What are the signs of Autism?

Autism

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disorder. It affects how people communicate and interact with others and how they behave and learn.^[1]

Autism is a lifelong condition and symptoms, and signs can first appear when a child is very young. Autism cannot be cured, but therapies and support services can help people with ASD improve their symptoms and quality of life.

Good to know: While the causes of autism are unclear, a large body of scientific research shows that there is absolutely no link between autism and vaccines.^[2][3][4][5]

What is a spectrum disorder?

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that people can experience a wide range of symptoms and of varying severities. For example, a person with autism who is towards the high functioning range of the spectrum will have a good grasp of language, but a person towards the low functioning range of the spectrum may not speak at all.^[6]

It is important to note that a person with autism spectrum disorder will not display all symptoms, and symptoms will vary in severity. However, a person with ASD will display several of these behaviors and signs.

Signs and symptoms of autism

Some many signs and symptoms could indicate a person has autism spectrum disorder. Not all adults or children with autism will have every symptom, and some adults and children without autism may display some of the same behaviors and symptoms.

People with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulties communicating and connecting emotionally and socially with others. They may also process sensory information differently from other people, such as sounds and smells. These differences can underlie some of the behavioral signs of autism that people may display.^[7][8]

When looking for early signs of autism spectrum disorder, there are developmental milestones that children are expected to reach by certain ages, such as babbling by four months old and using simple sentences by two years old. If a child reaches these milestones later or does not develop the skills at all, it may indicate a developmental disorder such as autism spectrum disorder.^[9]

Autism can be diagnosed by age two, though symptoms may appear much earlier.

Common signs of autism

Some of the more common signs that may indicate a person has autism include:^[10]

• Avoiding eye contact
• Delayed speech and communication skills
• Reliance on rules and routines
• Being upset by relatively minor changes
• Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch and smells
• Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions
• Focusing on or becoming obsessed by a narrow range of interests or objects
• Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands or rocking
• Children not responding to their name by 12 months
• Children not pointing at distant objects by 14 months

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Early signs of autism

Signs of autism in babies

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder, which means that signs become apparent as a child does not develop as expected, such as developing speech or learning to crawl later.

As such, few signs of autism are noticeable in newborns. However, suppose a baby fails to reach the developmental milestones expected at two months old, four months old, six months old, nine months old, and a year old. In that case, this could be one of the first signs of autism or another developmental condition.^[9]

Good to know: Not all babies reach developmental milestones at the exact same time. It is normal to have some variation in development. If in doubt about a child’s development, check with a doctor.

Some of the early signs that a baby under one year old may have autism spectrum disorder include:^[10][11][12]

• Not babbling by four months old
• Not smiling by five months old
• Not laughing by six months old
• No interest in games like pat-a-cake or peek-a-boo by eight months old
• Not responding to their name by 12 months old
• Not looking at objects pointed out by other people by 12 months old
• Being upset by loud noises
• Not looking to a parent for comfort in new situations
• Being happy to play alone for long periods of time
• Not making eye contact

Signs of autism in toddlers

Some of the signs that a toddler, between one year old and two years old, may have autism spectrum disorder include:^[13]

• Not developing language skills such as saying mama or dada by one year old, or using simple sentences by two years old
• Only saying one word at a time
• Repeating words over and over
• Lacking interest in playing social games or being around other children
• Not making eye contact
• Not imitating others
• Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands, rocking or twirling

Around 25 to 30 percent of children with autism have developed some language skills by 18 months but then go on to lose them. Some children between one year old and two years old may also lose play or other social skills they have developed.^[10][14]

Signs of autism in young children

Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are usually clear by two or three years old. The range of behaviors and skills covered here may become apparent between two years old and five years old.

