Social Interaction
- Lack of eye contact: Children with autism often avoid making eye contact or have difficulty sustaining it.
- Limited social interaction: They may show little interest in playing or interacting with others.
- Difficulty in understanding emotions: Difficulty in reading facial expressions and non-verbal cues, leading to challenges in understanding emotions.
Communication
- Delayed speech development: Late onset of speech or lack of speech altogether.
- Repetitive and rigid language: The child may often repeat words or phrases without context.
- Difficulty with conversation: Challenges in initiating or maintaining a conversation, often talking excessively about their own interests.
Behavioral Patterns
- Repetitive behaviors: Engaging in repetitive body movements such as hand flapping, rocking, or spinning.
- Obsessive interests: Developing intense interests in specific subjects or objects and displaying inflexible adherence to routines.
- Hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity: Extreme reactions to certain sensory stimuli, such as sounds, smells, or textures.
Other Symptoms
In addition to the core symptoms mentioned above, children with infantile autism may also present with the following:
- Intellectual disabilities: Many individuals with autism have challenges in intellectual functioning and may require additional support.
- Sleep disturbances: Disrupted sleep patterns, including difficulties with falling asleep or waking up frequently during the night.
- Behavioral difficulties: Displaying challenging behaviors, such as aggression, impulsivity, or self-injury.
- Anxiety and depression: Children with autism may experience higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to their neurotypical peers.
Recognizing the symptoms and characteristics of infantile autism is crucial for early identification and obtaining appropriate support for children with ASD. If you suspect your child may be showing signs of autism, consult with a healthcare professional or specialist who can provide a proper diagnosis and assist in creating an individualized intervention plan.
Remember, every child with autism is unique, and early intervention and support can make a significant difference in their development and overall well-being.
[Article source: adapted and authored by OpenAI’s language model GPT-3. Content is up to date as of the model’s pre-training in October 2021. Please consult a healthcare professional or specialist for specific medical advice or information.]