Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), creates impairments within an individual's social, communication and behavioral actions and interactions. This neurodevelopmental disorder occurs in every socioeconomic and ethnic group. According the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, autism affects 3 to 6 children out of every 1000, and males are 4 times more likely than females to have autism. There is no blood test to determine autism so health professionals evaluate a child's development and behavior in order to make a diagnosis.
Social Impairments
Clinicians screening a child for autism look for indicators of social impairment. Children with autism often lack non-verbal communication skills including eye contact and the ability to read and display appropriate gestures and body postures. Friendships and regular peer relationships may be non-existent or strained. Interactions with siblings, neighbors and classmates may not show typical signs of enjoyment or accomplishment, and may lack enthusiasm or other displays of emotions. Neuropsychology Central provides an example of social impairment: "A typically developing young child who sees an airplane fly overhead might point it out to his or her parents with delight, whereas the young child with autism is unlikely to try and draw attention to something of interest."
Communication Impairments
Difficulties in communication may prove an indicator of autism. Children may be delayed in speech acquisition or may resort to gestures or sounds to communicate. In conversation with others, children may prove unable to participate in a conversation. Instead, they might talk over the other person or insist on talking about their own topic, without regard for the other person. Language oddities may include repetitive phrases or unusual use of words. Other examples of delayed communication include children not responding to their name, not pointing by the age of 1 and not using single words by 16 months, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders.
Behavioral Impairments
Unusual behavioral patterns may be signs of autism. A child might play with the same toy repeatedly. Alternatively, they might focus on one part of a toy, for example playing exclusively with the string on a pull toy. An inability to alter schedules or routines may also prove indicative of autism. For example, driving to the grocery store via another route might cause an emotional meltdown. Repetitive motions including twirling, arm flapping or finger twisting are signs of autism. The Centers for Disease Control explain that a person with autism may develop unnecessary or unusual routines such as needing to look in every window as she walks by a building.
