Signs of Autism 

 

Possible Red Flags

• Not respond to their name by 12 months of age

• Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months

• Not play "pretend" games (pretend to "feed" a doll) by 18 months

• Avoid eye contact and want to be alone

• Have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings

• Have delayed speech and language skills

• Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)

• Give unrelated answers to questions

• Get upset by minor changes

• Have obsessive interests

• Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles

• Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

 

Social Skills

• Does not respond to name by 12 months of age

• Avoids eye-contact

• Prefers to play alone

• Does not share interests with others

• Only interacts to achieve a desired goal

• Has flat or inappropriate facial expressions

• Does not understand personal space boundaries

• Avoids or resists physical contact

• Is not comforted by others during distress

• Has trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about own feelings

 

Communication

• Delayed speech and language skills

• Repeats words or phrases over and over (echolalia)

• Reverses pronouns (e.g., says "you" instead of "I")

• Gives unrelated answers to questions

• Does not point or respond to pointing

• Uses few or no gestures (e.g., does not wave goodbye)

• Talks in a flat, robot-like, or sing-song voice

• Does not pretend in play (e.g., does not pretend to "feed" a doll)

• Does not understand jokes, sarcasm, or teasing

 

Unusual Interests or Behaviors

• Lines up toys or other objects

• Plays with toys the same way every time

• Likes parts of objects (e.g., wheels)

• Is very organized

• Gets upset by minor changes

• Has obsessive interests

• Has to follow certain routines

• Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles