Children are diagnosed with autism each and every day. In fact, it is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country. This can be largely due to the fact that the characteristics of autism are more well known today than they were years ago. What are some of the characteristics of autism?
It is important to note that just because you may see one or two of these characteristics in your child does not mean that they are autistic. There are other developmental conditions that share some of the same characteristics. That is why it is so important to have your child evaluated by a professional before jumping to conclusions.
One of the first things that may be noticed is the lack of social interaction. This can include no eye contact, lack of engagement, or not developing relationships with peers. They may be resistant to being held or touched and may prefer being alone over with a group of people.
Another characteristic is communication issues. They may have issues communicating with others via speech or gestures, or may have difficulty understanding what others are saying to them. Autistic children may repeat what others say instead of using their own sentences and may have difficulty starting a conversation or continuing one.
Other characteristics seen in an autistic child are repetition. They may have very repetitive routines and have difficulty with changes in routine. They may spend a great deal of time in repetitive movements, or may show interest in just a few objects or activities and play with them repetitively.
The characteristics of autism can range from mild to severe. The key is to get your child evaluated to determine where on this range that they fall. Then you will be able to get them the support and therapy that they need to be as successful as possible.
“What are the types of autism spectrum disorder(ASD) is considered very rare?“