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No two children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) have the exact same
symptoms but the criteria are standardized. The number of symptoms
and the severity can vary greatly amongst different children.
Social Differences:
- Doesn't snuggle when picked up, but arches back instead
- Doesn't keep eye contact or makes very little eye contact
- Doesn't respond to parent's smile or other facial expressions
- Doesn't look at objects or events parents are looking at
or pointing to
- Doesn't bring objects to show to parents just to share his interest
- Often doesn't have appropriate facial expression
- Unable to perceive what others might be thinking or feeling by looking at their facial expressions
- Unable to make friends
Communication Differences:
- Doesn't say single words by 15 months or two-word phrases by 24 months
- Repeats what others say without understanding its
meaning (parroting)
- Doesn't respond to name being called, but does respond to other sounds like a car horn
- Often doesn't seem to want to communicate
- Doesn't start or continue a conversation
- Doesn't use toys or other objects to represent people or real life in pretend play
- May have a good rote memory especially for numbers, songs, TV jingles or a specific topic
Behavioral Differences:
- Rocks, spins, sways, twirls fingers or flaps hands stereotypic behavior
- Likes routines, order, and rituals
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Obsessed with a few activities, doing them repeatedly
during the day
- Plays with parts of toys instead of the whole toy
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