Signs of Autism – The Assessment Practice

Signs of autism in young children include:

Not responding to their name
Avoiding eye contact
Not smiling when you smile at them
Getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound
Repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body
Not talking as much as other children
Not doing as much pretend play
Repeating the same phrases

Signs of autism in older children include:

Not seeming to understand what others are thinking or feeling
Unusual speech, such as repeating phrases and talking ‘at’ others
Liking a strict daily routine and getting very upset if it changes
Having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
Getting very upset if you ask them to do something
Finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on their own
Taking things very literally – for example, they may not understand phrases like “break a leg”
Finding it hard to say how they feel

Autism can sometimes be different in girls and boys.

Autistic girls may:

This means autism can be harder to spot in girls.

Finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling
Getting very anxious about social situations
Finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own
Seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to
Finding it hard to say how you feel
Taking things very literally – for example, you may not understand sarcasm or phrases like “break a leg”
Having the same routine every day and getting very anxious if it changes