Skip to main content

Autism Symptoms

There are other common symptoms and early warning signs for autism outside of the social communication deficits and restrictive/repetitive behaviors outlined in the DSM-V.

Childhood

  • Social aloofness
  • No babbling, no pointing, or other gesture by 12 months
  • No single words by 16 months
  • No 2-word spontaneous (not echolalic) phrases by 24 months
  • Any loss of any language or social skills at any age (Filipek et al., ?)
  • Lack of interest in other children
  • Not using the index finger to point, to indicate interest in anything
  • Not bringing objects over to parents to show them
  • Lack of imitation
  • Failure to respond to his/her name when called
  • Not following others pointing at a toy across the room by looking at it

Teenage Years

  • Not knowing how to engage in reciprocal conversation
  • Taking things literally
  • Only focusing on one topic (usually a special interest or hyper fixation)
  • during a conversation
  • Speaking in unconventional ways – such as flatly/monotone or with a
  • sing-songy voice
  • Using unusual or old-fashioned vocabulary
  • May prefer to be by themselves as opposed to with peers
  • Want others to abide by rules
  • Lacking a sense of personal space – may stand too close
  • Poor hygiene skills
  • Sensitive to touch
  • Easily overwhelmed by sensory input
  • Low self-esteem
  • Difficulty naming their emotions
  • Maybe bullied by peers

Adulthood

  • Find it difficult to understand what others are thinking
  • Trouble making and interpreting facial expressions
  • Experience anxiety around social interactions
  • Seem blunt or rude
  • Have a specific daily routine and have difficulty deviating from it
  • Exhibit strong special interests
  • Not understanding social cues
  • Avoid eye contact
  • Notice small details that others may not
  • Like to plan activities out before doing them
  • Easily overwhelmed by sensory input
  • May be clumsy, tripping over nothing or bumping into objects