Check the key signs in 2 minutes

Communication and play

• Avoids eye contact or doesn’t keep it
• Doesn’t respond to their name - doesn’t turn when called
• Doesn’t play simple games with an adult, like pat-a-cake or peekaboo
• Doesn’t point to show you something interesting or bring things to show you
• Doesn’t pretend play: doesn’t feed a doll or “talk” on a toy phone
• Doesn’t notice when others are hurt or upset
• Doesn’t notice other children or join them in play

Speech and gestures

• Doesn’t babble - no syllables like “ba-ba” or “ma-ma”
• Uses no gestures: doesn’t point, wave bye-bye or reach to be picked up
• Doesn’t say any single words
• Doesn’t say two-word phrases of their own (not just repeating)
• Doesn’t understand what you say: doesn’t follow simple requests without gestures, like “Take the block out of the box” or “Give me the ball”

Behaviour and senses

• Plays the same way: lines things up and gets upset if the order changes, or focuses on parts (spins wheels)
• Repeats words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Gets very upset by minor changes, insists on the same routines
• Flaps hands, rocks or spins in circles
• Reacts unusually to sounds, smells, tastes, touch or the look of things - very strongly or hardly at all

Important

• Has lost skills they used to have: words, gestures, interest in people