Autism is a mental health disorder that usually becomes apparent in childhood and can have a good prognosis if treatment is begun early. According to 2010 information from KidsHealth.org, autism usually affects one out of every 110 people and tends to occur more often in boys than in girls. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, reports that autism is a complex developmental disorder associated with a child's brain function.
Communication Problems
According to the MayoClinic.com, a child with autism may have limited language abilities. He may have trouble maintaining a conversation or even beginning one. He may be able to repeat exactly what was said by someone else, but have no idea as to the meaning behind the words. A child with autism may speak is an abnormal manner such as in a singsong voice or robot-like speech, reports KidsHealth.org. When a child looses all his previously learned language stills, this may be a symptom of autism. Being unable to talk until the age of two or later may point towards a communication problem usually associated with autism, notes the MayoClinic.com.
Behaviors
NAMI reports that a child with autism may engage in repetitive movements such as rocking, hand-flapping or hair twirling; she might even engage in self-injurious behaviors such as nail biting or head-banging. Also, she may not engage in spontaneous or make believe play. According to KidsHealth.org, in order to deal with frustrations, a child with autism may throw tantrums or behave aggressively. Also, a child may experience anxiety when her daily routines are altered. She may become fixated on different objects of ideas. At times, a child with autism might appear to be constantly moving, reports the MayoClinic.com. A child with autism may also be overly sensitive to light, sound and touch, but may not even react to pain.
Poor Social Skills
According to NAMI, a child with autism usually shows no response when his name is called, he will not smile and will often avoid eye contact. Also, he may show no interest in having relationships with other children. He might not be able to respond appropriately to the facial expressions for cues about appropriate behaviors or responses. Children with autism tend to be lacking in the skills associated with social intelligence. The MayoClinic.com notes that a child with autism may prefer to play by themselves and seem to be engaged in his own world. Also, he might resist being cuddled or held. The child might talk with others about a narrow range of his favorite topics without any regard for whether or not the person to whom he is speaking is interested, notes NAMI.
