Autism is a lifelong neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain in areas of communication and social interaction.
It is a spectrum disorder whose characteristics can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations from mild to severe. People use different terms to describe persons within the spectrum, such as: autistic tendencies, high or low-functioning, or autism spectrum. Whatever the term, children can learn and function productively given the appropriate educational plan.
Here are facts and traits about autism that can often be seen in children and adults who have been diagnosed with autism:
• It delays, or causes, the lack of learning to talk and problems taking steps to start a conversation. Also, people with autism have difficulties continuing a conversation after it has begun.
• Stereotyped and repetitive use of language.
• Difficulty understanding their listener’s perspective. For example, a person with autism may not understand that someone is using humor. They may interpret the communication word for word and fail to catch the implied meaning.
• Significant problems developing nonverbal communication skills, such as eye-to-eye gazing, facial expressions, and body posture.
• Failure to establish friendships with children the same age.
• Lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people.
• Lack of empathy. People with autism may have difficulty understanding another person’s feelings, such as pain or sorrow
• An unusual focus on pieces. Younger children with autism often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car, rather than playing with the entire toy.
• Preoccupation with certain topics. For example, older children and adults may be fascinated by video games, trading cards, or license plates.
• A need for sameness and routines. For example, a child with autism may always need to eat bread before salad and insist on driving the same route every day to school.
• Stereotyped behaviors. These may include body rocking and hand flapping
Monica Bryson, supervising teacher at MiChild Pediatric Services