Autism Society Ontario
Simcoe County Branch

What Does Autism Look Like?
 

The following is a list of attributes found in Autism, but remember, there is a tremendous variation in the specific symptoms shown in different children with autism, they can exhibit any combination of behaviours in any degree of severity.  Symptoms may also change over time within the same child.

Language and Communication

A child with autism may:

· have delayed or absent speech and language

· have difficulty, or not at all able to, express needs

· use gestures or pointing instead of words

· use words without their usual meaning

· have unusual production of speech

· use repetitive words, phrases and/or sentences (echolalia)

· appear to be deaf

· have difficulties initiating and/or sustaining conversations

· appear to have a short attention span

The communication disorder in autism affects the child’s ability to interpret and use words, gestures and facial expressions.  Those who do develop spoken language often do not understand what people talk about, or even why people would enjoy a purely social conversation.

Social Interactions

A child with autism may:

· show no interest in people (including parents)

· have difficulty maintaining eye contact (or avoid it)

· have difficulty relating to others

· not be able to understand other people’s thoughts/feelings

  (Theory of Mind)

· be unable to engage in shared attention with people

· use people as "tools" to get what they want (i.e. manipulating
  mother's

· not recognize himself or herself in a picture

· prefer to spend time alone rather than with others

· show indifference to or dislike being held or cuddled

· appear to be "tuned out" or "off in their own world"

· have difficulty focusing and paying attention

· have difficulty forming friendships

People with autism seem unaware or unresponsive to other people and often fail to develop normal social relationships.  They are confused by and do not understand social situations and thus often act or behave inappropriately.

Sensory Impairment

In a child with autism, any one or a combination of senses or responses are affected: sight, hearing, touch, pain, balance, smell, taste, and the way a child holds his or her body.
  

For example a child with autism may:

· be overly sensitive or under sensitive to touch

· be overly sensitive or under sensitive to specific sounds

· appear to have selective hearing or deafness

· have an apparent insensitivity to pain

· have unusual reactions to certain textures
 (i.e. clothing, foods)

· show lack of responsiveness to cold or heat

· have difficulty judging personal body space

· be attracted or extremely disgusted by certain odours
  or fragrances

· demonstrate extraordinary balancing skills

· have extreme aversions to certain tastes

· have a limited repertoire of food choices

Behavioural Issues

Some children with autism may:

· engage in unusual repetitive body movements
 (e.g. hand flicking,

· display inappropriate laughter or giggling

· engage in obsessive and ritualistic behaviour
 (e.g. peeling

· spin objects or spin themselves

· want to lick or smell everything

· develop inappropriate attachment to objects

· have a very limited range of activities and interests

· have an obsessive-compulsive preoccupation

· focus intensely (perseverate) on a single item, idea or person

· insist on sameness and follow exact routines

· have resistance to and difficulty adapting to change

· demonstrate abnormally high, or low, activity levels

· display frequent tantrums/extreme distress for no
  apparent reason

· engage in destructive behaviour    

· engage in self-injury (i.e. biting)

· behave aggressively or violently

· have attentional problems

· stare into space for hours

· show an apparent lack of common sense

Possibly because their world is so confusing, they try to cling to the few things they do understand, such as keeping the same routines or becoming attached to certain toys or objects.  Their confusion may lead them to such extreme frustration that they may scream, tantrum, injure themselves or destroy property.

Intellectual Functioning

The majority of children with autism have varying degrees of intellectual ability.
 

A child with autism may:
 

· demonstrate an uneven pattern of skills

· demonstrate remarkably gifted skills
  (i.e. memorizing dates, numbers, advertising jingles)

· be unresponsive to normal teaching methods

 
Play Habits

A child with autism may:
 

· not initiate play activities

· show a lack of spontaneous or imaginative play

· play inappropriately with toys

· like to line things up

· like to spin things (i.e. wheels)

· have difficulty learning through imitation of other's actions

· have difficulty pretending.


OTHER COMMON CHARACTERISTICS INCLUDE: problems with sleeping, eating, toileting and seizures.

[ Home ] [ Up ]

Copyright © 2003 Autism Society Ontario - Simcoe County Branch
Last modified: February 02, 2003