Like every condition that falls on the spectrum, autism can be very tricky to diagnose at times. There have also been many examples of autism being misdiagnosed as something more common, like ADHD.
While it is impossible to diagnose autism if you aren’t a professional, there are some signs that you may want to investigate if they become frequent. However, as mentioned, a doctor’s diagnosis or ABA autism therapy is still needed.
Early Signs
Depending on where your child falls on the spectrum, it is possible to spot autism reasonably early on. Some of these signs carry on as your child gets older, but the most common ones include a lack of facial expressions, little to no noise, and limited eye contact.
While children who aren’t on the spectrum can exhibit these signs, in children with autism they seem to be far more consistent. Therefore it isn’t advised to jump to conclusions but rather pay attention and see how long your child shows these signs. In understanding Autism and its complexities, it’s crucial to explore therapeutic options like ABA therapy in Columbus, GA, which has demonstrated significant positive outcomes for individuals on the spectrum. For comprehensive information and support, valuable resources are readily available.
Social Signs
Social skills are one aspect where autism can be noticeable. Those with autism, no matter their age, don’t follow the same social path as those who aren’t on the spectrum. Once again, children can exhibit some of these social difficulties reasonably early on.
Not making eye contact will persist, but you will find your child struggles to speak/babble. Your child will sometimes forget previously learned words or phrases; they will have a broad but selective vocabulary. Those with autism also struggle to make friends as they prefer their own space; they prefer to be alone.
Learning Abilities
Children, teenagers, and adults with autism all struggle to some degree with learning. You might find your child can pick up a new skill or subject easily but then struggle a lot with something else.
Hyper-focus can also be a sign of autism in some children, with a child being so consumed with something they are learning that they can’t or don’t learn anything else. Learning ability is another area where you can’t jump to conclusions, as some children can be far ahead or behind, but it doesn’t mean they are on the spectrum.
Body Language and Verbal Skills
Children and adults with autism will often exhibit unusual physical and verbal behaviors. These behaviors vary among children, but some common ones include those mentioned before, such as a lack of eye contact and not outwardly showing emotion.
Regarding language, you will find that those with autism tend to not only struggle with sentence construction, but sentences can sometimes be very confusing; words will be wrongly used or used out of context.
Interests
Interests and hobbies can sometimes be extreme; those on the spectrum can either be overly obsessive about one hobby or show no interest in any. Reactions and behavior towards a hobby or interest will be very extreme.
Interests and hobbies can also change in an instant, with their full attention and often obsession, changing overnight.
Repetitive Behaviors & Strict Routines
Repetitive behavior is not only a sign of obsessive behavior, but it extends beyond hobbies or interests. This can include everything from opening and closing a door multiple times, flicking light switches, or something more subtle like finger tapping or rocking back and forth.
Children and adults on the spectrum tend to follow very strict routines in almost every aspect of their lives. This will include what order they eat their meals in, the time they brush their teeth, and more minor things like how much water they drink.
Eating & Sleeping Habits
Children will often display unusual eating or sleeping habits if they are on the spectrum. They will sometimes refuse to eat anything except for one thing, only sleep in a particular room or bed, and be incredibly specific with times no matter what else is going on.
This time aspect is a consequence of wanting to stick to a routine, meaning going out to eat or going on holiday can be a very stressful experience because they can’t do what they usually do at home.
Mood
Extreme mood changes are a very common symptom of autism. Considering autism affects how someone processes emotion, you may find your child is overly happy or excited about everything one day and then overly sad or even depressive about trivial things the next.
While these mood changes can signify something else, when combined with the other signs on this list, it is usually an indicator of being on the spectrum.
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