signs and symptoms of possible autism in preschool children (or equivalent mental age)
Last edited 02/2018
Signs and symptoms of possible autism in preschool children (or equivalent mental age)
Social interaction and reciprocal communication behaviours
Spoken language
- Language delay (in babble or words, for example less than ten words by the age of 2 years)
- Regression in or loss of use of speech
- Spoken language (if present) may include unusual:
- non-speech like vocalisations
- odd or flat intonation
- frequent repetition of set words and phrases ('echolalia')
- reference to self by name or 'you' or 'she/he' beyond 3 years
- Reduced and/or infrequent use of language for communication, for example use of single words although able to speak in sentences
Responding to others
- Absent or delayed response to name being called, despite normal hearing
- Reduced or absent responsive social smiling. Reduced or absent responsiveness to other people's facial expressions or feelings
- Unusually negative response to the requests of others (demand avoidant behaviour)
- Rejection of cuddles initiated by parent or carer, although may initiate cuddles themselves
Interacting with others
- Reduced or absent awareness of personal space, or unusually intolerant of people entering their personal space
- Reduced or absent social interest in others, including children of his/her own age - may reject others; if interested in others, may approach others inappropriately, seeming to be aggressive or disruptive
- Reduced or absent imitation of others' actions
- Reduced or absent initiation of social play with others, plays alone
- Reduced or absent enjoyment of situations that most children like, for example, birthday parties
- Reduced or absent sharing of enjoyment.
Eye contact, pointing and other gestures
- Reduced or absent use of gestures and facial expressions to communicate (although may place adult's hand on objects)
- Reduced and poorly integrated gestures, facial expressions, body orientation, eye contact (looking at people's eyes when speaking) and speech used in social communication
- Reduced or absent social use of eye contact, assuming adequate vision
- Reduced or absent joint attention shown by lack of: gaze switching following a point (looking where the other person points to - may look at hand) using pointing at or showing objects to share interest
Ideas and imagination
- Reduced or absent imagination and variety of pretend play
Unusual or restricted interests and/or rigid and repetitive behaviours
- Repetitive 'stereotypical' movements such as hand flapping, body rocking while standing, spinning, finger flicking
- Repetitive or stereotyped play, for example opening and closing doors
- Over-focused or unusual interests
- Excessive insistence on following own agenda
- Extremes of emotional reactivity to change or new situations, insistence on things being 'the same'
- Over or under reaction to sensory stimuli, for example textures, sounds, smells
- Excessive reaction to taste, smell, texture or appearance of food or extreme food fads
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