Autism: Signs, Symptoms and Next Steps – Podcast Ep 111
Menu
Subscribe Search
Home > Parenting > Toddlers (1 - 2 years)

Autism: Signs, Symptoms and Next Steps – Podcast Ep 111

The CDC shows 1 in 36 children is now affected by ASD. Now more than ever, we all need to know of autism and the signs and symptoms.

Published June 27, 2023

by Nina Spears

The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
Share
  • Link copied
A woman with long hair, wearing a blue shirt, is sitting at a desk and engaging in a lively conversation with a young girl who is sitting on a red chair. The girl, adorned with a large green bow in her hair, shows no autism signs or symptoms. The background includes a whiteboard and desk items.

As someone with a twin brother who has autism, this topic is very near and dear to my heart. It’s important to me to have this discussion with a professional so that more people can understand autism, what it means, the signs and symptoms, and how families can get help. The CDC recently released data showing 1 in 36 children is now affected by ASD.1 Now more than ever, we all need to understand autism better.

Who Is Jana Sarno?

Jana Sarno headshot

Today, we have Jana Sarno as our guest! Jana is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with extensive educational, clinical, and professional development experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University (WMU). Jana then attended The University of Southern Mississippi for her PhD. in school psychology. At USM, she worked with children enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start, local school districts, a multi-disciplinary setting for children with communication and developmental disorders, and the USM School Psychology Clinic. After her time at USM, Jana completed a year-long internship at the Marcus Autism Center, an NIH Autism Center of Excellence in Atlanta, GA. While at Marcus, Jana received intensive clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, verbal behavior, and feeding disorders.

It’s evident that Jana is an expert in her field, and we are grateful to spend some time with her to chat about autism, early signs and symptoms, and the steps to take if your child is exhibiting any of them. We came with a lot of questions, and she delivered. If you or anyone you know has questions about ASD and wants to learn more, this episode is for you.

Jana’s Resources

Related articles:

We hope you found this episode helpful. If you did and enjoyed it, please subscribe to our podcast, Chick Chat, and leave us an honest review. Links below!

Share
  • Link copied
View Sources +
Was this article helpful?
  • Author
A woman with long blonde hair is smiling at the camera. She is wearing a turquoise blouse and gold hoop earrings. The background is filled with green foliage.
Nina Spears The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
  • Social
  • Social
  • Social
  • Social
  • Social
  • Social

Nina is The Baby Chick® & Editor-in-Chief of Baby Chick®. She received her baby planning certification in early 2011 and began attending births that same year. Since then, Nina has received her birth doula and postpartum doula certifications from DONA International, her childbirth educator certification from ICEA, her Hynobabies Hypno-Doula certification, and her infant massage instructor certification from Loving Touch, among other certifications. Nina has used her knowledge and expertise to teach and support families during their pregnancies, at their births, and throughout their postpartum journeys for over a decade.

Early in her career, Nina acquired her nickname from one of her birth doula clients, who lovingly referred to her as “The Baby Chick.” The “chick” who knows all about babies.…

See all from Nina Spears

Your Child’s Age

Select your child's age to track their development.

  P
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12
Month 13
Month 14
Month 15
Month 16
Month 17
Month 18
You might also like
A woman is holding a baby in her arms, capturing one of those perfect baby-mom moments. She faces forward while the baby rests its head on her shoulder. With her hair tied back and dressed in an orange top, she stands against a bright indoor background.

12 Baby-Mom Moments I Miss Now That I Have a Toddler
Toddlers (1 - 2 years)
A pregnant woman in a gray tank top sits on a bed, smiling as a young child rests their head against her pregnant belly. The calm child is one of her "two under two," and she embraces them warmly. In the background, there is a white radiator and a potted plant on the windowsill.

What It’s Really Like With Two Under Two
Motherhood
A young child with curly hair, possibly in the throes of the terrible twos, wears a yellow knit hat and is held closely by an adult wrapped in a patterned sweater. The adults eyes are closed, cheeks gently touching the childs. The background is blurred and green.

6 Tips for Surviving the “Terrible Twos”
Toddlers (1 - 2 years)
Three children are in a living room. In the foreground, a boy in a yellow shirt is sitting on a couch with a bored expression, resting his chin on his hands. In the background, two girls are laughing and one is pointing at the boy near a wooden cabinet—a reminder of things to never tease your child about.

4 Things You Should Never Tease Your Child About
Parenting Tips
A woman with long hair and a grey shirt sits on a couch, embracing a young girl with long hair. The girl, smiling and resting her head on the womans chest, seems unaware of what causes a child to be disrespectful. An open door and bookshelf are seen in the background.

10 Things NOT To Do To Avoid Raising Disrespectful Kids
Parenting Tips
A child with wet hair is lying on a blue kickboard in a swimming pool, supported and guided by an adult during swim lessons. The indoor pool area is well-lit and features red lane markers in the background.

What Parents Should Consider When Choosing Swim Lessons for Kids
Toddlers (1 - 2 years)
Janet Lansbury smiles while sitting at a round table with three young children, embodying the principles of respectful parenting. Two of the children stand by the table, while one child is partially visible in the foreground. The setting appears to be indoors with natural light.

Parenting with Compassion: The Power of Respectful Parenting with Janet Lansbury – Podcast Ep 152
Toddlers (1 - 2 years)
A young child with long hair, wearing a checkered dress, stands in front of a wall adorned with various colorful children artwork taped to it. The child is holding an object and smiling joyfully.

