Unusual fears in autism often stem from sensory sensitivities and a need for predictability, including intense fears of mechanical objects (toilets, vacuums, elevators), loud noises (thunder, balloons), specific textures, changes in routine, and sometimes visual media, differing from typical fears but often co-occurring with them. These fears, like phobias of toilets or beards, are rooted in how autistic individuals experience the world, often due to hypersensitivity, and can significantly impact daily functioning.
Autistic children can have uncommon fears like beards, toilets, or certain shapes. They can also be afraid of loud noises or specific sounds. However, they may also avoid loud noises, not because they are afraid of them, but because they are very sensitive to those noises.
AutismWish Monthly Gifting Program
Through this initiative, families can receive regular shipments of sensory toys that are carefully selected to meet the unique needs of children with autism.
find it hard to communicate and interact with other people. find it hard to understand how other people think or feel. find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable. get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events.
If you have low support needs (high-functioning autism), you may have symptoms such as:
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
Individuals with ASD commonly display various unusual mannerisms such as:
"Looping" in autism refers to getting "stuck" in repetitive mental cycles, replaying thoughts, questions, worries, or phrases endlessly, often triggered by stress, sensory overload, or uncertainty, and linked to challenges with executive function and attention. It's a non-clinical term for perseveration or rumination, where an autistic individual's brain struggles to shift focus from an internal loop, which can be mentally exhausting but sometimes also comforting.
Because people with autism spectrum disorder often have a hard time interacting socially, communicating or behaving, this can lead to problems with:
Benefits and financial help for Autistic Individuals
The "777 rule for kids" has two main meanings in parenting: one focuses on daily connection time (7 mins morning, 7 mins after school, 7 mins before bed) for feeling seen and valued, while another defines developmental stages (0-7 play, 7-14 teach, 14-21 guide) for parents to tailor their involvement. A third variation suggests limiting screen time to 7 hours/week, maintaining 7 feet distance, and avoiding screens 7 days before events. All aim to build stronger parent-child bonds through intentional, focused interaction or developmentally appropriate parenting roles.
Medication Treatment for Autism
Chinning is a form of repetitive self-stimulatory behavior (stimming) that you may notice in children or adults with autism. It involves pressing, rubbing, or holding the chin against objects, surfaces, or even hands to gain sensory input or comfort.
Difficult social situations and sensory environments can increase stress and increase anxiety for autistic people. Another significant cause of anxiety is a sense of being misunderstood and/or not accepted by non-autistic people. To 'fit in' and not be seen as different, autistic people might mask or camouflage.
Examples of literal thinking in autism
Common colloquial phrases are sometimes taken literally by autistic individuals, who may misunderstand the meaning. For example, if someone says, “Break a leg” or “Hit the books,” a literal thinker might take it as actually breaking a leg or physically striking their books.
Palilalia, the delayed repetition of words or phrases, occurs frequently among individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.
Children with high-functioning autism are likely to exhibit a wide range of symptoms in early childhood, including:
Read on to learn various mistakes to avoid when caring for a child with autism.
Gender Differences in Diagnosis: Autism is diagnosed four times more often in males than in females. This disparity may be due to females having more subtle symptoms and being better at masking social difficulties.
Understanding and Identifying Lesser Known Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children
Experts haven't found a single cause of autism. It's likely a combination of genetics and certain things related to pregnancy, labor and delivery. You might see these things described as “environmental factors” or “prenatal events.” These factors all interact to lead to the brain differences we see in autism.
Understanding the 6 stages of an autism meltdown can help parents, caregivers, and educators respond with empathy and support.
Donald Triplett, autism's 'Case 1,' dies at 89. Triplett gained media attention for his autism later in life, and he became the face of the effort to research the lives of older adults with autism.