Male Speaker: We look at a kid at 4 months of age, not making an exact diagnosis autism but has some reflex, we can look at.
Carrie Leshin: Absolutely.
Male Speaker: What would you say would be some of the reflex?
Carrie Leshin: Some of the reflex are definitely a lack of a social smile, a lack of imitation. Believe it or not that children as young as 1 month of age, 2 months of age start to imitate their caregiver, whether it be opening their mouth, sticking out their tongue. The other thing that's very important to know is the eye contact. It's very important to have rich eye contact. Not just --
Male Speaker: Wait, wait, wait a minute, you used the term social smile. I know what it means and I am sure you know what it means. What would you call a true social smile?
Carrie Leshin: A true social smile is where a child actually seeks out the attention of the adult and gives them a rich smiling you can see with their whole face not just with their mouth. The smile could be either imitated or it could be initiated by the child not necessarily by the parents and it should also be effortless.
If you feel that you have to try so hard, and it takes a lot of energy out of you to get that smile from the child. That could be an indication of an issue. Social smile and all these early, early signs of natural development should really come very effortlessly.
Male Speaker: So in other words, I always say, with that social smile, child looking for response back.
Carrie Leshin: Exactly.
Male Speaker: Looking for the mother to do that goo gaa stuff that you are embarrassed they way they have reported up, it's perfect. So it's looking for response.
Carrie Leshin: Right.
Male Speaker: Okay! Many kids while smile at the mother.
Carrie Leshin: Right. So these little noises--
Male Speaker: How old is the child?
Carrie Leshin: Three and a half months.
Male Speaker: That three and a half also making eye contact with you. He is looking to get some response back. Is that correct?
Carrie Leshin: Yes, correct. And also, you want to make sure that the child can track your face as well. And he is interested in tracking your face.
Male Speaker: These are the-- when he wakes up, he is looking for you. Is that correct?
Carrie Leshin: Absolutely, he calls me.
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