Autism

Autism Symptoms & Signs

Most parents of autistic children suspect that something is wrong by the time the child is 18 months old and seek help by the time the child is 2 (though the diagnosis is usually not made until long after that). Children with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and pretend play. In some, aggression -- toward others or self -- may be present.

Some children with autism appear normal before age 1 or 2 and then suddenly "regress" and lose language or social skills they had previously gained. This is called the regressive type of autism.

People with autism may perform repeated body movements, show unusual attachments to objects or have unusual distress when routines are changed. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste. Such children, for example, will refuse to wear "itchy" clothes and become unduly distressed if forced because of the sensitivity of their skin. Some combination of the following areas may be affected in varying degrees:

• Communication
  • Is unable to start or sustain a conversation
  • Develops language slowly or not at all
  • Repeats words
  • Reverses pronouns
  • Uses nonsense rhyming
  • Communicates with gestures instead of words
  • Has a short attention span
• Social interaction
  • Shows a lack of empathy (can't understand that other people feel differently or know different things)
  • Has difficulty making friends
  • Is withdrawn
  • Prefers to spend time alone rather than with others
  • Is less responsive to social cues such as eye contact or smiles
• Sensory impairment
  • Has heightened or decreased senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste
  • Mouths objects
  • Rubs surfaces
  • Has diminished response to pain
  • Does not startle at loud noises
  • May withdraw from physical contact because it is overstimulating or overwhelming
• Play
  • Shows a decreased level of pretend or imaginative play
  • Shows a decreased level of imitation of the actions of others
  • Prefers solitary or ritualistic play
• Behaviors
  • Uses repetitive body movements
  • Shows a strong need for sameness
  • "Acts out" with intense tantrums
  • Has very narrow interests
  • Demonstrates perseveration (an obsessive interest in a single item, idea, activity, or person)
  • Displays an apparent lack of common sense
  • Shows aggression to others or self
  • Is overactive or is very passive