Do you know someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism is a disorder that ranges in severity.  Symptoms typically surface in childhood.  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is four times more likely to occur in males.

Early signs to look for.

A person with ASD might:

• Not respond to their name (the child may appear deaf)
• Not point at objects or things of interest, or demonstrate interest
• Not play “pretend” games
• Avoid eye contact
• Want to be alone
• Have difficulty understanding, or showing understanding, or other people’s feelings or their own
• Have no speech or delayed speech
• Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Give unrelated answers to questions
• Get upset by minor changes
• Have obsessive interests
• Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
• Have unusual reactions (over or under-sensitivity) to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
• Have low to no social skills
• Avoid or resist physical contact
• Demonstrate little safety or danger awareness
• Reverse pronouns (e.g., says “you” instead of “I”)

People with autism may also:

• Have unusual interests and behaviors
• Have extreme anxiety and phobias, as well as unusual phobias
• Line up toys or other objects
• Play with toys the same way every time
• Like parts of objects (e.g., wheels)
• Become upset by minor changes
• Have obsessive interests

Other Symptoms:

• Hyperactivity (very active)
• Impulsivity (acting without thinking)
• Short attention span
• Aggression
• Causing self injury
• Meltdowns
• Unusual eating and sleeping habits
• Unusual mood or emotional reactions
• Lack of fear or more fear than expected
• Have unusual sleeping habits