People with ASD have difficulty with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.
The list below gives some examples of common types of behaviors in people diagnosed with ASD. Not all people with ASD will have all behaviors, but most will have several of the behaviors listed below.
Social communication / interaction behaviors may include:
Making little or inconsistent eye contact
Appearing not to look at or listen to people who are talking
Infrequently sharing interest, emotion, or enjoyment of objects or activities (including by infrequently pointing at or showing things to others)
Not responding or being slow to respond to one’s name or to other verbal bids for attention
Having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation
Often talking at length about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without giving others a chance to respond
Displaying facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match what is being said
Having an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like
Having trouble understanding another person’s point of view or being unable to predict or understand other people’s actions
Difficulties adjusting behaviors to social situations
Difficulties sharing in imaginative play or in making friends
Restrictive / repetitive behaviors may include:
Repeating certain behaviors or having unusual behaviors, such as repeating words or phrases (a behavior called echolalia)
Having a lasting intense interest in specific topics, such as numbers, details, or facts
Showing overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects
Becoming upset by slight changes in a routine and having difficulty with transitions
Being more sensitive or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such as light, sound, clothing, or temperature
People with ASD may also experience sleep problems and irritability.
People on the autism spectrum also may have many strengths, including:
Being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time
Being strong visual and auditory learners
Excelling in math, science, music, or art
If you care about autism, please read studies about an important cause of autism, and cats may help decrease anxiety for kids with autism.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how to eat your way to a healthy brain, and results showing how to prevent brain aging effectively.
