Symptoms of autism

Symptoms of Autism

Autism looks different in every person - that is why it is called a spectrum. What is shared are two core areas: differences in social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or sensory responses. Signs usually appear in the first two to three years of life, though many people - especially girls and those with strong language skills - are recognised much later.

Social Communication and Interaction

• Eye contact differences: little or unusual eye contact; may not follow a pointing finger or point to share interest ("look at that!")
• Response to name: not responding consistently by 12 months
• Social smiling and back-and-forth: fewer shared smiles, sounds and facial expressions in babies and toddlers
• Speech development: delayed speech, no words by 16 months or phrases by 24 months, loss of words already learned, or echoing phrases (echolalia)
• Understanding others: difficulty reading facial expressions, tone of voice, sarcasm or "unwritten rules" of conversation
• Friendships: wanting connection but finding the how of it confusing; playing alongside rather than with other children

Behaviour, Interests and Sensory Patterns

• Repetitive movements: hand-flapping, rocking, spinning - often self-soothing ("stimming")
• Deep, focused interests: intense fascination with specific topics, objects or parts of objects
• Routine and predictability: strong distress at small changes; needing the same route, plate, sequence
• Sensory differences: over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, lights, textures, tastes, smells, pain or temperature - a ceiling fan or clothing label can be genuinely overwhelming
• Unusual food patterns: very limited accepted foods, often texture-driven

When to Seek Assessment

If you notice several of these - especially lost skills, no words by 16-18 months, no pointing or shared attention - speak to your paediatrician and ask for a developmental assessment. Early support measurably improves communication, learning and independence. "Wait and watch" costs the years when help works best.

A Word on Girls and Masking

Autistic girls are underdiagnosed because they often mask - copying social behaviour, rehearsing conversations, hiding distress - at enormous internal cost. A quiet, "well-behaved" girl who exhausts herself holding it together at school and falls apart at home also deserves assessment.

The Ayurvedic Perspective - An Honest Note

Classical texts describe isolated features - speechlessness (Muka), faltering speech (Gadgada), unresponsiveness (Jada), and sudden behavioural changes in children (Balagraha) - but they never assembled these into the developmental picture we call autism. These were separate symptom labels, not a spectrum concept. Honest content means saying so, rather than retrofitting a modern diagnosis onto ancient words.

Frequently Asked Questions

My toddler doesn't talk yet - is it autism? Speech delay alone is more often just speech delay - but it always deserves hearing and developmental checks, because early support helps in every scenario, whatever the label turns out to be.

Can a child who makes eye contact still be autistic? Yes. Eye contact varies; some autistic people make plenty. Diagnosis rests on the overall pattern, never one sign.

Do autistic children lack empathy? No - many feel others' emotions intensely; the difficulty is often in reading signals and expressing response, not in caring. The "no empathy" stereotype is wrong and unkind.

What is regression? A minority of children develop typically then lose words or social skills, usually before age two. Any loss of skills warrants prompt developmental assessment.