Symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome in Toddlers

Many children show symptoms of Asperger's syndrome in toddlerhood and during the preschool years and outgrow them with no difficulty. To say that an egocentric toddler with an obsession with trains has Asperger's is like saying that a crying infant is suffering from mood swings. Many symptoms of Aspger's syndrome are in fact developmentally normal for a child one to four years of age. Because of this, parents should try to avoid identifying symptoms of Asperger's syndrome in toddlers.

However, if your toddler is showing any of the following symptoms to a degree that is significantly outside a normal developmental range, he may benefit from some form of therapy and may need to be monitored later in life for emergent signs of Asperger's. Here are some of the more common symptoms associated with Asperger's syndrome in toddlers.

Gross Motor Delays

A toddler with Asperger's syndrome may experience delays in the development of gross motor skills like running, jumping, and hopping. My own daughter only just learned to jump with both feet off the ground at age four, although this is a milestone most children reach by age two. Although Asperger's can't (and shouldn't) be diagnosed on these grounds alone, gross motor delay is common in toddlers who are later diagnosed with Asperger's.

Peculiar Speech Development

By the time my daughter was two, she could recite the preamble and four Shakespearean soliloquies. But, if asked her own name, she would simply parrot back, "What's your name?" This symptom, called echolalia, is very common in children with autism spectrum disorders, especially toddlers. Toddlers with Asperger's may be able to speak very well and with advanced vocabulary, but may be unable to answer simple questions or respond to speech as expected.

Problems with Social Development

Most toddlers who will later be diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome have very poor social development compared to their same-age peers. A two-year-old can't be expected to be a social butterfly, but he should be able to answer simple questions, make eye contact, and perhaps engage in some interaction with other kids. They may also show little empathy or concern for the feelings of others. Children with Asperger's syndrome will tend to "tune out" or even fail to notice the interactions of other children.

Obsessions

It's entirely developmentally normal for a toddler or preschooler to have an obsession with one particular topic or idea. My daughter, for example, was extremely fond of dinosaurs and enjoyed giving long-winded seminars about paleontology. While some of her behaviors are red flags for Asperger's syndrome, her pediatrician regarded this behavior as absolutely normal for a bright child her age. However, kids with Asperger's syndrome may have longer-lasting, more intense obsessions than their peers. When combined with other symptoms, these obsessions might be cause for concern.

I'm reluctant to engage in armchair self-diagnosis of my daughter's behaviors, and I think it's dangerous to pathologize normal toddler development. However, if your toddler continues to show persistent symptoms of Asperger's syndrome well into his preschool and elementary-school years-- or if his symptoms are severe enough to require some form of therapy-- talk to his pediatrician. A qualified professional can help you to determine whether your child needs additional help, and what you can do to encourage healthy development.