Characteristics of children with Autism:
These are listed here to enable all parents to be aware and pick up warning signs early and act.
- Prefers to be alone; aloof manner,
- Little or no eye contact,
- Insistence on sameness; resistance to change,
- Difficulty in expressing needs, and no single finger pointing.
- Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language,
- Laughing,crying, showing distress and tantrums, for reasons not apparent to others,
- May not want to cuddle or be cuddled,
- Unresponsive to normal teaching methods,
- Sustained odd play, spins objects, inappropriate attachments to objects,
- Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain,
- No real fear of dangers,
- Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity,
- Uneven gross/fine motor skills,
- Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests are in normal range,
A word of Caution to parents
We emphasise that these standardised behavioural data are aimed at creating awareness but not phobia. Having any of these features in itself is not indicative of autism, but warrants further follow up and formal evaluation by a multi-disciplinary team. For example, in the social/educational system of United States of America, all infants who exhibit developmental deviations are closely observed and monitored with appropriate intervention until they are able to reach a Yes or No category on a definitive diagnosis. This ensures that no child is left out in the system and enables early intervention (where necessary) which is very crucial for prognosis.