There are more and more children being diagnosed with autism today. There are new forms of higher functioning autistics being diagnosed, and that leads to higher numbers. Many times children were labeled as being shy or painfully introverted when they really had autism. Though the lower functioning and more common form of autism are easily spotted, those with Asperger's were often missed or dismissed. Parents that know more about the different symtoms of autism in children will have an easier time recognizing if their child needs further evaluation.
Social Relating: There is a common thread that seems to connect all children with any form of autism. These children have problems relating with others, and in particular, have problems with their peers. They struggle to relate, and they have huge anxiety when trying to form or keep relationships. This causes large amounts of frustration, and many end up alone, avoiding those feelings. They can't really relate to many things emotionally, though that is different for higher functioning children. In many cases, group activities are just too much for them.
Communication: Some with autism never develop any type of verbal communication. There are others who begin to talk, but then regress. Higher functioning children can have a great vocabulary, but are limited in how they choose to share it. Many of them choose to use gestures rather than talk at all. Those who have some skill might latch on to phrases that they hear and repeat them over and over.
Reaction to Stimulus: Another symptom of autism in children that parents often notice early is that they seem to have exaggerated reactions to many things, or that they have no reaction at all. Many respond to things in the most inappropriate manner. They may cover their ears at tiny sounds, or they may not even blink if a horn were to go off nearby. Some have problems with touch, and seem overly sensitive when touched by others. They may seem like they are in pain from a slight brush of the hand or a simple hug. Others can react violently to bright lights maintaining eye contact can be difficult.
Unusual Behavior: There are many different types of problems that appear in autism. Behaviors are often over-the-top and out of whack with others of the same age. They have a tendency to over-react to things and have tantrums at the slightest variation in schedule. They might be misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder before the proper diagnosis is found. Repetitive motions and actions are also quite common.
At Play: There is some play involved for some children with autism, but some do not play at all, at least, not in the traditional way. Many who do play will play on their own most of the time. They often feel great frustration and anxiety when they are expected to play in a group or with one other child. When they play on their own, it is marked by the repetition of the same motions or action. They appear to be in their own world while at play, and may ignore everything exclusive of the thing they are doing.
Many of the symtoms of autism in children are obvious right away, but they can remain hidden. Some function very well, and these things might not come to light until they are in school or pre-school. When a parent thinks there might be something wrong, they should look for evaluation. No matter what the diagnosis might be, it is smart to remember that some mistakes are made, and some children are said to have autism when they don't, or that they don't when they do. If the diagnosis seems wrong, consult with another doctor when there is a change in symptoms.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A



Causes of Recurrent Yeast Infections and How To End Them
By: Chris Haycock | 04/07/2009It is a fact that seventy-five percent of women will experience a yeast infection at some stage in their lives.
The Truth About Six Pack Abs
By: Tomas | 04/07/2009How to Lose Belly Fat Fast with Truth About Abs The Truth About Six Pack Abs is a new program that claims to burn and melt away excess body fat through a full body workout that maximizes the body’s metabolic response to fat-burning hormones.
Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle
By: Tomas | 04/07/2009How to lose stubborn body fat - natural bodybuilding champion reveals all the secrets…
Vince DelMonte’s Muscle Building Tips and Six Pack Secrets
By: Tomas | 04/07/2009Vince Delmonte’s No Nonsense Muscle Building is a complete training, workout and diet guide to help hardgainers to gain muscle mass.
Add 3 to 6 inches to Your Height in 6 Weeks
By: Tomas | 04/07/2009The Secret To Growing Taller By 3 Inches Or More In Just 6 Weeks! Regardless Of Your Age!
Get Six Pack Abs
By: Tomas | 04/07/2009Most men want six pack abs, but what most men are not sure of how is how to achieve this lofty and sometimes inaccessible goal. Changes in diet, exercise, and habits are necessary to obtain the goal of getting a washboard stomach, but if you were not willing to make the changes necessary or at least curious about what you need to do to actually get six pack abs, you would not be reading this particular article.
Best Workout Program to Get Rock Hard Abs
By: Tomas | 04/07/2009When working out the last ting you’d want to do is waste your time. Too many people at the gym work on pointless and ineffective exercises that are just a waste of time and will never produce results.
Overcome Infertility 87 - Overcome Female Infertility --Diagnosis From Conventional Perspective
By: Kyle J. Norton | 04/07/2009Antisperm antibody test The antisperm antibody test is one of procedure which helps to see how antigens and immune system function react toward sperm invasion through blood test. If the immune system recognizes the sperm as the foreign objects, it will produce white blood cells to kill them.
How to Handle Autism Anger in the Teenage Years
By: Rachel Evans | 25/11/2008 | ParentingTeens with autism can sometimes be faced with behaviors - such as autism anger - which are beyond their control. Anger can occur in many forms but often takes the shape of violence or tantrums. When it comes to handling uncontrolled anger, it is typically recommended that whenever possible,...
Spotlight on Autism Parents - Maintaining Balance in Your Other Relationships
By: Rachel Evans | 25/11/2008 | ParentingAutism parents don't have it easy. You are faced with many more challenges than parents of children without autism do. However, in all of the efforts you are making to take good care of your child, it's easy to forget that you need to maintain a healthy balance...
10 Great Activities For Autistic Children
By: Rachel Evans | 06/11/2008 | Home & FamilySometimes trying to come up with activities for autistic kids that will be fun, educational and not cost a lot can be a struggle. So it's reassuring to know that there are a number of possibilities out there, it's just a matter of finding some that will appeal to your...
Autism and School Aged Children Making Education a Positive Experience
By: Rachel Evans | 27/10/2008 | EducationAutism and school are becoming a hot topic for school boards and parent groups right across the country and around the world. This is because the occurrence of autism in children is increasing at an alarming rate. Educators today are seeing an exponentially higher number of autistic children...
Coping With Autism and OCD
By: Rachel Evans | 17/10/2008 | HealthAfter yet another display of lining up toys or endlessly performing the same behavior over and over it's not unusual for parents to wonder if their child may have not one but two disorders - autism and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). OCD is a neurological disorder that causes obsessive thoughts and...
Suffering From an Autism Food Allergy?
By: Rachel Evans | 23/09/2008 | HealthAn autism food allergy is a very serious problem. In fact, autism induced by allergies has recently been identified and occurs when a child's diet influences his or her autism symptoms. The children who are at the highest risk of an impact from an autism food allergy are...
What an Increase in Stimming May Indicate About Your Current Treatment For Autism
By: Rachel Evans | 16/09/2008 | HealthAs parents work to find effective treatments for autism, many of the usual symptoms their children display will continue. In the majority of cases, this often includes some form of 'stimming'. Stimming is an extremely common autism symptom that includes certain repeated behaviors or movements. These behaviors...
Autistic Disorder - One Term Many Meanings
By: Rachel Evans | 16/09/2008 | HealthThough autistic disorder is often thought of as a single condition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in fact refers to five different kinds of autism. When most people think about autism, they're only thinking about one type - the kind they saw in the movie Rainman - and don't realize that...