Challenges

Every person with Autism Spectrum has a unique combination of challenges. Children may now be diagnosed as early as 6 month of age, although definitive diagnosis is usually not given until 2-3 years of age. The following is a non-exhaustive list of challenges:

In Babies (between 6 months and 1 year of age)

• No social smiling;
• Lack of eye contact;
• Not responding to one’s name;
• No social anticipation (of being picked up or playing games);
• Poor visual tracking;
• Lack of social babbling.

In Toddlers and Children (between 1 and 12 years of age)

• Delayed speech (or no speech);
• Repetitive behavior (words, actions, games, etc.);
• Difficulties understanding people’s feelings (one’s own and others);
• Not using social cues appropriately (gestures, facial expressions, etc.);
• Tantrums;
• Anxiety;
• Aggression;
• Unusual sensory reactions to sound, smell, taste, look, feel, pain;
• Flap hands, rock body, spin in circles;
• Having little understanding of safety or awareness of danger;
• Not playing pretend games;
• Avoiding eye contact;
• Becoming upset at minor changes;
• Preferring to follow a rigid routine;
• Causing self-injury;
• Feeling overwhelmed in social situations;
• Difficulties with sleep;
• Difficulties with chewing and eating.

In Children (older than 12 years)

All of the above, plus:

• Higher chance of seizures;
• Higher anxiety due to sexual urges;
• Inappropriate behavior due to lack of social awareness;
• Depression due to feeling different;
• Struggle with abstract concepts in school;
• Trouble reading non-verbal cues;
• Trouble taking turns in conversations;
• Having a good vocabulary and talking in a formal way;
• Have obsessive interests.

SHARE

Linkedin