Signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary but generally fall into two core categories: difficulties with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests.
Signs Related to Social Communication and Interaction
- Difficulty understanding what others are thinking or feeling
- Avoidance of or limited eye contact
- Trouble making friends or preferring to be alone
- Difficulty expressing feelings or understanding social cues like sarcasm
- Not responding to their name or not showing facial expressions by certain early ages (e.g., 9 months)
- Limited use of gestures such as waving or pointing
- Not engaging in typical interactive play or sharing interests with others
- Seeming blunt or uninterested in others without intending to be rude
- Difficulty recognizing or responding to others' emotions
- Challenges in understanding social "rules," like not interrupting others
Signs Related to Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors and Interests
- Repetitive movements such as hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning
- Insistence on sameness, routines, and distress over minor changes
- Lining up toys or objects and becoming upset if order is changed
- Repeating words or phrases (echolalia)
- Intense focus on specific interests or parts of objects
- Unusual reactions to sensory inputs such as sounds, smells, textures, lights, or colors
- Playing with toys in the same way every time
- Having very specific food preferences or unusual eating habits
Additional Characteristics
- Delayed language development or loss of previously acquired speech
- Delayed motor skills or odd movement patterns
- Anxiety, stress, or unusual emotional reactions
- Possible co-occurring conditions like epilepsy or gastrointestinal issues
- Some autistic individuals, especially women, may mask symptoms by imitating others and appear to cope better socially, making diagnosis more challenging
These signs can appear at different ages, sometimes within the first year of life, and not all individuals will show all signs. Professional evaluation is essential for diagnosis and support planning
. In summary, autism is characterized mainly by challenges in social communication and interaction combined with restricted, repetitive behaviors and sensory sensitivities.
