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Recognizing Autism:
Autism is a multifaceted neuro-biological disorder that influences the way an individual communicates, feels, and sees the world. First identified in 1938 by Leo Kanner, it was often previously classified as childhood schizophrenia. Ten years ago 1 in 10,000 people were affected, and currently autism affects 1 in 150 (1 in 88 boys). Diagnosis is based completely on behavioral symptoms. Verbal and non-verbal communication as well as social skills are the areas most impaired.

As noted by Dr. Stephen Edelson, "Autism is characterized by a complex constellation of behaviors. Any of the following symptoms may indicate the presence of autism in a child."

• Marked lack of awareness of the existence of feelings of others
• Absence of, or abnormal seeking of, comfort at times of distress
• Absence of or impaired imitation
• Impairment in making peer relationships
• No mode of communication, such as communicative babbling, facial expression, gesture, mime, or spoken language
• Abnormal nonverbal communication, with lack of eye-to-eye gaze, facial expressions, or body posture
• Absence of imaginative activity: play-acting, adult roles, fantasy characters, lack of interest in imaginary events
• Abnormalities in speech: volume, pitch, stress, rate, rhythm, and intonation
• Impairment in ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others despite adequate speech
• Stereotyped body movements: hand flicking, twisting, spinning, head banging, complex whole-body movements
• Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
• Marked distress with changes in trivial aspects of environment, such as an item being moved from its usual spot
• Unreasonable insistence on following routines in precise detail
• Markedly restricted range of interests and a preoccupation with one narrow interest

What Does That Mean?

This diagnostic list of symptoms can be a little confusing… Perhaps you still can’t picture what the typical autistic child is like on a daily basis. Listed below are some of the actual behaviors we have seen in our children at various stages of their development. I hope it paints the picture more clearly for you!  

• Spinning in circles for prolonged periods of time
• Fascination with inappropriate objects (carrying around kitchen utensils, straws, hair clips, items of a specific color, socks, etc.) and getting extremely upset if the object is taken away
• Loud constant grinding of the teeth
• Climbing furniture, counters, toilet, etc. and leaping from them at unsafe heights
• Banging of head on the floor or wall
• Constant monotone humming
• Not responding to name when called repeatedly
• Avoidance of eye contact
• Lack of receptive language (not understanding or complying to simple requests)
• Drawing back from physical contact
• Frequent squinting of the eyes
• Odd vocalizations (babbling incoherently)
• Hand flapping
• Walking on tiptoes
• Frequent and extreme tantrums
• Inappropriate display of emotions (laughing or crying for no reason)
• Difficult transitions (changing from one activity or place to another)
• Sensitivity to noises of different tones and volumes (covering ears)
• Difficulty adjusting to new people or places
• Sleep problems (waking at 2AM ready for the day)
• Gagging on foods of certain texture or color
• Frequent choking and overstuffing of the mouth
• Constantly removing clothing due to tactile sensitivities
• Violent and destructive behaviors
• Frequent diarrhea
• Frequent rashes
• Allergies to foods
• Fascination with toy car wheels
• Arching of the back when being picked up
• Staring at spinning objects
• No fear of danger (deep water, walking into the street, etc.)
• Lack of or impaired communication (gestures, verbal, etc.)
• Chewing on non-food objects
• Biting self or others
• Extremely self-limited diet
• Sensitivity to touch (extremely difficult to wash hair, clip nails, cut hair, change diapers, etc.)
• Sensitivity to light

If your child is between the ages of 16 and 30 months and you suspect autism, please click the links below for a simple diagnostic screening test and the scoring instructions.

M-CHAT Screening Test

M-CHAT Scoring