Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder, is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children’s social interaction, communication abilities, and behavioral patterns. As parents, understanding the signs of autism, especially those subtle details, is crucial for early identification, intervention, and support for children.
Social interaction difficulties
Children with autism often show significant differences in social aspects. They may lack eye contact, rarely making eye contact even while conversing with others. In addition, they may have difficulty understanding or expressing non-verbal emotions such as hugs, kisses, where physical contact may not evoke corresponding emotional reactions. In group activities, they may appear out of place, finding it hard to blend with peers, preferring solitary play or focusing on their own world.
Language and communication barriers
Language serves as a bridge for communication, but children with autism often face challenges in this area. They may have delayed speech development, or even if they learn to speak, they often have issues such as inappropriate language use, repeating the same sentences or topics (‘echolalia’), monotonous intonation, and others. In communication, they may struggle to understand others’ intentions and emotions, and find it hard to express their needs and feelings, leading to communication difficulties.
Repetitive and stereotyped behavioral patterns
Children with autism often exhibit excessive fixation on specific things, such as arranging items repeatedly, watching the same animation repeatedly, or listening to the same song. They may also insist on fixed routines in their daily lives and deviations from these routines might trigger strong emotional responses. Moreover, they may be overly sensitive or hyposensitive to sensory stimuli like sound, light, showing abnormal reactions.
In daily life, parents can preliminarily assess the risk of autism by observing some subtle details in their children. For instance, does the child often avoid eye contact? Is there a lack of interest in people and things around them? Do they always immerse themselves in their world? Do they exhibit unusual obsession with something? These seemingly insignificant behaviors could be a window into the child’s inner world, waiting for parents to explore and understand.【Contact for deletion if there is any infringement】.
