There are two “core” symptoms which include:

-Challenges with social communication and interaction skills

-Restricted and repetitive behaviors

Even though it looks very different for every person that has ASD, medical professionals look for these factors when diagnosing. They will rate the severity based on the level of support needed. Sometimes people can present with these signs even if they don’t have ASD also.

Social Communication & Interaction Skills

People with Autism may have difficulty with these skills, especially in the areas of:

1.Social Interactions

-Starting & taking turns in coversations

-Sharing interests & emotions

-Understanding what others are thinking or feeling

2. Communication

-Making eye contact

-Understanding other people’s body language, gestures and facial expressions

-Regulating tone of voice (loud, quiet, monotone)

3. Developing, maintaing and understanding relationships

-Expressing feelings and seeking emotional comfort from others

-Making friends and playing with peers

-Understanding boundaries and personal space

-Feeling overwhelmed in social situations

Restricted & Repetitive Behaviors

These symptoms vary greatly, but an individual must portray at least two of these behaviors.

1. Repetitive movements, play or speech patterns
   • Stimming or making repetitve body movements to regulate emotions (rocking, hand flapping, spinning, running back and fourth)
   • Lining up toys in a row, spinning wheels, repeatedly flipping switches
   • Imitating another persons speech, repeating words or phrases (aka echolalia)
2. Insistence on sameness and need for routine
   • Extreme distress at even small changes in plans or routine
   • Ritualistic behaviors (watching the same videos over and over, repeatedly touching objects in a set order)
   • Need for routine (same daily schedule, meal menu, clothes, route to school)
3. Intense and highly focused interests
   • Extreme interest or knowledge of specific narrow topics
   • Strong attachment to a certain object (toy or figurine)
4. Under – or over – sensitivity to sensory stimulation
   • Sensory differeneces, like unusual sensitivity to light, sound, touch, or texture
   • Lack of sensitivity to pain or temperature
   • Sensory-seeking behaviors (smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement)

Characteristics of Autism

These include but are not limited to:

-Using other types of communication besides spoken (typing on computer, pointing to pictures on a tablet, or communicating through behavior)

-Difficulty with executive functioning (planning how to complete a task, juggling multiple tasks, making decisions)

-Trouble with fine motor skills and coordination

-Needing help with daily living skills

-Difficulty regulating and/or communicating emotions, sometimes resulting in harmful or self-injurious behaviors, sensory overload, meltdowns or shutdowns

Masking

It is common for some autistic individuals to hide their symptoms to feel accepted or meet societal expectations. It is known as masking or camoflaging. It is described as pushing through sensory discomfort in a loud room or forcing eye contact during a conversation. This is more common in girls and women and it can lead to mental health issues.

Autism Signs & Symptoms Video

Signs and Symptoms