Characteristics of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Social Interaction Impairments
The most striking feature of individuals with ASD is their social impairment. Some individuals are totally disconnected form other people, often treating them like a piece of furniture. Others are passive in how they accept social overtures from others but rarely if ever initiate interactions. Some individuals with ASD have social behaviors that center on their obsessions and concerns. Other interpersonal difficulties include insensitivity to the feelings of others and a failure to understand why people act the way they do.
Restricted sense of self and others
People with ASD experience a different sense of themselves in relation to the world – a narrow and restricted sense of self. They fail to see other people as beings like themselves. They have difficulties both with self-awareness and with identifying with others. It has been speculated that this deficit in self-other awareness is what has led to problems with later cognitive development, e.g., mindblindness and executive functioning problems.
Social/Cognitive challenges
Difficulty in understanding hidden rules social interactions
Problems with generalization
Rote memory
Difficulty understanding emotions and mental states of others
Communication Challenges
Particular ways of speaking – pragmatics and prosody
Takes language literally -- figures of speech – metaphors
Limited range of interests
Routines and rituals
Repetitive, stereotyped, and sometimes self-injurious behaviors
Obsessions, special topics.
Insistence on sameness
Poor Emotional Regulation Skills
Mood instability
At risk for depression
High frequency of anxiety disorders, esp. social anxiety
Sensory Abnormalities
Sensory abnormalities like hypersensitivity to sounds, smells, and tactile defensiveness are also often found in children and adults with ASD.
On the other hand, they may appear insensitive to sensory information coming to them from the environment.
Motor Skill Difficulties
There may be motor skill issues that effect either/and gross motor skills and fine motor skills. They may appear clumsy and uncoordinated with an awkward gait. Motor deficits may make life difficult and frustrating. It may be difficult to master basic life skills or interact with peers in activities like bike riding or playing sports.
Health Issues
Sleep problems – difficulty achieving normal sleep patterns
Gastrointestinal problems
Diet
Constipation
Diarrhea