For some families whose children have autism, signs are obvious starting in the toddler years. Loss of verbal and social skills, when it happens early in a child’s development, is a key trigger for additional testing.
However, for children with mild or moderate autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, the signs may not become apparent until later. Often, signs of high-functioning autism become clearer during the preschool years, especially around age four.
Learning to spot autism in 4 year old children is essential to getting children into the right support early so they can thrive.
Is my child “on the spectrum?”
When describing autistic children, educators and doctors often use the phrase “on the spectrum.” This phrase refers to the fact that autism is a spectrum disorder that ranges in severity. High-functioning autism is on one end.
These children often seem very similar to their neurotypical counterparts, but with distinctive challenges that are autistic in nature.
Children who are non-verbal and require round-the-clock care are at the other end of the spectrum.
Your preschooler can land somewhere in between these two extremes. Regardless, if you have a child on the spectrum, you and your child need the right support in order to thrive.
The challenge of detecting high-functioning autism
Children on the high needs end of the autism spectrum are usually easy to spot. They have typical autistic behaviors and will need extensive care from their parents.
These children often display signs of autism quite early or have a significant regression as toddlers.
For children with high-functioning autism, spotting developmental signs can be challenging.
They may not exhibit the stereotypical autism signs, may talk and make eye contact like a neurotypical child. Some learn to mirror their peers and may look like a neurotypical child in many settings.
These children may be quite intelligent and can develop excellent, sometimes above-average, language skills.
Children with high-functioning autism may develop language skills early and possess an extensive vocabulary. This ability makes it challenging for parents and doctors to spot these kids and provide them with appropriate interventions.
What are the early signs of high-functioning autism in 4 year old kids?
As a parent, you know your child best. For this reason, it’s usually the parent who realizes something is different about their child.
Some of the earliest signs autistic preschoolers show, and these may show up even in infancy, include:
- Intense focus on a particular interest
- High emotional sensitivity
- Sensory processing challenges
- Communication challenges
- Social anxiety
- Need for routine
- Repetitive behaviors or speech patterns
- Difficulty making or keeping friends
- Lack of interest in pretend play
The problem with this list is that neurotypical preschoolers can also exhibit these behaviors.
Having one or two is just part of normal development. However, when a child exhibits many of these signs and those behaviors are negatively impacting their social, emotional, or educational development, further testing may be warranted.
What does autism in a 4 year old look like?
Spotting common autistic traits in 4 year olds means getting help early in the child’s educational and social development.
Because high-functioning autism can be so hard to spot, let’s take a closer look at some common autistic signs and how a preschooler may exhibit them.
Here’s what these concerns may look like:
High emotional sensitivity
Some kids are more emotional than others, but if yours is having regular meltdowns, even over seemingly small things, it can be a sign of autism.
Children with autism often lack emotional regulation skills, and they also get easily overstimulated by their environment, and both of these can lead to meltdowns.
Problems with social cues
Autistic preschoolers often miss the indirect communication signs that people use, such as facial expressions or tone of voice.
This challenge can make them seem socially awkward or create miscommunication, which in preschoolers manifests as difficulty forming and maintaining peer relationships.
For example, your child may struggle to understand that a friend is sad or angry, and will continue to play in a way that frustrates their friend.
Lack of back-and-forth conversations
Preschool is when most children begin to understand the reciprocal pattern of conversation. One-sided dialogue can be a sign of autism for a preschooler.
Language delays or advanced language
Autistic children at age four can have language delays, or they can have language that’s incredibly advanced for their age. They may focus on language on one specific subject, have repetitive speech patterns, or quote lines from songs and movies instead of creating their own phrases.
This particular sign of autism often goes undetected until preschool because each child gains speech at a different rate.
By age 4, however, the differences in speech compared to peers become much more obvious. These kids may be quiet and reserved, or they may dominate the conversation with intense knowledge about the subjects at hand.
Nonverbal communication challenges
Lack of appropriate eye contact, poor use of hand gestures, and limited facial expressions can all point to autism in preschoolers. However, eye contact may not be an issue if the child is high functioning.
Strict need for routine
For preschoolers with autism, veering from the normal routine can create anxiety or trigger a meltdown. As a parent, you may feel like you’re walking on eggshells, trying to keep each day the same to maintain your child’s emotional comfort.
Repetitive behaviors
The need for routine can lead to repetitive behaviors and habits. For example, they may need the same bedtime routine every night or struggle to fall asleep. They may need to put their clothing on in the same order every morning when getting dressed.
Sensory processing challenges
Children on the spectrum may be overly sensitive to sensory stimuli, complaining about itchy clothing or bad smells. Putting on shoes or socks can feel like torture to someone with sensory overload concerns.
On the other hand, some may be under-sensitive to sensory input, seemingly unaware of or non-reactive to touch and pain. These children may seek sensory stimulation by crashing into walls and people, or by jumping and swinging without seeming to tire.
They may also appear to have a limited understanding of personal space, often sitting near or touching the people around them.
These autistic traits in 4-year-olds are often more pronounced than in the infant and toddler years because they are no longer something that you can justify because of your child’s age and immaturity.
The importance of early intervention for an autistic preschooler
Why is it so important to spot autism in 4 year old kids? If you can obtain an accurate diagnosis when your child is still in preschool, you can establish their education with the right support in place. This, in turn, gives the child the opportunity to reach their full potential.
The National Institutes of Health recommends intervention as early as possible, indicating that a child’s brain development in the preschool years is the prime time for children with autism to get the support they need through an autism program or supportive therapy.
If you suspect that your preschooler may be on the spectrum, talk to your child’s pediatrician about further testing. You can also request testing through your child’s school.
If you don’t have the right support from educational professionals and doctors, then consider reaching out to an alternative school, like EA Schools, that supports and understands autistic kids. With the help of the right educators, your child can be tested and then receive the correct support to help them thrive.
Once you have a diagnosis, working with an alternative school allows you to tailor your child’s education to their needs.
We help our students build confidence, foster positive relationships, and achieve academic excellence. We also offer emotional and mental health services as part of our day treatment program, enabling students to learn how to identify and manage emotions while developing coping mechanisms that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Starting this path with an autistic preschooler lets us capitalize on prime years for brain development, which is why getting this help early is so important.
The right diagnosis and early intervention are the key to helping a child with autism truly thrive. If you suspect autism in your 4 year old, EA Schools could be the support you need on this journey.
Contact us to learn more about our programs and to see if our school is the right fit for your preschooler.