Let’s Feel Autism

Recognizing When Children’s Behavior Shows Autistic Traits

Children’s Behavior Among experts, it is commonly debated whether children’s behavior can reflect autistic traits early in life.

Health professionals and autism specialists are more likely to notice certain traits that may indicate being on the autism spectrum.

Children diagnosed with autism often seem “normal” as infants, and as we touched on in an earlier module, the onset of symptoms usually shows up around age three. When parents raise concerns early on, they typically revolve around potential learning disabilities, not a suspicion of autism – even if that later proves to be the case.

Another early sign of autism in babies is a fascination with objects while perceiving to lack interest in people, animals, and the world around them.

In toddlers, symptoms that are suggestive of ASD include a blank gaze and the avoidance of eye contact. A child may appear to not truly see other people around them, or may only briefly make contact from the corner of their eye.

A perceived lack of hearing is also another key trait, such as when a child does not react to sounds around them or to someone calling their name. It is usually as a result of this that hearing and auditory processing tests are recommended.

Another sound-related sign of autism in a child is being unaffected by audible changes, due to potential abnormalities in their perception. A child on the autism spectrum may have a fascination with certain sounds, while others may cause him or her extreme distress.

Understanding Autistic Behavior Patterns

One main characteristic of people on the autism spectrum, is that they all exhibit restrictive and repetitive behavior patterns.

While we understand that autistic individuals can display repetitive behavior such as hand flapping, there are other similar motions that they can also make. These can include finger flicking, jumping, spinning, twirling, head banging, and other complex body movements. Obviously, some may be more harmful or distracting than others, both to the person with autism and those around them.

Some autistics may display particularly challenging behavior when they are in unfamiliar or overwhelming situations, as a way of coping with the circumstances. Remember, while these can include more obvious scenarios like traveling somewhere new, being in a noisy and crowded setting, or starting at a new school, they can also include a relatively minor change in the daily routine such as having furniture rearranged in the house. Autistic behavior can increase or become more elaborate during the holidays, moving, other periods of change, stress, or illness.

Some of the more challenging or potentially harmful behaviors that those with autism can exhibit, include self-injurious behavior, pica (the act of mouthing or eating non-edible items), smearing and physically challenging actions like spitting, hair pulling, biting, and hitting.

Language and communication skills

Those on the autism spectrum can often have difficulty responding when approached, as well as when initiating interactions or being social in general.

They can also have difficulty using language and communicating with others.

Many children with autism have delayed language and communication skills and some will continue to either have highly limited speech or no speech at all, even throughout adulthood. In cases where individuals with autism are pre or non-verbal communicators, other communication methods can be taught and used, such as sign language, making gestures, pointing out to pictures, or using other visual signals. This is commonly known as Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC). It should never be assumed that a child who is pre or non-verbal is unable to communicate.

Some non-verbal individuals on the autism spectrum will use gestures or other actions to communicate, such as crying, pulling your hand towards the object they want, looking directly at the object they are interested in, flapping their arms, or reaching out in general for things. This is their way of calling attention to their needs when they are unable to verbally do so.

They may also use echolalia (as we previously discussed), a condition in which autistic individuals mimic sounds and repeat words without understanding what they mean.

Diagnosing Autism in Children

As ASD is more commonly diagnosed in children, obtaining an assessment can be somewhat easier. However, that does not mean it will happen overnight.

To receive an autism diagnosis can be a positive experience for many parents of children on the spectrum. Putting a name to their child’s symptoms can explain the difficulties they have experienced and offers access to tools and services designed to help autistic children and their families. However, not all parents feel the same way. Some would rather not have their child labeled with a diagnosis that could define their abilities throughout their life.

Parents who have reason to believe their child may be autistic should keep in mind that it is not an instant diagnosis. There is not one procedure that will give an answer.
There is no exact age when a child will be diagnosed. While health professionals usually agree that autistic symptoms are present from age three, some children are diagnosed as young as two. Others, not until they start elementary school.

High functioning autism and Asperger’s diagnoses’ typically do not occur until children are a little older because there are no obvious learning disabilities associated with these conditions.

Main Causes of Autism

When we refer to the main causes of autism, it must come with an important caveat – that the precise cause of this highly complex condition is still unknown.

Some prime examples of the vast range of the autism spectrum are:

- Individuals with autism may have no functional speech and communicate using gestures or pictures, while others may have an extensive and well-developed vocabulary.

- Those on the spectrum may have significant learning disabilities and be intellectually disabled, while others may have exceptionally high IQs.

- Some autistics may be socially withdrawn, while others may be socially active, albeit often in an eccentric or sometimes oblivious manner.

The Fact says:
Individuals who are autistic are autistic for life.

While treatment and support can improve the quality of life for people with autism, at this time there is no known cure for the condition.

Remember: Autism is not an illness to have a cure🙏🏻

In short, it is an umbrella term for developmental disorders that are marked by persistent, ongoing problems with social communication and interaction, as well as restricted and repetitive behavior patterns, interests, and activities. However, the term is now frequently referred to as autism spectrum “condition” rather than “disorder,” as it is less stigmatizing and it represents individuals that have disabilities that require a medical diagnosis. It also describes areas of cognitive strength.

In addition to the characteristics described above, people on the autism spectrum have extreme difficulty truly experiencing the world around them and relating to people. Some have described it as a game, where everyone knows the rules, but themselves.