| A child with ASD might have social and communication differences, such as: |
- Avoiding or not keeping eye contact
- Not responding to their name by 9 months of age
- Not showing facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
- Using few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, waving goodbye)
- Not sharing interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, showing you an object that they like)
- Not pointing to show you something interesting by 18 months of age (for example, pointing at an airplane flying over)
- Not noticing when others are hurt or upset by 24 months (2 years) of age
- Not noticing other children and joining them in play by 3 years of age
- Not pretending to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 4 years of age
- Not singing, dancing, or acting for you by 5 years of age
- Not being able to tell when someone is joking, teasing, or being sarcastic
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| A child with ASD might have the following behaviors: |
- Lining up toys or other objects and getting upset when the order is changed
- Repeating words or phrases over and over
- Playing with toys the same way every time
- Being focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)
- Getting upset by minor changes
- Having obsessive interests (for example, only being interested in cars)
- Needing to follow certain routines
- Flapping their hands, rocking their body, or spinning in circles
- Having unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
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| Other signs that a child might have ASD include: |
- Being delayed in gaining language, movement, or learning skills
- Being disorganized and having trouble finishing tasks, including schoolwork
- Acting hyperactive or impulsive, or having trouble paying attention
- Having epilepsy or seizure disorder
- Having unusual eating and sleeping habits
- Having gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
- Having unusual moods or emotional reactions
- Having anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
- Being more or less fearful of things than expected
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