3 of the Most Common Symptoms of Autism

As increasing numbers of children are diagnosed with autism, this condition is affecting more and more families. Autism can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms vary, they are shared with other medical conditions, and so the obvious course of action is to have your child evaluated by a specialist. Please continue reading to discover three typical symptoms of autism that are most common.

It is normal for children, from the time they are born, to want to be touched and cuddled. One classic sign of autism is that the child shuns and avoids the touch of another person. This is sometimes one of the first symptoms to be noticed, and there is understandable confusion and distress caused to the parents when their child does not want to be held or touched. The problem with not wanting to be touched is widely encountered in addition to an array of other possible symptoms. Some professional efforts to design therapies to help the autistic child get used to and accept touch are in effect, but to date it is not entirely known the extent of their effectiveness. Related, perhaps, to the touch aversion is the idea of personal physical space, and the autistic can become highly agitated if anyone crosses the boundaries.

It can become apparent at an early age, if your child is autistic, that they find it difficult to socialize normally. A generally aloof manner, refusal to make eye contact, and a preference to play alone are symptoms of autism. They have difficulty telling others what they want or need, and will tend to use gestures rather than words to communicate. With children, this can make things very difficult, as autistic children are often teased or bullied if they are in a classroom or other environment with other children. Autistic children are usually placed in special education classes or institutions that specialize in autism for this reason combined with their difficulty learning in the same way as other children.

Those with the form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome are able to function in society. People with Asperger's often appear eccentric, and display some of the typical symptoms of autism, such as lack of eye contact and normal facial expressions, but they are able to communicate, hold jobs and in some cases marry and have children. Those with Asperger's will talk about one passionate interest constantly; this is usually of a specialized nature such as statistics. A career in engineering, science, or mathematics is where people with Asperger's will generally excel.

Because there are so many varieties of autism even the most seasoned professional can find it perplexing. No one even agrees about the causes of autism, which are probably varied. Here we have only talked about a couple of the most common symptoms in this article. It's important to focus on a specialized treatment plan that will meet the needs of any autistic child.