According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is a debilitating neurological condition affecting approximately 1 in every 110 children, with a greater prevalence of the disorder in boys than in girls. Signs of autism are often apparent by the age of 4, with the child displaying abnormal deficiencies or significant developmental delays in the ability to socialize, communicate and behave appropriately. The deficiencies are often so pronounced that autistic children are often thought to be mentally retarded prior to proper diagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association outlines diagnostic criteria that focus on signs of impairment in the quality of socialization, the quality of communication and the presence of unusual behavioral patterns.
Quality of Socialization
A 4-year-old child with autism will likely not respond to social cues such as the presence of emotions on the face, for instance smiling or frowning. Additionally, the child has no capacity for sharing life experiences with others because autism renders sufferers incapable of expressing sympathy and empathy. While autistic 4-year-olds may have marked difficulties in interpreting the behavior and social cues of others, they themselves are very difficult to read and understand. Autistic 4 year-olds may not respond to the sound of their name being called, nor are they likely to make eye contact or smile. Characteristic of the disorder, the autistic child is not likely to be able to make or sustain friendships.
Quality of Communication
The 4-year-old with autism displays considerable deficits in the ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Often the autistic child appears not to fully understand the concept and use of language. Some autistic children may never speak or make attempts to communicate via the use of gestures, while others autistic children may babble or use stilted phrasing. It is unlikely that the 4-year-old autistic child will make the first move toward conversation.
Behavioral Patterns
The autistic 4-year-old is likely to exhibit unusual patterns of behavior. The child may engage in repetitive, self-injurious behaviors such as head-banging or vigorous rocking back and forth. Other more typical repetitive behaviors can include hand-wringing or arm-flapping. Likewise, the autistic 4-year-old may demonstrate characteristics of ritualistic or compulsive behaviors, often fixating on an object, toy, process or routine.
While the signs of autism presented are quite debilitating, many children who have been the recipients of early intervention strategies have made considerable progress in socializing, communicating and managing their behaviors.
