Autism Symptoms
Autism symptoms might be mild in one person and severe in another person. As
the name, autism spectrum disorder says, ASDs cover a wide range of behaviors
and abilities. People who have ASDs, like all people, differ greatly in the way
they act and what they can do. No two people with ASDs will have the same
symptoms.
Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Repeated behaviors and routines
People with autism spectrum disorder might repeat actions over and over again.
They might want to have routines where things stay the same so they know what to
expect. They might have trouble if family routines change. For example, if a
child is used to washing his or her face before dressing for bed, he or she
might become very upset if asked to change the order and dress first and then
wash.
Speech, language, and communication
About 40% of children with autism spectrum disorder do not talk at all. Others
have echolalia, which is when they repeat back something that was said to them.
The repeated words might be said right away or at a later time. For example, if
you ask someone with an ASD, "Do you want some juice?" he or she will repeat "Do
you want some juice?" instead of answering your question. Or a person might
repeat a television ad heard sometime in the past. People with ASDs might not
understand gestures such as waving goodbye. They might say "I" when they mean
"you", or vice versa. Their voices might sound flat and it might seem like they
cannot control how loudly or softly they talk. People with autism spectrum
disorder might stand too close to the people they are talking to, or might stick
with one topic of conversation for too long. Some people with ASDs can speak
well and know a lot of words, but have a hard time listening to what other
people say. They might talk a lot about something they really like, rather than
have a back-and-forth conversation with someone.
Social skills
People with ASDs might not interact with others the way most people do, or they
might not be interested in other people at all. People with ASDs might not make
eye contact and might just want to be alone. They might have trouble
understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings.
Children with ASDs might not like to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only
when they want to. Some people with ASDs might not seem to notice when other
people try to talk to them. Others might be very interested in people, but not
know how to talk, play, or relate to them.
Children with autism spectrum disorder develop differently from other children.
Children without ASDs develop at about the same rate in areas of development
such as motor, language, cognitive, and social skills. Children with ASDs
develop at different rates in different areas of growth. They might have large
delays in language, social, and cognitive skills, while their motor skills might
be about the same as other children their age. They might be very good at things
like putting puzzles together or solving computer problems, but not very good at
some things most people think are easy, like talking or making friends. Children
with ASDs might also learn a hard skill before they learn an easy one. For
example, a child might be able to read long words, but not be able to tell you
what sound a "b" makes. A child might also learn a skill and then lose it. For
example, a child may be able to say many words, but later stop talking
altogether.
If you suspect that your child may have autism, discuss your concerns with your
doctor. The earlier treatment begins, the more effective it will be.
Autism
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