Some signs that a child has autism spectrum disorder may include:^{[13][15][16][17]}

• Not expressing emotion or only a limited range of emotions
• Difficulty interpreting different emotions in others
• Not seeming attached to parents
• Lacking interest in playing social games or the company of other children
• Interest in playing with one particular toy or object
• Echolalia, repeating other people’s words or phrases
• Repeating own words over and over
• Using formal language and expressions, rather than the slang of their peers
• Not developing language skills at all
• Difficulty toilet training
• Having tantrums or meltdowns
• Physically aggressive behaviour
• Challenging behaviour, such as banging head on wall or picking at skin
• Engages in behavior such as flapping hands, rocking or twirling

Children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty interpreting what other people think and feel and often miss social cues. A child with autism may not be able to distinguish between an adult who says “come here” while happy and smiling and an adult who says “come here” while angry and frowning. This can be unclear and creates the impression that the child is not connecting with people.^[15]

Good to know: Echolalia is a normal part of many children’s language development and generally goes away by around three years old. Children with autism are more likely to persist with echolalia as they get older.^[18]

Signs of autism in older children and teens

Although autism spectrum disorder can reliably be diagnosed from the age of two or three years old, many children do not receive a diagnosis until they are older. Milder symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder who are higher functioning may not be recognized until they are in school.

Autism is a spectrum condition, which means that children will have different day-to-day living experiences. Children who are more than five years old and on into their teenage years, who have mild symptoms and are towards the higher functioning range of the autism spectrum, may:^{[10][17][19][20]}

• Develop a narrow range of interests or obsessions with certain topics
• Engage in repetitive behavior such as hand flapping, twirling or snapping a rubber band
• Not make eye contact
• Have difficulty with social interactions
• Not understand emotions in others or themselves
• Prefer to be on their own
• Avoid physical contact
• Have unusual sleeping patterns
• Use formal language rather than the slang of their peers
• Place great importance on routines and rules
• Develop strong preferences for certain foods, clothes or objects

Children who have more severe symptoms and are towards the lower functioning range of the autism spectrum may:^{[10][17][19][20]}

• Not use speech at all
• Become extremely distressed at changes to routine
• Exhibit challenging behavior, such as being aggressive or banging head on wall
• Need assistance with everyday living, such as bathing and dressing
• Engage in repetitive behaviors, such as rocking
• Insist on rules and routine
• Develop rigid preferences for certain foods, clothes or objects
• Need specialized diets

25 to 50 percent of children with autism spectrum disorder do not develop verbal communication skills. It is rare for delayed verbal communication to develop after the age of five years old. A significant proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder will become nonverbal teens and adults.^[21][22]

Signs of autism in adults

Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong condition, and some people with autism spectrum disorder are not diagnosed until they are adults. This could be because they fall into the higher functioning range of the autism spectrum and their symptoms are less severe, or because they were misdiagnosed with a condition such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.^[23]

Although treatment can improve some outward symptoms, people with autism will always process sensations such as sound, sight, touch, and smell differently.

Autism is a spectrum condition, which means that adults will have different day-to-day living experiences. An adult with mild symptoms, who is towards the higher functioning range of the autism spectrum, may:^[7][24][25]

• Have difficulties with social interactions
• Avoid making eye contact
• Not understand nonverbal facial or body gestures, such as frowning or shrugging
• Not understand changes in tone of voice, such as sarcasm
• Be comforted by rules and routine
• Get upset at changes to routines
• Be under- or over-sensitive to loud noises, strong smells or tastes
• Engage in repetitive behaviors, such as pacing or hand flapping
• Have a narrow range of interests
• Have a good memory and recall of facts

An adult who is towards the lower functioning range of the autism spectrum may:^{[10][25][26][27]}

• Never communicate verbally, or have only limited verbal skills
• Need assistance with everyday living, such as bathing and dressing
• Engage in repetitive behaviors, such as rocking
• Insist on rules and routine
• Become extremely distressed at changes to routine
• Need specialized diets

Employment may present a challenge for adults with autism. People with autism are likely to need adjustments to be able to work productively, such as lights that do not flicker or a quiet space to work in.^[28]

One common sign of autism spectrum disorder in adults is anxiety. Signs of anxiety can include:^[29]

• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Racing heart
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Constant thoughts about worst case scenarios
• Depression

Adults with autism spectrum disorder may also experience meltdowns.

Signs of autism in girls

The ratio of boys to girls diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is 4:1. However, there is some evidence that autism is going undiagnosed in girls, particularly those at the higher functioning end of the spectrum.

