Updated: 18-06-2025
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder Symptoms & Diagnosis
Autism is a growing disorder all over the globe, which is found in all age groups, because of lifestyle changes.
Before we learn about “Symptoms of Autism”, let us discuss briefly what autism means.
Definition of Autism
Autism is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in medical terms.
It is a brain disorder that mainly occurs in children with different mental challenges, like social communication, repetitive behaviour, and different interests and activities.
It is generally found in children, and the first ones to notice these changes are parents.
People with autism will have their way of learning things.
They learn, speak, and behave in different ways compared to normal people.
Few may learn very rapidly, and few need assistance even for their daily needs.
Research suggested that autistic children are very attached to their parents but cannot express themselves as common children do.
Autistic people cannot express themselves as well as non-autistic people.
Sometimes they may cry, laugh, or make gestures in an inappropriate situation.
People affected with autism disorder have god-gifted knowledge, like problem-solving skills, thinking, learning music, dance, art, and much more, and also easily adapt to new things.
In another case, a few ASD-challenged people cannot even remember daily activities.
Autism disorder is seen in children and adults, irrespective of age or gender.
Symptoms of autism differ in both toddlers and adults and vary depending on age.
Symptoms of Autism in Toddlers
Autistic children will have many challenging issues from weeks after their birth.
Only a parent can find the changed behaviour of their kids, as they behave and act abnormally compared to normal children.
They may affect fully or partially.
Partially affected toddlers will have limited conversations, and that too only for selected topics and not like regular to-and-fro conversations.
- Sleep difficulties or sleeping disorders
- Repetitive Behavior
- Babbling difficulties by 12 months.
- Speaking problems still after the completion of 1 year.
- Facial expressions are not visible, much like sounds, smiling, looks, etc.
- No gestures of any sort, which are usually seen in common kids, like pointing to something or recognising and responding to their name when called out.
- Playing with the same toys or arranging and rearranging the toys
- No meaningful two-word sentence is spoken by kids after the age of 2 years.
Symptoms of Autism in Adults
Adults with autism will never open up in social gatherings and speak only on selected topics.
They love to be in themselves, having their imaginary world.
They generally speak in one-word answers, and most of them don’t like to communicate with others.
Below is the list of symptoms of autism in adults.
- Sleep difficulties are faced every night.
- Repetitive behaviour of the same thing or the same situation.
- Avoids social communication and loves to be alone and within themselves.
- Speaks to only a selected group of people if interested.
- Avoids small gestures also, like a smile, handshake, wish, etc.
According to the Centres for Disease Control, located in the USA, the statistics are as follows on the cure and symptoms of autism.
- In the USA, boys are more affected by autism in greater numbers compared to girls.
- 1 out of 42 boys and 1 out of 189 girls are diagnosed with autism on average.
- Autism affects over 3 million people annually, only in the USA.
- According to government statistics, there is a minimum of a 10-17% increase in autism disorder.
If you observed any symptoms of autism in your child or know someone who is, we are here to help you with a brief explanation of the diagnosis of autism and the procedure for it.
[ Also Read: Top 5 Super Healthy Foods that contain Nutrition for Children ]
Diagnosis of Autism
Diagnosis of autism differs person to person depending on the condition and stage of the disorder.
These treatments help in minimising the functionality that causes autistic disease and maximising the healthy brain functionality and also improve lifestyle.
The effective treatments available are as follows.
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
This ABA treatment is used for small children at the age of 5 or even a younger age to improve their behaviour and train them in good behaviour, learning, playing and others.
Speech therapy
ASD-affected people have many difficulties in speaking and conveying their feelings to others.
This therapy helps to train people in improving their speaking skills and teaches how to speak and react to other people.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is performed to improve sensory issues in their daily chores or daily needs, such as dressing, writing, using utensils, doing their work, like using the washroom, etc.
They provide training to autistic people and help them improve their lifestyle.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy for people with autism disorder helps in developing the ability to live independently and do daily work on their own without any others’ help.
They provide training on walking, standing, sitting, balancing themselves, etc., to have a normal life as all others have.
Remember, whatever treatment or therapy you provide for an autistic person, there should be proper medication that has been prescribed by an experienced doctor.
Along with medication and therapy, there should always be support from parents, family, and friends who encourage them in all possible ways to improve their health condition, which can also help to form a better person.
Autistic challenged children face many physical and mental difficulties as they grow up.
It’s the duty of parents not to let them down and boost them from time to time and provide enough confidence to children.
They are just differently challenged people compared to normal people.
Still, there is very little awareness of autism and its symptoms.
There should be volunteer efforts from parents and every individual to increase the awareness and importance of halting autism, provide correct information on the symptoms of autism, and also improve healthy habits to prevent the disease from entering the body.
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