How to Know if Child Is Autistic

From LoveToKnow Autism

With the complexities of pervasive developmental disorders, parents may wonder how to know if a child is autistic. This problem is especially troublesome for high functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome.

View the autism behavior checklist

Autism Characteristics

Part of the problem lies in the fact that autism is a neurological condition, not currently classified as a medical condition. Researchers know that the autistic brain functions differently than a neurotypical mind. The spectrum is confusing to some because it manifests itself behaviorally. No real physical characteristics of children with autism are apparent.

Autism symptoms and treatments are behavioral in nature, making it difficult for some to detect conditions on the spectrum. Treatment approaches like applied behavioral analysis serve to change the brain’s landscape by systematically introducing the child to new experiences. This creates new neurological pathways that hopefully are reflected in behavioral follow through.

How to Know if Child Is Autistic

Recognizing autism in severe cases is much easier than in high functioning cases. Knowing the symptoms of autism is an important part of the process. It also helps to know typical child development as well. It is important to note that some conditions can mimic autistic characteristics.

Sensory Processing

A glaring trait of many people on the autism spectrum is difficulty with sensory processing. Nearly everyone can relate to feeling physically uncomfortable due to sensory input. Loud noises, distracting lights, and itchy materials can be very bothersome to anyone but they can be painful for a child with sensory problem.

Consider some signs of sensory problems can include:

Repetitive movements
- Hand flapping
- Spinning
- Sighting (moving with eyes fixed on an object or looking at things very closely)
- Licking objects
- Rocking back and forth
- Flapping objects
Reactions
- Extreme reaction to seemingly benign sensory input
- Lack of response to seemingly significant sensory input
Body awareness
- Does not respond to pain appropriately
- Sits on steps, moving down one at a time rather than stepping
- Does not step from one surface to another such as stepping from concrete to grass
Seeking sensory input
- Burrowing into pillows
- Jumping
- Climbing on furniture

Sensory processing disorder can be confused with autism because individuals who have this condition often engage in the stereotypical repetitive movements often seen in cases of autism. However, other symptoms must be present to meet the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM IV.

Communication

Communication is a problem for children on the spectrum and this includes more than being a “late talker”. Children on the spectrum may not engage in natural communication that is apparent in typically developing children with ease. This includes verbal and nonverbal communication. Consider the child’s age as you determine whether there is a deficit in communication.

Infants and toddlers
- May not cry
- No babbling by 12 months
- Does not point or gesture
- Does not grab items
- Acts out rather than using words
- Seems to be ignoring people
Children
- Does not use functional language
- Repeats sentences, words or phrases with no apparent purpose
- Tantrums easily for no apparent reason

It is important to have your child’s hearing tested as one of the fundamental steps to determining if deficits in communication are due to hearing problems or due auditory processing problems associated with autism.

Communication problems combined with sensory problems may be an indication that further testing is necessary. Children with Asperger’s syndrome do not have apparent deficits in communication but they do have significant problems with social interaction.

Social Deficits

Social blindness is a significant problem for people on the autism spectrum. While children with Aspergers are able to use language for basic communication, they have difficulty processing social cues, both verbal and nonverbal. Children on the spectrum may:

Make inappropriate facial expressions
Misunderstand humor
Have inappropriate responses to other people’s remarks and actions
Avoid eye contact
Not seem to notice others
Avoid playing with peers
Obsessively talk about a single topic of interest
Fail to recognize other people’s emotional states
Not recognize feelings behind facial expressions
Be shockingly honest

The inability to recognize social cues, body language and facial expressions can significantly interfere with a person’s ability to function in the social realm. Play skills are important indicators that a problem may exist.

Play Skills

Children learn through play and kids on the autism spectrum have great difficulty playing with others appropriately. If your child engages in rigid, odd play or activities that do not seem like play at all, it may be necessary to have testing done.

Plays with parts of toys rather than the entire toy
Aligns objects across the floor
Becomes agitated when patterns are disrupted
Does not use toys as they were designed
Does not engage in pretend play (feeding baby doll, talking on a toy telephone)

Routine

Some of the problems with play can be due to the child’s dependency on routine and order. A child with autism may try to create a safe environment by creating a daily routine to follow. When routines are disrupted, a tantrum may ensue. Problems can also arise when a child has to make unexpected transitions.

Testing

A professional using a number of different testing approaches diagnoses autism. A few of the tests are available in Spanish as well.

English

Spanish

Proper Diagnosis

Early intervention is critical in helping children on the autism spectrum. While many of the symptoms of autism can also be apparent in neurotypical children, they become diagnosable when they interfere with the child’s ability to function on a daily basis. It is important to know something about how to know if a child is autistic but only a professional is qualified diagnose or refute cases of autism.

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