Autism – What Is It?

Main Characteristics of the Autism Spectrum:

1. Difficulties with Social Interaction

Avoidance of eye contact: A child may avoid direct eye contact or maintain it only briefly.

Struggles with understanding social cues: It may be difficult to understand others’ emotions, facial expressions, or body language.

Limited interest in peers: A child may show little interest in playing with others or may not understand social rules.

Example: On a playground, a child plays alone, unsure how to join other children or does not respond to invitations to play.

2. Communication Difficulties

Delayed or unusual language development: Some children may not speak or may begin speaking later than their peers.

Echolalia: Repeating what others say instead of responding independently.

Difficulties starting and maintaining a conversation: It may be hard to initiate a conversation or keep it going.

Example: When asked “How are you?”, a child may repeat the question instead of answering.

3. Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests

Stereotypical movements: Such as hand-flapping, rocking back and forth, or finger-flicking.

Strict routines: A child may insist on doing daily activities the same way and may react strongly to changes.

Intense, narrow interests: A child may be deeply interested in a specific topic, like trains, and show little interest in other things.

Example: A child might play with toy trains for hours, arranging them in a specific order, and become very upset if the arrangement is changed.

4. Sensory Sensitivities

Increased or decreased sensitivity: A child may be extremely sensitive to sounds, lights, smells, or textures—or may show little response to pain or temperature changes.

Example: A child may cover their ears when hearing certain sounds or avoid specific clothing due to its texture.

Diagnosis

Autism is typically diagnosed in childhood by observing behavior and developmental traits. The diagnosis is made by a team of specialists – child psychiatrists, neurologists, or psychologists.

Support for Autistic Individuals

While autism cannot be cured, early intervention, therapy, and adapted education can help autistic individuals better adjust and make use of their strengths.

Autism is not a barrier to living a full life – it’s simply a different way of being in the world. With the right support and understanding, autistic people can be a valuable and important part of society.