What Are the Symptoms of Autism?
"If you've met one person with autism, " and they are absolutely right! That's because the appearance of autism can vary from person to person. One person with autism may be very verbal, bright and engaged, while another is non-verbal, intellectually challenged and almost entirely self-absorbed.In addition, people with autism seem to be more prone to other problems not listed in the diagnostic criteria. These problems include sensory dysfunction, sleep disorders, self-abusive behavior and more. The only symptoms all people with autism do have in common across the spectrum are challenges, disabilities, or delays in the area of social communication. With such a wide range of possible symptoms, how is it possible to identify a child with autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) should be diagnosed by a medical professional with support from physical, occupational and speech therapists. Ideally, everyone involved with a diagnosis should have significant experience with ASDs, their diagnosis and their treatment.
To qualify for a diagnosis, a person must have a total of six or more items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1) and one each from (2) and (3):1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, manifest by at least two of the following:
- A. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures and gestures, to regulate social interaction
- B. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
- C. Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
- D. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity
- A. Delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
- B. In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
- C. Stereotyped and repetitive use of language, or idiosyncratic language
- D. Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe, or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
- A. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
- B. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals
- C. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
- D. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.
- 1. Social interaction
- 2. Language as used in social communication
- 3. Symbolic or imaginative play
