Recognizing Signs and Traits of Autism in Children
Medically reviewed by Stephanie Hartselle, MD
Traits of autism in children may include having speech differences, social communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities, behavioral differences, and more.
Autism can be reliably diagnosed by a specialist by age 2, but the average age of autism diagnosis in the U.S. is five years. However, more and more teens and adults are receiving diagnoses as the mainstream picture of autism shifts. A child who is accurately diagnosed as autistic won't lose that diagnosis as an adult—autistic children grow up to be autistic adults.
This article discusses autistic traits and signs of autism in kids, the age at which these may be seen, and what to do if your child shows autistic traits.
What Does Autism in Children Look Like?
Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because no single trait is common to all and there is wide variation in the intensity of traits people experience.
Autism is a developmental disorder, which means that no single trait or behavior, on its own, is likely to suggest a child is autistic. These differences must be significant to qualify for a diagnosis. They must strongly impact the child's ability to do age-appropriate tasks, make friends, or succeed at school.
Speech Differences
Autistic children almost always have some kind of speech difference. For example, they may:
Only communicate non-verbally
Have speech delays
Speak with unusual prosody (the rhythm, stress, and intonation of speech), such as sounding flat or monotone
Memorize and repeat speeches from television or other people's conversations
They may also speak very quickly, say the same thing over and over again (echolalia), or use incorrect grammar when they should be old enough to speak correctly.
Social Communication Difficulties
Autistic children always have social communication difficulties, but they can show up in many different ways, such as:
They may not want to interact with anyone at all, preferring to spin, line up objects, continually flush the toilet, or read.
They may want to interact all the time and have a harder time picking up on boundary cues.
They may insist on getting their way and pursuing their own interests all the time.
They may be very passive.
Autistic children may take longer than their peers to learn to play with—rather than near—other children.
Sensory Sensitivity
Most autistic children have some kind of sensory sensitivity, such as:
Craving or avoiding loud noise, hugs, certain flavors, textures, or smells
Being ultra-sensitive to light
Being easily distracted by small sounds and movements
Some autistic children are very distressed by sensory input of all types that others may not even notice—like a scented deodorant, appliances humming, etc.
Unusual Movements
Autistic children often (though not always) move differently than other children. "Stims" (short for self-stimulation) are common and may look idiosyncratic to people unfamiliar with neurodiversity.
For example, while many children may suck their thumbs, bite their nails, or twirl their hair, autistic children may additionally be likely to flap their hands, run on their toes, or rock back and forth.
Autistic children are also more likely to walk stiffly with their hands held still at their sides or run with an awkward gait. They may be clumsy and have difficulty throwing, catching, writing, or drawing.
Behavior Differences
Autistic kids behave differently from their typical peers. While neurotypical (the usual way of processing information) children may tantrum to get their way (or because they are tired or hungry), autistic children are more likely to have meltdowns or tantrums because they are overwhelmed, frustrated, or unable to communicate their needs.
Other behavioral differences may include:
Have interests associated with people older or younger than them
"Perseverating," meaning they say or do the same things over and over in exactly the same way or get "stuck" on a thought, idea, interaction, or desire
Thriving on routines and getting very upset when normal routines are changed
Becoming emotional over small things and have a lower tolerance for stress
Even a teen or adult may suddenly burst out crying over a change in plans or a forgotten water bottle. In some cases, autistic children can be impulsive or self-harming or they may run away (called "eloping") for reasons that are unapparent to parents or peers.
Style of Play
Autistic children often play differently than their peers. They may:
Play all alone and find it difficult or even impossible to engage with other children
Play by organizing or lining up objects, stuffing them into containers, or wandering around the yard or playground tossing dirt into the air.
They may find it difficult to follow the rules of sports like soccer or baseball.
Takeaway
You can't recognize an autistic child by their looks. Autistic children can be silent, chatty, incredibly intelligent, have intellectual disabilities, or be very sociable.
Behaviors and mental processing of autistic children can range from quirky to very atypical. They may do well academically and/or have learning disabilities.
At What Age Do Kids Show Signs of Autism?
Many children show symptoms of autism by 12 to 18 months of age or earlier. Autism can be reliably diagnosed by a specialist by age 2, but the average age of autism diagnosis in the U.S. is five years.
It's important to get a diagnosis as early as possible because research shows that early detection and intervention greatly improve outcomes.
Some early traits of autism include:
Problems with eye contact
No response to their name
Problems following another person's gaze or pointed finger at an object
Poor skills in pretend play and imitation
Problems with nonverbal communication
Sometimes autism traits become apparent in school-age children. Later traits of autism may include:
Difficulty taking turns in conversations
Difficulty following instructions with more than one or two steps
Speaking differences, such as talking too loudly or monotone
Avoiding eye contact
Having few facial expressions or gestures
Difficulty reading non-verbal cues
Difficulty making friends and having few or no friends
Why It Is Important to Recognize Autism in Children
There are several reasons why it's important to recognize, diagnose, and support autistic children. Here are just a few:
Understanding the reasons behind your child's behaviors and challenges can help you better understand what your child needs to thrive.
Schools and health insurance companies provide a wide range of free services to autistic children which would not be available to a child labeled as having "delays."
Social security and other agencies may be able to help you meet your child's particular needs.
Autism is now so widely known that many non-profits and corporations specifically cater to the needs of families with autistic children. Once you understand your child's diagnosis, you will quickly discover autism-friendly programs ranging from sports teams to movie nights to special days at the zoo.
When you know your child's diagnosis, you can find support programs and groups run by autistic adults and meet neurotypical and autistic parents with similar experiences. Not only will you discover resources you never knew about, but you may also find new friends—both for yourself and for your child.
Is Autism Different in Boys and Girls?
The diagnostic criteria for autism don't outwardly discriminate based on gender. However, research suggests that autism may look quite different in girls, making it difficult to diagnose using existing criteria. This is because participants were boys in most early studies of autistic children.
If You Think Your Child May Be Autistic
Based on the description above, you may feel that your child should be evaluated for autism. If that's the case:
Read a little more about the traits, not "symptoms," of autism to be sure that you're accurately understanding how autism differs from other developmental disorders.
Talk with your pediatrician to find out whether they agree with your assessment—and ask for recommendations for practitioners or clinics that can conduct an evaluation. If your pediatrician disagrees with you, be sure you understand why and be sure you agree. If you don't agree, move on to the next step.
Talk with your school district to determine whether they have facilities to evaluate your child free of charge. If not, they may be able to recommend a clinic or practitioner that they work with.
Choose a practitioner or clinic and make an appointment.
Don't be shy about asking for an evaluation. If your child is autistic, you've certainly done the right thing. If your child is otherwise neurodivergent, you've discovered that and can get them the supports they need. If your child is simply developing differently, you continue on as usual paying attention to their needs and behaviors.
In short, an evaluation can only help. And, since it's usually possible to have your child evaluated for free, what do you have to lose?
Read Next: 6 Things to Avoid When Raising an Autistic Child
Summary
Traits of autism in children may include delayed or not reaching developmental milestones, speech differences, social communication difficulties, sensory sensitivities, and behavioral differences.
Early diagnosis is key to early intervention which greatly improves outcomes. If your child shows traits of autism, talk with your child's pediatrician and/or school district administration about whether an assessment is warranted, a referral if needed, and available resources.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.