The range of symptoms in Autistic people can vary greatly as it is a spectrum disorder and a person may have only a few mild symptoms, others may have more severe symptoms while others are somewhere in between. Just as with any person, no two Autistic people are the same. They don’t look the same and the don’t act the same.

There are a number of problems however that are fairly common with people that have Autism such as gastrointestinal problems, seizure disorders and mental illness. It isn’t known why these problems are so common in Autistic people and although these conditions are more common in people with Autism than with the general population, they are not a definite symptom of the disease and there are many Autistic people that do no have any signs of these conditions at all.

The symptoms of Autism can be broken into three groups

1. Communication and social symptoms
2. Sensory and motor symptoms
3. Personality symptoms

Let’s take a look at those three groups in more detail.

Communication and Social Symptoms

The communication and social symptoms of an Autistic person may include:

• Difficulty in understanding different voice tones and body language. They may not be able to tell that a person is being sarcastic or joking as they don’t understand those tones of voice.

• Lack of eye contact

• Delayed speech or unusual speech patterns

• May speak without much expression in their tone

• Unable to look at things from other people’s perspectives.

• Have trouble sharing their feelings or understanding the feelings of others

• Prefer not to be cuddled or will not be overly comfortable with this close contact

• May have trouble expressing their needs

Some people with Autism may have great language skills while others may have no language skills whatsoever. Some will have good language skills but still find it hard to start or carry conversations.

Sensory and Motor Symptoms

Many people with Autism are very sensitive to some light, some sounds or other sensory stimulants. They may often cover their ears and even get very upset if there is a sound or light that is irritating them.

Autistic people generally are not physically disabled but some may be quite un-coordinated and have problems with fine motor skills. They may often have poor hand writing and be clumsy at running and sports. Autistic people are more comfortable with individual sports like swimming and running.

Personality Symptoms

Personality symptoms may include:

• Find it difficult to make friends and maintain friendships

• Will prefer to participate in activities that require little verbal interaction on their part

• May have repetitive behaviors and rituals

• Will often have one or a few very passionate interests that they can become quite obsessive with

• Will not play make believe games

• Will not pay too much attention to things that others are showing them

• Dislike changes and may become very upset with their regular routine is changed

• Like things to be done in a particular way

In some cases children start to develop skills at the normal rate and then at some point will start to lose the skills they already have. This may include language skills, eye contact and cuddling. Due to this sudden change and backward step in their progress many people have suggested that immunizations have been the cause of their child’s Autism as they have appeared perfectly normal before the vaccines.

This has not been proven and there is much dispute as to whether immunizations can contribute to Autism.

What Is Autism?
Autism Treatments