Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior in individuals. This disorder occurs in different levels of severity and is often diagnosed in childhood.
Symptoms of autism can vary greatly and can impact daily life in many ways. Here are 60 key symptoms to look for if you suspect autism in yourself or someone you know:.
Communication
1. Delayed speech development.
2. Repetitive language patterns.
3. Difficulty with understanding or using nonverbal cues, such as body language.
4. Difficulty initiating or maintaining conversations.
5. Lack of interest in playing make-believe or imaginative games.
6. Difficulty understanding sarcasm or humor.
7. Speaks in a monotone or unusual tone of voice.
8. Difficulty expressing needs or wants.
9. Constantly talking about a specific topic with no interest in other topics.
10. Repeating phrases over and over again.
Social Interaction
11. Difficulty developing friendships or maintaining social relationships.
12. Prefers to be alone rather than socializing with others.
13. Lack of interest in playing with others.
14. Little or no eye contact.
15. Inability to understand social cues or sarcasm.
16. Difficulty with empathy or understanding other people’s feelings.
17. Trouble understanding or respecting personal space.
18. Difficulty adapting to change.
19. Difficulty sharing interests or activities with others.
20. Engages in repetitive behaviors during social interactions.
Behavior
21. Obsessive interest in certain objects or topics.
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22. Repetitive movements such as hand-flapping or rocking.
23. Insistence on specific routines or schedules.
24. Difficulty adapting to changes in routine or structure.
25. Intense reactions to sensory stimuli such as light, sound or touch.
26. Preoccupied with parts of objects or toys rather than the whole object.
27. Difficulty with coordination and motor skills.
28. Fascinated by spinning objects or parts.
29. Difficulty with planning and completing tasks.
30. Engages in repetitive behaviors such as lining up objects or arranging items in a specific pattern.
Cognition
31. Difficulty with problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
32. Difficulty with executive function and decision-making.
33. Difficulty with memory retention and recall.
34. Unusual sleep patterns or difficulty with falling or staying asleep.
35. Highly focused on details rather than the big picture.
36. Difficulty with sensory integration and perception.
37. Exceptional spatial skills or visual thinking.
38. Difficulty with understanding concepts such as time and money.
39. Inability to see other’s point of view.
40. Great acute focus on a single task.
Note all symptoms may occur at once, and not everyone with autism will experience all of these symptoms.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis for autism is typically made through observation and evaluating behavioral and developmental traits.
No medical tests exist to diagnose autism, so diagnosis is often made through a process of elimination that rules out other developmental disorders.
Early intervention such as speech therapy and applied behavioral analysis can significantly improve the outcome for individuals with autism.
Conclusion
Autism is a complex disorder that affects many aspects of an individual’s life. Identifying the key symptoms and seeking professional evaluation is crucial to receiving appropriate and effective care. .
