What Are The 5 Main Symptoms Of Autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism, is an impairment of brain development caused by specific differences in cerebral parts. 

Social interactions are common challenges for autistic people, as are confined or repetitive behavior. Moreover, autistic individuals might learn, move, and focus on things in ways that are different as compared to their non-autistic peers. 

Symptoms of autism can appear during the early stages of childhood and they can continue and cause hindrance to the daily lives of people.

We have a related article for you, you can read What Is The Relation Between Autism And Intelligence?

All the symptoms commonly seen in autistic people are often categorized into two groups by specialized healthcare experts for diagnosing the condition. 

Moreover, they measure the severity of autistic symptoms through various tests. For instance, by how much assistance a person requires to operate on an everyday basis.

Sensory difficulties affect several autistic individuals. High or low sensitivity to noises, lighting, tastes, touch, scents, pain and other stimuli are common among people with autism. The condition is also linked to a high prevalence of specific physical and psychological illnesses.

What Are The 5 Main Symptoms Of Autism – Main Symptoms Of Autism

Although several symptoms and signs can help in diagnosing autism, there are specific characteristics seen in autistic people that are widespread. These are usually seen first during early childhood and are as follows:

Lack of Social Interaction Skills 

People with autism are commonly seen to have difficulties with communication and to interact with others. Some of the main behaviors associated with this symptom include:

• Avoids eye contact or breaks it instantly

• Avoids physical contact, such as hugs or holding hands

• Doesn’t show any response to calling for as long as the first 9 months old

• Doesn’t show any facial expressions, such as sadness, happiness, surprise, or anger, for as long as the first 9 months old

• Shows no interest in playing interactive games or with other children

• Doesn’t use simple gestures, such as waving, for as long as one year old

• Avoids interacting with people, even their parents

• Doesn’t cry or pay attention to getting hurt for as long as two years old

• Doesn’t play pretending or make-believe games for as long as four years old

• Uses flat voice tone when speaking

• Doesn’t understand any emotion

• Doesn’t ask elders for help or comfort

Delayed Mental Development

Children with autism often delay developing basic mental skills such as talking or understanding others. Some of the signs of this include:

• Shows delayed movement ability

• Shows delayed language ability

• Shows delayed learning and cognitive ability

Unstable Emotions and Health

People with autism often show rapid changes in their emotions. For instance, they get overwhelmed by small acts and react in a way that might not be normal to others. 

The condition also leads to certain mental and physical conditions like anxiety, seizures, etc. 

Some related signs include:

• Usually stays hyperactive

• Feels upset at small changes

• Keeps staring at specific things

• Often acts impulsively 

• Cannot focus on one thing/activity for long

• Has abnormal sleeping and eating

• Suffers from anxiety and over-thinking

• Shows an extraordinarily high or low level of fear than others 

• Depicts mood swings or sudden emotional responses

• Has stomach-related problems

• Has episodes of seizure or epilepsy

Repetitive or Restricted Behavior

Autistic people exhibit unique behavior. These distinguish autism from disorders characterized just by difficulties with social interaction and communication. Some of the repetitive and restricted behavior associated with the condition are:

• Arranges things, like toys, in a line and shows annoyance if they’re disturbed

• Keeps repeating specific phrases or words

• Shows repeated patterns in activities, such as playing in the same way

• Focuses on a particular part of something rather than the whole

• Shows obsessions over certain people or things

• Follows specific routines strictly

• Repeats movements, such as flapping arms, rocking legs, or spinning in a circle

Inability To Understand Appropriate Responses

Autistic people are often unaware of how to process specific actions and events and thus, do not understand how to respond to them or why other people show specific responses towards them. Some of the signs related to this symptom include:

• Cannot understand puns, sarcasm, and humor

• Cannot lie, even if told to do so

• Laughs or screams at something that is not expected to make someone happy or scared, etc.

• Doesn’t show any response to pain or injury

• Doesn’t understand why someone is responding in a specific manner

• Cannot hide their emotions and talk or acts straightforward

Another post that will interest you is about Can Autism Progress With Age?

Conclusion

Autism is a difficult disorder. But the early diagnosis may help in understanding it better. For your kind convenience, we have given you five early signs of Autism that will help you understanding the disease better.