Autism Symptoms: 8 Common Signs to Recognize

Autism symptoms can vary widely from person to person and may affect communication, social interaction, behavior, and sensory responses. Common signs can include limited eye contact, repetitive movements, highly focused interests, difficulty with changes in routine, and sensitivity to sounds, lights, smells, or touch.

Some autism symptoms can appear during infancy, such as not responding to a name, using few gestures, or showing fewer facial expressions. Other signs may become more noticeable during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood, especially when social, school, work, or independence demands increase.

When autism symptoms are suspected, evaluation by a pediatrician or another healthcare professional experienced in autism assessment may be recommended. Support is tailored to each person’s needs and may involve healthcare professionals who help with communication, daily functioning, and quality of life.

Main symptoms

The most common autism symptoms include:

1. Limited eye contact

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to make less eye contact when interacting with other people.

2. Difficulty expressing ideas and feelings

People with autism may have difficulty using and understanding body language, gestures, and facial expressions. Because of this, they may find it difficult to share their interests or express feelings and affection, which can sometimes be mistakenly interpreted as indifference.

3. Becoming upset by changes in routine

Children with autism may become upset or distressed when their routine or surroundings change. Even small changes, such as different packaging for a favorite food or taking an unfamiliar route from home, may be difficult for some children.

4. Repetitive behaviors

Repetitive behaviors may include hand flapping, finger flicking, rocking the body back and forth while sitting, or walking on tiptoes. These behaviors may sometimes be viewed as “habits,” can be more common during moments of happiness, and may also include repeating words or phrases the person has heard.

5. Preferring solitary play

Children with autism may prefer to play alone or show less interest in joining other children during play. They may also find group activities difficult and may have an unusual or intense interest in certain objects, toys, or parts of them.

6. Greater sensitivity to sounds, lights, smells, or touch

Busy or noisy environments, fireworks, flashing lights, smells, touch, or certain types of clothing may attract the person’s attention or trigger strong reactions, such as crying or irritability.

7. Not responding to their name when called

Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to look toward someone less often when their name is called.

8. Communication difficulties

Communication difficulties can range from delayed speech development to problems starting or participating in conversations. People with autism may also have difficulty adapting their communication to different situations and may feel uncomfortable interacting with others or behave in ways that are considered socially inappropriate.

When to seek care

If a child has possible autism symptoms, especially delayed speech development or difficulties with learning, social interaction, or developing independence, talk to a pediatrician. The pediatrician can assess the child’s development and, if needed, refer them to a specialist experienced in evaluating autism.

Autism symptoms are not always recognized during childhood and may become more noticeable during adolescence or adulthood. Adolescents and adults who suspect they may be autistic can talk to a healthcare professional experienced in autism assessment for further evaluation.

Autism in babies

Early signs associated with autism may appear during infancy. According to the CDC, early signs of autism in babies can include not responding to their name or showing expected facial expressions by 9 months, as well as using few or no gestures by 12 months.

By 9 months, a baby may not respond to a caregiver’s attempts to interact, look when their name is called, babble sounds such as “mama” or “dada,” or follow another person’s pointing gesture.

By 12 months, the baby may not use or imitate gestures such as waving goodbye, clapping, or blowing kisses. They may also not have started saying their first words.

Autism in children

Autism symptoms can vary considerably in how noticeable they are and how much they affect daily life. When symptoms are less noticeable, autism may not be recognized until later in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood. 

Autism symptoms in children may include:

1. Difficulty with social interaction

• Avoiding eye contact or not looking people in the eyes

• Not smiling when someone smiles at the child, or smiling very little

• Not wanting to be hugged or kissed

• Having difficulty making friends

• Having difficulty interacting with other children and preferring to be alone

2. Communication difficulties

• Not speaking as much as other children

• Repeating phrases and words several times

• Not understanding other people’s gestures and facial expressions

• Not understanding jokes, common sayings, or sarcasm

• Not responding or taking a long time to respond when called

• Speaking with an unusual tone, rhythm, or pattern of speech

3. Behavioral changes

• Becoming very upset by small changes in routine
• Having an intense interest in something very specific, such as the wheel of a toy car or the wing of an airplane
• Making repetitive movements, such as hand flapping, finger flicking, or rocking the body back and forth
• Becoming overwhelmed in public or noisy environments

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), autism symptoms may be less intense and outward behaviors less noticeable in some girls, which may contribute to autism being underdiagnosed in girls.

If autism is suspected, it is recommended to talk to a pediatrician, who may refer the child to a specialist for further evaluation.

Autism in adults and adolescents

Sometimes, autism symptoms go unnoticed during childhood and are only recognized during adolescence or adulthood, when school or work responsibilities and the need for independence increase.

The main symptoms of autism in adults and adolescents include:

• Having difficulty making friends and preferring to be alone

• Avoiding eye contact

• Becoming more anxious during social interactions

• Communicating in ways that others may perceive as overly direct or uninterested

• Having symptoms of depression and anxiety

• Preferring to plan things very carefully and in detail

• Having difficulty understanding what other people are feeling

• Noticing small details, such as smells, sounds, or patterns, more easily

• Becoming very agitated when routines or habits change

• Having difficulty understanding jokes, common sayings, or sarcasm

• Feeling uncomfortable when someone gets too close or touches them

• Having an intense interest in uncommon topics, such as astronomy or meteorology, or in very specific activities, such as following several television news programs and learning every detail about one subject

Diagnosing autism in adolescents and adults can be difficult because some autism symptoms may be subtle or less noticeable. Some people may also develop ways of coping with their difficulties, such as avoiding situations that make them uncomfortable, which can make certain signs harder to recognize.

Autism support

There is no single approach to supporting autistic people. Support is tailored to each person's individual needs and may focus on communication, daily functioning, and quality of life.

Care may involve a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and psychologists.

Medications may sometimes be prescribed to help manage certain symptoms or related concerns.

Also recommended: Autism Treatment: 9 Approaches Your Doctor May Discuss tuasaude.com/en/autism-treatment