There is discussion around whether girls and women with autism may display different symptoms to boys and men. The current diagnostic criteria may be biased towards boys and stereotypical male behavior. Girls and women may also be better able to mask difficulties with social interactions than boys, which may delay a diagnosis. New diagnostic criteria may be needed to assess ASD in girls and women. Past theories, including controversies such as the extreme male brain, may have led to under-referral and under-diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in girls and women.^{[30][31][32][33][34]}

Signs that a girl may have autism include:^[35][36]

• Difficulties with social interactions; however, differences from typical autism symptoms may include:
  • Better grasp of emotions and ability to make friends than boys
  • May mask lack of intuitive understanding of social situations by repeating role-plays seen in real life or film/television
  • May be able to make friends but find difficulty keeping them
• Intense focus on particular topics; differences in gender may be expressed as a focus on trains or dinosaurs for boys, and celebrities or animals for girls,
• Fewer repetitive behaviors and gestures than boys, or may have different gestures than boys
• Reliance on rules and routine, however, that may be interpreted as good behavior in girls

There are also higher rates of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders among girls with autism spectrum disorder than among boys.

Signs of Asperger syndrome

People with Asperger syndrome are generally considered to be on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum. It is still a form of autism and is a lifelong condition.

Signs and symptoms that are typical of people with Asperger syndrome include:^[37][38][39]

• Very narrow and highly focused interests
• Great importance on rules and routines
• High standard of language skills, potentially very formal in expression
• Monotonous or repetitive speech
• Poor understanding of nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions and gestures
• Difficulties with social interactions
• Spending time alone to escape social interaction
• Tendency to talk about self or own interests
• Difficulty with making eye contact
• Poor physical coordination

Repetitive behaviors

Many people with autism spectrum disorder engage in repetitive behaviors, known as stereotypy, self-stimulatory, or stimming. Examples of these kinds of behavior include:^[19][40][41]

• Flapping arms
• Rocking from side to side
• Jumping or hopping, including while seated
• Flicking a rubber band or piece of string
• Staring at lights
• Twirling
• Watching a moving object
• Head banging
• Making the same noise repeatedly
• Scratching

These behaviors provide the person with a form of sensory input that the person finds appealing or helpful. There are various reasons why someone could be engaging in self-stimulatory behavior:^[19][41]

• They find it enjoyable
• It provides something to focus on, thereby reducing the effects of other, nearby stimuli
• It is soothing and helps with anxiety

Food behaviors

Some people with autism develop extreme preferences, dislikes, or practices around food, for example:^[42][43]

• Only eating food that falls into the same food groups, such as sweet, salty or bitter
• Selecting or refusing foods based on texture, smell, color or temperature
• Covering all food in sauce
• Putting too much food in the mouth, where a person lacks sensory sensitivity
• Biting inner lips and cheeks when faced with food they don’t like
• Only eating food presented in the same manner each time

Challenging behaviors in autism

People with autism spectrum disorder may exhibit behaviors that put themselves at risk, cause difficulties for people around them, or are not socially acceptable.

Around 50 percent of people with autism engage in behavior that can cause themselves harm when they feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or unwell. Such behaviors can include:^[44][45]

• Banging their head on walls or other objects
• Hitting themselves, e.g. hitting their head with their hands
• Poking themselves in the eye
• Pulling their hair
• Scratching at their skin
• Picking the skin
• Biting themselves
• Smearing feces

A person with autism who feels frustrated, overwhelmed, or unwell may also display physically aggressive behavior. This can include:^[46][47]

• Throwing objects
• Hitting, slapping or biting other people
• Pulling other people’s hair

Some people with autism eat objects that are not edible or keep the objects in their mouth, a behavior known as pica. It is the most common eating disorder found in people with an autism spectrum disorder. People may eat anything, including dirt or soap.^[48][49]

Sensory overload

People with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulty processing sensory information around them. This can include:^[7]

• Sights
• Sounds
• Smells
• Tastes
• Sensations of touch

A person may be under-or over-sensitive to a sensation like noise, bright light, or certain smells. This can cause them to lose focus, become upset or behave in unexpected ways to manage the feelings they are experiencing.

This sensory overload can also cause people with autism to not be able to look at others’ facial expressions when listening or to be unable to focus on questions or complicated instructions simultaneously as listening to another person talk.^[20]

Signs of autism meltdown

For some people with autism, sensory overload can become overwhelming. In these situations, a person may have a meltdown. A change in routine can also precipitate a meltdown.

