Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ASD is a developmental condition that affects how a person communicates and interacts with others. Individuals with ASD may have difficulty understanding social cues, exhibit repetitive behaviors, and have specific routines or interests. Symptoms typically appear before age 3 and can vary widely among individuals.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism
Communication
- Understanding and using gestures like pointing or waving;
- Understanding and using spoken words;
- Understanding language that doesn’t mean exactly what it says, like expressions or ideas that are nonliteral;
- Following directions;
- Learning to read or write—some children with autism read early but do not understand what they read (this is called hyperlexia); and
- Having or starting conversations.
A Person With Autism may
- Lose early words; talk very little or not at all;
- Be hard to understand;
- Repeat words or phrases that they just heard recently or that they heard days or weeks earlier (this is called echolalia);
- Use challenging or unconventional behaviors instead of words or gestures to communicate what they want;
A Person With Autism may
- Lose early words; talk very little or not at all;
- Be hard to understand;
- Repeat words or phrases that they just heard recently or that they heard days or weeks earlier (this is called echolalia);
- Use challenging or unconventional behaviors instead of words or gestures to communicate what they want;
Social Skills
- Making eye contact
- Join in play with others and share toys,
- Respond when others invite them to play or talk,
- Understand how others feel,
- Take turns in play or in conversation
Behaviors
- Repeat certain behaviors, including hand or body movements;
- Repeat words, phrases, and songs;
- Get upset by certain sounds, smells, or textures;
- Choose foods based on look or texture;
Behaviors
- Repeat certain behaviors, including hand or body movements;
- Repeat words, phrases, and songs;
- Get upset by certain sounds, smells, or textures;
- Choose foods based on look or texture;
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