Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
A group of disorders characterized by impairments in social interaction, imagination, verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Children diagnosed on the spectrum often appear to have a limited number of interests and activities that tend to be repetitive.
A child with ASD may:
- Not respond to their name by 12 months of age
- Not point to an object to show interest by 14 months of age
- Not play pretend games by 18 months of age
- Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
- Have delayed receptive and expressive language development
- Repeat words and phrases over and over (echolalia)
- Give unrelated answers to questions
- Get upset by minor changes
- Have obsessive interests
- Flap their hands, rock their bodies, or spin in circles