A meltdown is not a temper tantrum and can be experienced by someone with autism of any age. A meltdown should be managed by calming the person and addressing the cause of the distress.

Signs that a meltdown may be developing, sometimes known as the rumbling stage, include:^[50][51]

• Nail biting
• Pacing
• Rocking
• Being very still and tense
• Asking lots of questions
• Threatening others

If a meltdown is not successfully averted, the person may display total meltdown behaviors. These can include:^[50][51]

• Screaming
• Crying
• Punching
• Kicking
• Destroying objects
• Hurting themselves
• Biting

Gastrointestinal problems and autism

Up to 70 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder also have some form of the gastrointestinal condition, which can include:^[52][53][54]

• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Chronic gastritis
• Chronic duodenitis

Many people with autism spectrum disorder also have food intolerances and may find that a diet that excludes gluten or casein helps.^[43]

Autistic savant

The perception of people with autism as having uncommon powers of memory and recall, as popularized in various media, is not representative of people with autism spectrum disorder as a whole.

Around 10 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder are thought to show some savant skills. A person with mental or physical disabilities displays certain abilities beyond the average person’s. These skills often take one of the following forms:^[55]

• Music, particularly playing the piano
• Mathematics, particularly mental calculation
• Art, often painting or drawing
• Calendar calculating, the ability to identify the day of the week of any date over a wide time period
• Spatial and mechanical skills, such as being able to measures distances without instruments or create complicated mechanical models
• Memorization, usually utilized as part of another skill

It must be emphasized that 90 percent of people with autism spectrum disorder do not display savant skills.

Diagnosing autism

Most children with autism spectrum disorder display signs before they reach two years old, making an early diagnosis and intervention possible. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that health professionals check for early signs of autism at a child’s 18 month and 24-month-old checks.

There are various diagnostic tools used by pediatricians, psychologists, neurologists, and other medical professionals when assessing a child for ASD.

When to seek medical advice

Early intervention is very important in children with an autism spectrum disorder. Services such as speech therapy and behavioral and skills training are more effective if begun when a child is young.^[56]

For this reason, it is helpful to receive a diagnosis as early as possible. However, many children remain undiagnosed until they are in school. Some people are not diagnosed until they are adults.

If you suspect someone has autism, including yourself, contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

Signs of autism FAQs

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1. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “About Autism.” January 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

2. Autism Speaks. “What causes autism?” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

3. American Academy of Pediatrics. “Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence.” January 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism.” October 2015. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Safety Studies.” August 2015. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

6. National Institute of Mental Health. “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” March 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

7. The National Autistic Society. “Sensory differences.” March 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Basics About ASD.” May 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Developmental Milestones.” October 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Signs & Symptoms.” April 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

11. Autism Society. “Infants and Toddlers.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

12. Autism Speaks. “Hunting for Autism’s Earliest Clues.” April 2013. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

13. Autism Speaks. “Developmental Milestones by Age.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

14. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “When do children usually shows symptoms of autism?” January 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

15. Autism Speaks. “Symptoms.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

16. The National Autistic Society. “Toilet training.” November 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

17. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. “The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers: An Initial Study Investigating the Early Detection of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders.” April 2001. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

18. Healthline. “Echolalia.” October 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

19. The National Autistic Society. “Obsessions, repetitive behaviour and routines.” October 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

20. The National Autistic Society. “Communicating.” May 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩ ↩

21. US National Library of Medicine. “Sensory Response Patterns in Nonverbal Children with ASD” July 2013. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

22. US National Library of Medicine. “Speech acquisition in older nonverbal individuals with autism: a review of features, methods, and prognosis.” March 2009. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

23. WebMD. “Can Adults Get Diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum?” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

24. US National Library of Medicine. “Autism in adults: symptom patterns and early childhood predictors. Use of the DISCO in a community sample followed from childhood.” November 2007. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

25. Autism Center. “Opening Doors.” 2009. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

26. Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism. “About Autism.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

27. SAGE Journals. “Aspects of quality of life in adults diagnosed with autism in childhood.” October 2010. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

28. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. “Choosing the Right Job for People with Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.” November 1999. Accessed June 19, 2018. ↩

29. The National Autistic Society. “Anxiety in autistic adults.” November 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

