Autism is a developmental disorder that can affect children from birth or the early months of life, and result in delayed or abnormal patterns of development. According to the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," or the "DSM-IV," the developmental delay occurs in three areas: social relationships and interactions, language and communication, and activities and interests.
Abnormal Physical Behaviors
Young children with autism may show signs of rocking back and forth in a repetitive manner. Other physical behaviors may include banging the head, scratching or tapping of the finger over and over again. Other signs include noticeable over-activity or extreme under-activity. The child may display tantrums and extreme stress for no apparent reason. Young children may also display uneven gross/fine motor skills.
Abnormal Communication
There is a broken line of communication--both verbal and nonverbal--in autistic children. Inappropriate laughing and giggling may be displayed, along with repeating words or phrases in place of normal language. Autistic children have difficulty understanding nonverbal language such as facial expressions and body language. The "DSM-IV" lists qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by delay in or total lack of the development of spoken language. Another "DSM-IV" marker is the inability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others when the child does have adequate speech capabilities. Impairment of communication is additionally diagnosed when there is a lack of varied make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to the developmental level.
Abnormal Interaction
Abnormal functioning within a social environment is a sign of autism. Young children who have autism have difficulty in mixing with other children, and prefer to be alone. They may be aloof and have difficulty in expressing needs; use gestures such as pointing instead of speaking; focus attention on objects rather than on other people; lack the need to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with other people; lack social or emotional interaction with others; and avoid eye contact.
Abnormal Senses
Young children with autism will display abnormal responses to one or a combination of senses such as sight, hearing, touch, balance, smell, taste and reaction to pain. The quality of the gaze is important especially when examining an infant. Many infants do not appear to see people and so may not look people in the eye. However, in a baby with autism, the gaze tends to be brief and out of the corner of the eye. The reaction to noise when analyzing the sense of hearing can be a contradiction. In most cases, hearing is normal; however, a child with autism may display characteristics of being deaf because of the non-responsive behavior to verbal cues. The child may not respond to loud noises because of the lack of interest, or a noise such as a siren or a hair dryer can cause extreme distress. Children with autism are extremely sensitive to the touch and do not like touching other people. In some cases, touching is even painful.
Characteristic Need for Structure
Young children with autism display an insistence on sameness, resisting changes in routines. The "DSM-IV" defines the characteristic need for structure as an encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus. In addition, young children with autism display inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals. Any deviation from the routine could become extremely distressful.