Simple Solutions for Holding Onto (Or Letting Go Of) Your Child’s Artwork
Parenting Tips
A toddler wearing a white shirt and denim overalls sits on a carpeted floor, engaging in unstructured play with wooden train tracks and a green toy train. The room is bright with natural light from the windows and has various toys and drawings in the background.

Understanding Structured Play vs. Unstructured Play
Preschoolers (3 - 4 years)
A woman and a child sit on an unmade bed with beige blankets and a wooden headboard. The woman has her arms around the child and they are both smiling. Sunlight streams through a window with sheer curtains on the left.

Teaching Kids the Power of Kindness – Podcast Ep 142
Parenting Tips
A young child wearing a blue shirt is smiling while engaging in purposeful play with colorful wooden blocks on a table. There is a blue water bottle next to the child. A world map is partially visible in the background.

How To Encourage Purposeful Play With Your Kids
Preschoolers (3 - 4 years)
A baby with blonde hair is standing and holding onto a floral patterned chair, reaching an exciting developmental milestone. Wearing a floral dress with ruffles, the baby fits perfectly in the light and airy room adorned with sheer white curtains.

Developmental Milestones: Is My Child On Track?
Babies (3 - 11 months)
A black and white photo captures a woman gently kissing the forehead of a baby she is holding close. The baby, possibly a disabled child, rests his head against the woman's cheek, creating a tender and affectionate parenting moment. The background is blurred.

Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child – Podcast Ep 138
Parenting Tips
A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair is holding a baby. The woman is smiling and looking up at the baby, who is standing and looking back at her. They are indoors, with a window in the background letting in natural light. Scenes like these often capture the precious moments before babies start talking.

When Do Babies Start Talking?
Babies (3 - 11 months)
A baby sits in a high chair, wearing a bib and holding a piece of food. In front of the baby is a plate with small pieces of avocado, promoting healthy eating habits. The baby appears to be eating, with one hand holding food to its mouth. The background features white cabinetry.
The image features a green text saying "avocados LOVE ONE TODAY" with the additional text "heart-healthy • naturally good fats" below in a smaller font. The word "avocados" is in brown, while the rest of the text is in green on a green background, promoting healthy eating habits.

Investing in Healthy Eating Habits for You and Your Family
Parenting Tips
A healthcare professional with a beard and gloves is administering a shot to a young child on a medical examination table. The child's clothing consists of a yellow and white striped shirt and jeans. An adult is sitting nearby, smiling and observing the process of how to get over fear of needles.

How Parents Can Help Their Children Through a Fear of Needles
Parenting Tips
A woman smiles while watching two children, demonstrating their emotional intelligence, wash dishes in a kitchen. The children, a boy and a girl, are focused on cleaning a mug and a plate in a sink filled with soapy water. The kitchen counter has various items, including a coffee machine.

Raising Good Humans: Teaching Life Skills & Emotional Intelligence to Our Kids with Dr. Jenny Woo – Podcast Ep 135
Parenting Tips
A child is sitting on the floor in a softly lit room, bending forward to tie the shoelaces of their sneakers. The sunlight streams in through a window, creating a warm atmosphere. In the background, a bed is partially visible, reminding us of the importance of perseverance for kids as they tackle small challenges.

Teaching Your Toddler How To Persevere
Toddlers (1 - 2 years)
A playful parent and a child, both wearing red capes and red masks, are pretending to be superheroes in a modern kitchen with large windows. The parent kneels on one knee with an arm raised forward, while the child stands behind with an arm outstretched.

Playful Parenting: Learning To Be Playful With Your Kids
Parenting Tips
A smiling baby with curly hair sits in a high chair, wearing a brown long-sleeve shirt. The baby has Stonyfield yogurt on their face and holds a spoon in one hand. There is a blue bowl with yogurt on the high chair tray. In the background, containers of baby food are on the counter.
The image shows the Stonyfield Organic logo, featuring the brand name in white with a green leaf inside the letter "O" in "Stonyfield." The text is set in a blue arch for "Stonyfield" and straight for "ORGANIC.

Introducing Stonyfield’s No Added Sweeteners YoBaby Yogurt
Babies (3 - 11 months)
A man and a boy are cleaning a countertop in a kitchen, demonstrating how parents should treat their child as capable little adults. The man watches while the boy sprays cleaner from a bottle onto the surface. Both are dressed casually, and the kitchen is well-lit with natural light.

5 Reasons Why You Should Treat Your Children Like Adults
Parenting Tips
A child with curly hair is sleeping on their side, resting on a pillow. The background shows a wooden surface and some bright light coming from a window. Practicing good sleep hygiene can help achieve such peaceful and relaxed sleep for kids.

Sleep Hygiene for Kids: How To Help Your Child Get Enough Sleep
Sleep
A smiling child in a yellow sweater sits at a wooden table in front of a plate of kid-friendly vegetables. The child is holding a fork with a piece of broccoli on it. There is a pink wall and a green plant in the background.

Tips for Encouraging Kids To Eat Vegetables
Parenting Tips
Two women and two toddlers are enjoying a playdate in a grassy park, delighting in the magic of bubbles. The toddlers stand while the women kneel, fully engaged with the children's joy. Sunlight filters through trees in the background, casting a warm glow on the scene as bubbles float around them.

7 Easy Ways To Elevate Your Playdate Game
Preschoolers (3 - 4 years)
Subscribe to our newsletter