Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that begin early childhood and tend to persist across the lifespan. The average age of diagnosis of Autism is 4 years. More than half of all individuals who have been diagnosed with Autism also have signs of ADHD. In fact, ADHD is the most common coexisting condition in children who are autistic.
The Presentation of Autism in Children
Autism can actually be detected in children as young as 2 months old. In early childhood, traits of autism evolve as children reach different developmental milestones. For more detailed information on developmental signs of autism in children from birth to five years old, visit our Early Signs of Autism page.
Children with autism present with distinct social, communication, and developmental challenges. Traits are not the same for each individual child. Some of the signs of Autism during childhood that vary between children include:
Social Signs
- Doesn’t like being cuddled
- Can’t initiate or maintain conversations
- Lack of facial expression or exaggerated facial expressions
- Doesn’t respond to their name: Ears are for decoration
- Doesn’t point at objects
- Doesn’t understand simple instructions
- Likes to be alone
- Struggles to make and keep friends
- Has difficulty understanding how their behavior impacts others
- Struggles to understand age-appropriate social rules; for example, not saying hurtful things to others.
Communication Signs
- Doesn’t speak, has delayed speech, or experiences speech regression
- Makes poor eye contact
- Speaking with an abnormal tone or rhythm
- Difficulty understanding how others think and feel
- Doesn’t understand the concept of turn taking
- Talks at length about their favorite subject
- Isn’t able to establish back-and-forth communication
- Repeating words or phrases that they hear
Behavioral Signs
- Develops specific rituals and routines and are upset when these routines are disrupted
- Performs repetitive behaviors like hand flapping, rocking, spinning, toe wiggling, and freezing.
- May engage in behavior causing self-harm, like head banging
- Has difficulty in their movements like walking on toes and with balance
- Doesn’t engage in imitative or make-believe play. Is more likely to line up toys and use items for purposes other than how they are intended
