to eight varying signs in those who were diagnosed with ASDs at one. For those without the condition but repetitive behaviors, one to two signs were common.

"But in typically developing children...[the repetitive behavior] usually peaks around the age of 6 months," said lead researcher Jason Wolff, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, via WebMD. "In children who go on to develop autism, repetitive behavior is still highly prevalent, or even increasing, at the age of 12 months."

Researchers believe that keeping track of their infants' repetitive behaviors can help determine if there are any health issues early in life. 

More information regarding the findings will be presented Saturday at the International Meeting for Autism Research, in Atlanta, Ga.