What are some symptoms of autism that parents and caregivers can look for ?
Children diagnosed with autism tend to process and respond to information in the environment in unique ways. In some cases, parents are frightened because they exhibit aggressive and/or self-injurious behaviors which are difficult to manage. • Insistence on sameness in routines (O) • Difficulty in expressing needs verbally, using gestures or pointing instead of words (C) • Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language (C) • Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason; showing distress for reasons not apparent to others (S) • Prefers to be alone; aloof manner evident to strangers and family members (S) • Tantrums and low frustration tolerance (S) • Difficulty in initiating social contact with others (S) • Uncomfortable with physical contact even when given with affection such as a hug (S) • Little or no eye contact even when spoken to directly (S) • Unresponsive to normal teaching methods (S) • Plays with toys as objects (example bangs a toy car as a block rathe
