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Child Responsiveness to Name and Command
Children who do not respond to their names or to simple commands may be indicative of having autism. This sign of autism falls under the category “social skills” and calls for the intervention of a pediatrician for a response evaluation.
Many autistic children develop language skills at a different rate and in a different order from typically developing children. This means they might not understand what you say to them or might have difficulty following instructions.
The study brings hope to those parents who worry that children who are not talking by age 4 or 5 are unlikely to develop speech at all. Some children with ASD develop meaningful language after age 5. "There is a burst of kids in the 6- to 7- age range who do get language," Dr.
While nonspeaking individuals with autism may not speak words to communicate, many still understand words and even use written words to communicate.
Analytical Thinking: People with an autism spectrum disorder think in a logically consistent way that leads to quick decision making. These thinkers can make decisions without experiencing the framing effect that inhibits most neurotypicals from making decisions without bias.
Every person living with autism is unique; some may struggle with empathy while others may feel completely overwhelmed by other people's feelings, and then there is everyone in between. It seems that autistic expression of empathy may be atypical.
Many find it hard to communicate and to understand what other people are thinking and feeling. Autism affects how people process sensory information (such as sight and sound), which can make everyday tasks more difficult. In a noisy environment, many autistic people say it is difficult to hear what's being said.
Autistic children are often good at learning by heart (rote memory). Many autistic children can remember large chunks of information, like conversations from movies, words to a song, number plates and so on.
Having nonspeaking autism does not mean a person cannot communicate or understand language. With the right support, they can become a strong communicator, with or without verbal language.
Kids with autism experience “deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to the absence of interest in peers (DSM-5).”
Many children on the autism spectrum are fascinated by animals, trains, or other aspects of the real world. Selected TV and videos, such as "Animal Planet" and the "Eye Witness" videos can build on those interests.
Emotional development: autistic children and teenagers
For example, your autistic child might feel all negative or unpleasant emotions as anger. Or they might not recognise when they're excited. Or they might label all emotions that are hard to describe as 'being bored'.
And although being yelled at every day breaks down self-esteem and increases panic in every child, it is especially painful for children with autism. Not only are they receiving the abuse, they also may lack a way to fight back or express big feelings.
Autistic children can have rigid, fixed ideas and behaviour that can interfere with their ability to take instructions. They can also find it hard to shift their attention from one thing to another.
Most children with autism respond well to structured discipline, perhaps due to their desire for sameness and routine. Consistent discipline can also alleviate some of your child's anxiety, a common characteristic of autism. Consistent outcomes help children feel secure and confident in their choices.
As they explore what's around them and how they fit into their surroundings, they often look to others for guidance. For neurotypical children, this generally involves copying the actions of their parents or caregivers. This may not be the case for an autistic child.
Older epidemiological studies suggested that the IQ-related spectrum tends to be skewed to the left, i.e., a larger proportion of individuals with ASD have below average intelligence, while only few individuals with ASD may have an IQ above average.
Use visuals.
Even individuals with autism who can read benefit from visuals. Visuals can serve as reminders about classroom rules, where certain things go, and resources that are available to students. Using pictures and modeling will mean more to students with autism than a lengthy explanation.
Here's the reality: every child will throw a tantrum at some point, whether they have an autism diagnosis or not. But for children with autism, tantrums can be more frequent, distressing, and difficult to quell.
Among those with autism, common triggers include disturbing breaks in routine, lack of sleep, jarring “sensory stimuli” (noises, lights, or smells) or even undiagnosed mental health problems. Clearly, it's important to look beyond the behavior itself to identify the underlying cause.
In short, autistic people are more than capable of love and being in romantic relationships. Being in a relationship with an autistic person may just look a little different than what you're used to.
Widespread stereotypes suggest that people with autism are incapable of feeling romantic love. In reality, people with autism can experience romantic love and often attach considerable value to their close relationships.