Signs of autism spectrum disorders

A child with an ASD might:

Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over)

Not look at objects when another person points at them

Have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all

Avoid eye contact and want to be alone

Have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their feelings

Prefer not to be held or cuddled or might cuddle only when they want to

Appear to be unaware when other people talk to them but respond to other sounds

Be very interested in people, but not know how to talk to, play with, or relate to them

Repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language (echolalia)

Have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions

Not play "pretend" games (pretend to feed a doll)

Repeat actions over and over again

Have trouble adapting when a routine changes

Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound

Lose skills they once had (for instance, stop saying words they were once using)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Facts about ASD. Available at: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html.

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