The main symptoms of autism spectrum disorders are the challenges related to social-human communication, as well as certain behaviors that tend to become repetitive. Normally, even though they may not be noticed in the first stage, the symptoms of autism begin in the first years of life and disrupt the daily activity of the diagnosed person.
According to the communicative, verbal and non-verbal characteristics, autism can be manifested by:
- Misunderstanding or inappropriate use of language;
- Misunderstanding of gestures;
- Avoiding eye contact;
- The lack of facial expressions or their misunderstanding at the people around;
- Inappropriate use of voice tone and intensity;
- Misunderstanding of some metaphorical expressions and formulations in common language.
At the level of social interaction, people with autism spectrum disorders may also have the following difficulties:
- In recognizing other people's emotions and intentions;
- In recognizing and expressing the feelings they experience;
- In evaluating personal space (the distance considered optimal when two people communicate);
- In managing social situations with a strong emotional impact;
Repetitive behaviors occur quite often in people who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and vary from person to person. The examples below are relevant, but not limited to:
- Repetitive movements of some objects - spinning wheels, mechanisms of some toys used for longer periods etc.;
- Ritual behaviors, such as arranging objects in a certain form, touching things in an established order etc.;
- Repetitive body movements: rocking, clapping hands on the table, running back and forth, etc.;
- Watching lights or certain things that have constant, repetitive motion;
- Limited interests in areas other than those that capture his attention;
- The need for routine and strong resistance to change (same daily schedule, usual menu, certain clothes, etc.).
