Autism can be a deceiving disorder. While your child may appear healthy, developing normally at first, the symptoms of this disease lay in wait, striking when you least expect them to. It affects boys more than girls by as much as four to one, according to the Autism Research Institute, and occurs in one out of every 150 births. The good news is treatment is available. However, it is most effective when sought early, which is why it is imperative to recognize the features of this condition as soon as possible.
Social Features
Most children, especially toddlers, love to interact and play. When mommy or daddy approaches with open arms, the general response is to run into those arms with a broad smile. However, children with autism do not do this. Your child will not respond to his name or will resist your touch. He may even stiffen or pull away when you try to hold him. In most cases, he won't make eye contact and his face will be expressionless.
When you try to engage in games, such as pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo, that typically generate gales of laughter, your child will sit silently. Rather than engage in play, he will appear to be in his own world and continue playing by himself instead of with you.
Behavioral Features
One of the main behavioral features of autistic children is the need for routine. This is because of the confusion and insecurity the world around her represents. Therefore, she relies on regular mealtimes, bath times and bedtimes to provide her comfort. You may also find that you are unable to stray from routes taken daily to the park. While you may enjoy a change of pace, your autistic child does not. Because of this rigidity, it is common for her to become extremely upset and scream and cry beyond the point of being consoled. On the other hand, she may begin rocking back and forth while humming when she becomes upset. This is another way for her to release her frustration.
While playing, you may notice that she concentrates on only one toy. While other children often jump from one item to the next, autistic children often become obsessed with the same object or type of objects for hours. If blocks are her fascination for the day, she may spend hours making a meticulous line of them, ensuring they are all perfect without one out of place.
Communication Features
In some cases, your child may begin speaking, developing as any child his age would, and then suddenly stop, according to the Mayo Clinic. In other instances, he may not begin speaking at all. Some children with autism are able to speak a few simple words, however this is due to hearing them spoken repeatedly every day. When he speaks these words, though, his voice is generally robotic and he shows no sign of understanding what these words mean.
He cannot tell you what he wants; instead, he will yell until you can determine it yourself. Once in school, and depending on the severity of his condition, he may not have the ability to begin a conversation with others or continue one that is begun with him. He does not understand emotion, which makes communicating difficult.
