Some children show signs of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy, such as reduced eye contact, lack of response to their name or indifference to caregivers. Other children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life, but then suddenly become withdrawn or aggressive or lose language skills they've already acquired. Signs usually are seen by age 2 years. Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior and level of severity — from low functioning to high functioning. Some children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty learning, and some have signs of lower than normal intelligence. Other children with the disorder have normal to high intelligence — they learn quickly, yet have trouble communicating and applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations. Because of the unique mixture of symptoms in each child, severity can sometimes be difficult to determine. It's generally based on the level of impairments and how they impact the ability to function. Below are some common signs shown by people who have autism spectrum disorder. Social communication and interaction A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with social interaction and communication skills, including any of these signs:  Fails to respond to his or her name or appears not to hear you at times Resists cuddling and holding, and seems to prefer playing alone, retreating into his or her own world Has poor eye contact and lacks facial expression Doesn't speak or has delayed speech, or loses previous ability to say words or sentences Can't start a conversation or keep one going, or only starts one to make requests or label items Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm and may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech Repeats words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use them Doesn't appear to understand simple questions or directions Doesn't express emotions or feelings and appears unaware of others' feelings Doesn't point at or bring objects to share interest Inappropriately approaches a social interaction by being passive, aggressive or disruptive Has difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues, such as interpreting other people's facial expressions, body postures or tone of voice  Patterns of behavior A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities, including any of these signs:  Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand flapping Performs activities that could cause self-harm, such as biting or head-banging Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the slightest change Has problems with coordination or has odd movement patterns, such as clumsiness or walking on toes, and has odd, stiff or exaggerated body language Is fascinated by details of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car, but doesn't understand the overall purpose or function of the object Is unusually sensitive to light, sound or touch, yet may be indifferent to pain or temperature Doesn't engage in imitative or make-believe play Fixates on an object or activity with abnormal intensity or focus Has specific food preferences, such as eating only a few foods, or refusing foods with a certain texture  As they mature, some children with autism spectrum disorder become more engaged with others and show fewer disturbances in behavior. Some, usually those with the least severe problems, eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have difficulty with language or social skills, and the teen years can bring worse behavioral and emotional problems.
children show signs autism spectrum disorder early infancy  reduced eye contact  lack response name indifference caregivers  children may develop normally first months years life  suddenly withdrawn aggressive lose language skills they've acquired  signs seen age 2 years  child autism spectrum disorder likely unique pattern behavior level severity — low functioning high functioning  children autism spectrum disorder difficulty learning  signs lower normal intelligence  children disorder normal high intelligence — learn quickly  trouble communicating applying know everyday life adjusting social situations  unique mixture symptoms child  severity can difficult determine  it's generally based level impairments impact ability function  common signs shown people who autism spectrum disorder  social communication interaction child adult autism spectrum disorder may problems social interaction communication skills  including signs:  fails respond name hear times resists cuddling holding  prefer playing alone  retreating world poor eye contact lacks facial expression doesn't speak delayed speech  loses previous ability say words sentences can't start conversation keep going  only starts requests label items speaks abnormal tone rhythm may singsong voice robot-like speech repeats words phrases verbatim  doesn't understand doesn't understand simple questions directions doesn't express emotions feelings unaware others' feelings doesn't point bring objects share interest inappropriately approaches social interaction being passive  aggressive disruptive difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues  interpreting people's facial expressions  body postures tone voice  patterns behavior child adult autism spectrum disorder may limited  repetitive patterns behavior  interests activities  including signs:  performs repetitive movements  rocking  spinning hand flapping performs activities cause self-harm  biting head-banging develops specific routines rituals disturbed slightest change problems coordination odd movement patterns  clumsiness walking toes  odd  stiff exaggerated body language fascinated details object  spinning wheels toy car  doesn't understand purpose function object unusually sensitive light  sound touch  may indifferent pain temperature doesn't engage imitative make-believe play fixates object activity abnormal intensity focus specific food preferences  eating only foods  refusing foods texture  mature  children autism spectrum disorder engaged show disturbances behavior  some  least severe problems  eventually may lead normal near-normal lives  others  however  continue difficulty language social skills  teen years can bring worse behavioral emotional problems
autism spectrum disorder