30. National Autistic Society – Library catalogue. “Missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis: girls and women on the autism spectrum.” 2011. Accessed June 19, 2018. ↩

31. TRENDS in Cognitive Sciences. “The extreme male brain theory of autism.” June 2002. Accessed June 19, 2018. ↩

32. US National Library of Medicine. “The art of camouflage: Gender differences in the social behaviors of girls and boys with autism spectrum disorder.” August 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

33. The National Autistic Society. “Gender and autism.” February 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

34. US National Library of Medicine. “How different are girls and boys above and below the diagnostic threshold for autism spectrum disorders?” August 2012. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

35. National Association of Special Educational Needs. “Girls and Autism: Flying Under the Radar.” March 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

36. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. “The Experiences of Late-diagnosed Women with Autism Spectrum Conditions: An Investigation of the Female Autism Phenotype.” October 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

37. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “Asperger Syndrome Information Page.” May 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

38. Autism Speaks. “Asperger Syndrome.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

39. The National Autistic Society. “Asperger syndrome.” June 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

40. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “Autism Spectrum Disorder Fact Sheet.” September 2015. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

41. Ambitious About Autism. “Repetitive behaviors and stimming.” October 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

42. Indiana Resource Center for Autism. “Mealtime and Children on the Autism Spectrum: Beyond Picky, Fussy, and Fads.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

43. US National Library of Medicine. “Food selectivity and sensory sensitivity in children with autism spectrum disorders.” February 2010. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

44. US National Library of Medicine. “Self-Injury in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability: Exploring the Role of Reactivity to Pain and Sensory Input.” October 2017. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

45. The National Autistic Society. “Self-injurious behavior.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

46. US National Library of Medicine. “Aggression in autism spectrum disorder: presentation and treatment options.” June 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

47. The National Autistic Society. “Physical challenging behavior.” November 2015. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

48. The National Autistic Society. “Pica.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

49. Healthline. “What causes pica?” February 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

50. Organization for Autism Research. “The Cycle of Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns.” October 2004. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

51. The National Autistic Society. “Meltdowns.” March 2016. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩ ↩

52. The Journal of Pediatrics. “Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder.” November 1999. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

53. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. “Frequency of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Association with Family History of Autoimmune Disease.” April 2006. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

54. Autism Speaks. “Autism and GI Disorders.” Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

55. US National Library of Medicine. “The savant syndrome: an extraordinary condition. A synopsis: past, present, future.” May 2009. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

56. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Treatment.” April 2018. Accessed June 12, 2018. ↩

57. Baby Info. “Why we cannot screen for autism.” February 24, 2018. Accessed September 6, 2018. ↩

**Q: What are the signs of Autism?**



**A:**



Autism is a complex developmental condition⁢ that typically affects an individual’s social skills, communication, and ⁢behavior. ⁢The signs and symptoms of autism can vary significantly, but some common indicators include:



* **Social Interaction:**

* ​Difficulty‌ making eye contact

⁤* Challenges​ with social understanding and ⁣empathy

⁢ * Lack of⁢ interest in peers or social activities

* Difficulty sharing or requesting information



* **Communication:**

* Speech‍ delays‍ or atypical speech patterns (e.g., echolalia)

*⁤ Difficulty understanding or following conversations

* ⁣Nonverbal communication challenges

⁢ * Repetitive or ‌rigid language patterns



* **Behavior:**

⁤ ​ * Repetitive movements⁤ or stimming (e.g., hand flapping, toe walking)

⁤* Restricted or fixated interests

‌ * Sensory sensitivities to light, noise, or touch

* Difficulty transitioning or managing change

* Hyper- or ‍hypoactivity



* ⁣**Emotional Regulation:**

* Challenges expressing emotions appropriately

‌ * ‌Difficulty modulating anxiety or excitement

* Engage in repetitive self-soothing​ behaviors



It’s important to note that these signs and symptoms are not exclusive to autism, and‌ individuals may exhibit ⁣different​ combinations or ‌severities. Diagnosis of autism is​ typically made by a healthcare professional through observation and evaluation. If you are concerned‌ about potential autism signs in an⁤ individual, it’s ⁣recommended to ​seek ​professional‌ assessment for an accurate diagnosis.