Autism spectrum disorder - Symptoms

 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cause a wide range of symptoms, and there are many different ways those symptoms can be grouped.

It is useful for parents to know the signs and symptoms of autism and Asperger syndrome that are related to their child’s stages of development.

See your GP if you notice any of the symptoms of ASD or if you’re concerned about your child’s development. You can discuss your concerns together in depth before deciding whether your child should be referred for a specialist assessment.

Signs of ASD in pre-school children

The features of ASD that often develop in pre-school children are explained below.

Spoken language

    delayed speech development (for example, not speaking at least 10 different words by the age of two), or not speaking at all
    frequent repetition of set words and phrases
    speech that sounds very monotonous or flat
    preferring to communicate using single words, despite being able to speak in sentences

Responding to others

    not responding to their name being called, despite having normal hearing
    rejecting cuddles initiated by a parent or carer (although they may initiate cuddles themselves)
    reacting unusually negatively when asked to do something by someone else

Interacting with others

    not being aware of other people’s personal space, or being unusually intolerant of people entering their own personal space
    little interest in interacting with other people, including children of a similar age
    not enjoying situations that most children their age like, such as birthday parties
    preferring to play alone, rather than asking others to play with them
    rarely using gestures (such as pointing) or facial expressions when communicating
    avoiding eye contact

Behaviour

    having repetitive movements such as flapping their hands, rocking back and forth or flicking their fingers
    playing with toys in a repetitive and unimaginative way, such as lining blocks up in order of size or colour, rather than using them to build something
    preferring to have a familiar routine, and getting extremely upset if there are changes to their normal routine
    having a strong like or dislike of certain foods, based on the texture or colour of the food as much as the taste

Signs and symptoms of ASD in school-age children

Features of ASD that can develop in older children and teenagers are explained below.

Spoken language

    preferring to avoid using spoken language
    speech that sounds very monotonous or flat
    speaking in pre-learned phrases, rather than putting together individual words to form new sentences
    seeming to talk ‘at’ people, rather than sharing a two-way conversation

Responding to others

    taking people’s speech literally and being unable to understand sarcasm, metaphors or figures of speech
    reacting unusually negatively when asked to do something by someone else

Interacting with others

    not being aware of other people’s personal space, or being unusually intolerant of people entering their own personal space
    little interest in interacting with other people, including children of a similar age, or having few close friends despite attempts to form friendships
    not understanding how people normally interact socially, such as greeting people or wishing them farewell
    being unable to adapt the tone and content of their speech to different social situations, for example speaking very formally at a party and then speaking to total strangers in a familiar way
    not enjoying situations and activities that most children their age like
    rarely using gestures or facial expressions when communicating
    avoiding eye contact

Behaviour

    having repetitive movements such as flapping their fingers, rocking back and forth or flicking their fingers
    playing in a repetitive and unimaginative way, often preferring to play with objects rather than people
    developing a highly specific interest in a particular subject or activity
    preferring to have a familiar routine, and getting extremely upset if there are changes to their normal routine
    having a strong like or dislike of certain foods, based on the texture or colour of the food as much as the taste
 

tags: Autism spectrum disorder - Symptoms, Symptoms, Autism spectrum disorder, Behaviour, Interacting with others, Spoken language, Responding to others, Signs of ASD in pre-school children, Signs and symptoms of ASD in school-age children, Autism,  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cause a wide range of symptoms, and there are many different ways those symptoms can be grouped.