Autism is a disorder characterized by significant difficulties with social interaction, communication and behavior patterns. It's diagnosed in childhood, and symptoms tend to become evident by age 3. However, there are often signs and symptoms beforehand. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes the prevalence of autism as 1 in every 110 children. The rise of this diagnosis in recent years has led to significant concern regarding the identification of children with the disorder.
Lack of Social Interaction
Children with autism prefer to play alone, often seeming isolated in their own world and having little interest in what others are doing. They do not seek to share attention with others, so the child doesn't point to objects or follow another’s gaze. One way young children interact nonverbally is to point to objects and look back to a caregiver to show them. Children with autism often do not do so.
These children don't tend to initiate interaction with others, failing to seek out others to play with. Children with autism often avoid eye contact and have difficulty communicating in other nonverbal ways, such as through facial expressions and body language. They often misunderstand nonverbal cues given by others. They may avoid physical touch, such as hugging, and show little emotion. They also may not respond to emotion shown by others, seeming indifferent.
A child with autism may not respond when others call his name or try to engage him. It's difficult for these children to make friends because they are so isolated and restricted in their interaction skills. Their social interactions often appear awkward and one-sided.
Communication and Play Issues
Children with autism may have no language, or significant delays in language.
Unusual repetition of phrases, known as echolalia, is common. The child may repeat a word or phrase heard on television or from another person over and over in an inappropriate context. Her language may include oddities such as referring to herself in the third person, speaking in a monotone, changing the pitch of her voice, or having unusual rhythm to her speech.
Starting and maintaining conversations is difficult for these children. They often switch topics or go off topic in a tangential way. Their conversations tend to appear awkward and one-sided. They may only initiate conversations to get needed objects or information, rarely sharing their feelings or thoughts or inquiring about others. It often feels as though these children are talking at others. In play, children with autism struggle with imaginative or creative play. Pretending an object is something else is the hallmark of symbolic play, which usually emerges in toddlers. Children with autism struggle to use this kind of pretend play, appearing more rigid in their play.
Abnomal Behavior Patterns
Children with autism may demonstrate repetitive motor behaviors and postures, which can include rocking, hand flapping and walking on their toes. These children are often rigid in their routines or behavior. They may spend significant amounts of time arranging their toys or going through their morning routine. Any change in routine often causes considerable stress for the child. He may struggle to adapt to new activities.
A child may demonstrate a fixation on certain activities or interests, such as playing with cars, U.S. presidents’ birth and death dates, or the sound of water running in the sink. Children may also be preoccupied with parts of objects, such as doorknobs or hinges on doors. They may spend considerable time looking at or playing with these objects. Many children also demonstrate an interest in objects that spin or move, such as the wheels on cars or trucks.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders
- “Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology”; Robert Weis; 2008
- “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision”; American Psychiatric Association; 2000
