12 Signs of Autism

Few disorders affecting children represent a greater challenge than autism, which is characterized by impaired social function and communication, as well as a tendency toward repetitive, restrictive behavior. As one of America's fastest-growing developmental disorders, autism also shows many distinctive signs that offer the chance for a definitive diagnosis -- of which many will be noticed during a child's first two years of life. These include 12 signs to help parents, pediatricians and other professionals determine where a child may fit on the autistic spectrum.

The Basics Of Autism And The Spectrum

• A report compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007 shook long-standing assumptions about the prevalence of autism. The center's report showed that 1 in 150 people are struggling with autism, or a related disorder, with boys four times as likely to be diagnosed. Previous estimates assumed a ratio of 1 in every 186 people. Autism also occurs on a spectrum with severe autism accompanied by profound retardation or other learning disabilities, to people with Asperger's Syndrome, who are seen as higher-functioning. High functioning autism is a diagnosis often given to people with mid-range autism, as well. Those who show some autistic traits, but not all, are considered to have Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

What You Will See in the Autistic Person

• An impaired gaze is among the most common signs among autistics, who avoid looking anyone in the eye. Most Asperger's Syndrome adults will also express the idea that eye-to-eye contact is extremely uncomfortable for them. Flat or abnormal facial expressions are a second key symptom, even if many emotions are happening inside, and may be accompanied by a flattened effect, such as a monotone voice. Poor motor coordination is also evident. This could be seen when a child begins walking later than he should, or shows signs of clumsiness from poor hand-eye coordination.

The Emotional Life

• Autism brings severe risk of over-stimulation. Once separated from a favored object or routine, many children will go into a temper tantrum, and exhibit severe difficulty with self-control. This"meltdown" is actually a neurological reaction to over-stimulus, or fear, terror and anger that they cannot express any other way. This varies from a normal child's temper tantrum, which can be a plea for attention, or to get their own way. The fifth major symptom, "stimming," is an equally distinctive trait -- consisting of soothing physical exercises, such as flapping one's arms, rocking, jumping up and down, or touching things over and over.

Delayed Speech In Serious Autism

• Delayed speech is another classic symptom of autism. This can range from severely autistic people who may only grasp the most rudimentary speech, to the person with Asperger's Syndrome who is sufficiently high-functioning to do a lecture. Other times, the person with autism needs speech therapy and help in communications skills. Speech may be used differently, as well. Effects can range from echolalia -- or repetition of spoken words -- to the use of pedantic speech, or overly formalized language.

Trying to Fit In And Failing

• Autistic people do not communicate as most people do. This leads to a lack of normal conversation reciprocity. For those on the severe end of the spectrum, social interaction is a puzzle that is difficult to unlock. Rote learning is the answer for higher-functioning autistics, which never appears natural to neurotypicals, or people without autism who are not on the spectrum. Social interaction does not come naturally, and is rarely spontaneous -- except for people to whom the autistic person feels close. Face and mind blindness -- an inability, respectively, to remember faces, and understand what other people are thinking -- complicate matters, as well. Body language is a total mystery that offers no clues, either.

Making Sense Out Of A Complicated World

• Autistic people may be hypersensitive to their environment, and light, sounds, and smells will overwhelm them -- such as bright sunlight, or loud music, for example -- because their brain has less of a filter to tune unwanted stimuli. This is why the autistic child sticks to routines like glue, and despises change. This makes activities that calm them, or focus their attention, all the more important -- such as a child with Asperger's syndrome reading and memorizing dictionaries and encyclopedias. Higher-functioning autistics will develop obsessional interests, such as learning bus routes and numbers, while autistic "savants" will display uncommonly intense art, math and musical talents. Although not present in every autistic child, this above average ability to focus can help them develop those talents.