Autism is a complex disorder characterized by a wide range of symptoms and abilities, leading to unique presentations in each individual. Two children with the same diagnosis can exhibit vastly different behaviors, skills, and challenges. While some may struggle with severe communication difficulties and social interactions, others may have extensive vocabularies and excel in specific subjects, albeit often in a one-sided manner.
Symptoms of autism typically emerge in early infancy, although diagnosis often occurs by preschool or school age. Some children may initially develop typically but then regress, displaying withdrawal, aggression, or loss of language skills.
Common symptoms of autism include:
Impaired Reciprocal Social Interaction:
- Difficulty with non-verbal communication such as gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions.
- Challenges in making and maintaining friendships, preferring solitary play.
- Lack of sharing experiences or emotions with others.
- Unawareness or indifference to others’ feelings and emotions.
- Discomfort with or aversion to physical contact.
- Limited responsiveness to verbal cues.
Impaired Communication:
- Delayed or absent spoken language.
- Some may have advanced vocabularies but struggle with comprehension and context.
- Difficulty using words appropriately and forming coherent sentences.
- Uttering meaningless words or phrases, or repeating others’ words (echolalia).
- Monotonous or atypical speech patterns.
- Challenges expressing needs and desires verbally or non-verbally.
- Difficulty initiating or sustaining conversations.
- Limited ability or interest in pretend play.
Restricted Repertoire of Interests, Behaviors, and Activities:
- Intense focus or obsession with specific objects or topics.
- Repetitive movements or behaviors such as rocking, spinning, or hand-flapping.
- Preference for routines and sameness, resistance to changes.
- Unusual play patterns.
- Fixation on parts of objects or repetitive movements.
- Displays of stubbornness or temper tantrums.
Additional features may include:
- Varying cognitive function, with some individuals having average or above-average intelligence.
- Neurological issues, including seizures, which can be challenging to manage in a subset of children.
- Children with Asperger syndrome, a subtype of autism, exhibit similar symptoms but often with less severe language impairments.
- With maturity, some individuals with autism may show improvement in social and language skills, while others may continue to face challenges.
Understanding the diverse range of symptoms and abilities within autism spectrum disorder is crucial for providing tailored support and interventions to individuals affected by the condition.