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