Autism Symptoms and Signs

Specific playing habits. As far as many children suffer from autism, it is important to consider different childish factors. The way ordinary people view primitive drawings in children’s magazines is different from the way kids with autism see these images. They may see a masterpiece instead of the simple Pacman-style smile. Autistic kids love arranging various things in original order or dividing them according to some special features. It makes them calm.

Irresponsiveness. Don’t wonder if the child suffering from autism does not react to your actions or questions – they ignore you unintentionally. Newborn babies may be unresponsive to the environment and people around them due to the early form of autism. No sound is able to distract their attention. Usually, babies tend to explore the world by communicating and playing with other people when they first learn how to walk, but kids with autism like being alone.

Higher sensitivity to everything especially sounds. The problems with all types of sounds including music are typical for the children with autism syndrome. They can perceive speech and some other calm sounds like relaxing music, but sudden loud sounds may toss them away. Kids with autism fear noise. As the time goes by, some patients learn to block all forms of sound. It allows focusing on the important things like healthy sleep.

People with autism tend to repeat some actions and phrases. They may forget that they have already done something. Repetitive behavior patterns are symptoms of autism as well. For instance, the autistic kid may keep walking around the room without any specific intentions or typing in the same letters on PC over and over again, without finishing the intended message. Sometimes, such children repeat certain things because they consider them fun. It is hard for them to adapt to everything new.

Fear of any changes. It is better not to change locations or educational institutions too often when dealing with an autistic child. It makes little patients nervous and anxious. They often start shouting or crying when seeing something new. It is too complex for students with this diagnosis to learn reading and writing, and it’s even more complicated to start studying new disciplines or meeting new classmates.

Limited vocabulary. Because of the problems with diction and learning, autistic children do not have a rich vocabulary. They tend to memorize only the most commonly met words and phrases. Once the baby starts imitating its first sounds, it goes on developing the language vocabulary by fulfilling it with the new words. Kids with autism cannot succeed doing so. They usually turn silent and shy in the first half year.

Excessive hyperactivity or no signs of active life at all. Many children who suffer from autism demonstrate the unpredictable behavior. Their moods may change every hour or several minutes. One minute they want to dance and jump, the other one they are sitting silently without having any desire to interact with somebody. The movements of such patients have no basis; they may start flapping their hands without any reason. People with autism frequently do so to feel safe and calm down.

Getting wild, wild, wild. Children with autism may demonstrate both very shy condition and real wilderness. They may suddenly start behaving like some wild animals: shouting, screaming, crying, trying to beat someone, etc. It is almost impossible to calm them in such situations. The worst thing is that these kids may do harm to themselves without recognizing it. That is why their parents or health care professionals should be around to help control these consequences of anger.

Obsessed with some things. Each child has a favorite item like a toy, book, or video game he tries to carry everywhere. Autistics patients are not the exception. The only difference is that they may choose a rather strange object to become obsessed with. It could be a piece of paper or a leaf. Moreover, it’s impossible to take away this ‘relict’ from them sometimes.

Extra sensitivity. The reaction of autistic people to basic touches and sounds may impress. An ordinary person knows what it feels like to touch the water, table, another person, etc. For the child with autism, it may be something scary and unexpectable. They are rather sensitive, especially to the touches of strange people. They have a different imagination, so their visual perception is also unique. A typical sun light may irritate these patients and even make them aggressive.