Do you have a child or know a child with autism? If so,what is the main characteristic trait that stands out?

Question

the MOST? I know there is a spectrum,but there as to be a common trait that all these kids have?

Answer 1

Autism is a spectrum disorder, and although it is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults with autism can exhibit any combination of these behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children, both with the same diagnosis, can act completely different from one another and have varying capabilities.

Every person with autism is an individual, and like all individuals, has a unique personality and combination of characteristics. Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. They may have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining a conversation. Their communication is often described as talking at others instead of to them. (For example, monologue on a favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject comments).

People with autism also process and respond to information in unique ways. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits:

Insistence on sameness; resistance to change

Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words

Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language

Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason showing distress for reasons not apparent to others

Preference to being alone; aloof manner

Tantrums

Difficulty in mixing with others

Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled

Little or no eye contact

Unresponsive to normal teaching methods

Sustained odd play

Spinning objects

Obsessive attachment to objects

Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain

No real fears of danger

Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity

Uneven gross/fine motor skills

Non responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range.

For most of us, the integration of our senses helps us to understand what we are experiencing. For example, our sense of touch, smell and taste work together in the experience of eating a ripe peach: the feel of the peach's skin, its sweet smell, and the juices running down your face. For children with autism, sensory integration problems are common, which may throw their senses off they may be over or under active. The fuzz on the peach may actually be experienced as painful and the smell may make the child gag. Some children with autism are particularly sensitive to sound, finding even the most ordinary daily noises painful. Many professionals feel that some of the typical autism behaviors, like the ones listed above, are actually a result of sensory integration difficulties.

Answer 2

I think obsessive repetitive behavior is often present in children with autism as is impaired social interaction. I have been a child care provider for 20 years. I cared for a little boy diagnosed with autism for one year. He was a second grader the year I cared for him. He was on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum. There was not just one thing that stood out. He communicated pretty well, much better with adults than children, though. He became fixated on our cats. He talked about them constantly, petted them, wondered where they were when he couldn't find them and when he saw me anywhere else (we go to the same church, so pretty regular contact outside child care), he always wanted to know about my cats. He is now graduated from high school and still asks about my cats (amazingly one is still alive at 18 years old)! He had a low anger tolerance and was prone to hand and arm "flapping" when he became excited, frustrated, or angry. Sometimes he'd do body rocking and it was not unusual for him to get a distant look his eyes when he just couldn't deal with a situation anymore. His interaction with the other children was very minimal preferring to sit on the couch with the cats and would either ignore or say "no" when the others asked him to play games or go outside. I speak to his mom pretty regularly and he is learning some basic living skills and is in a program that will help him get a job. It is a residential program so I don't seem him very often, but his mom says he is doing pretty well, she's just not sure what the future holds for him.

Answer 3

My good friend has a 7yr old with autism. We first started to notice something was wrong when she no longer responded to her name, she also would not make eye contact and she would flap her hands like she was going to fly away. She was diagnosed at age 2 by that time she was no longer talking or walking. We were told each case is different. She now has a sister who will be 2 in June and she has no signs of autism.

Hope that helps

Answer 4

Autistic children have major communication difficulties. They are very introverted and dislike interpersonal contact. Many are non verbal and many of those who do speak tend to simply echo back what has been said. It is rare to find one who will engage in any form of reciprocal conversation. They tend to focus on objects rather than people and these objects tend to be ones that other children would have no interest in. Many love the sound and sight of running water and also of their own wiggling fingers. They tend to rock back and forth and make unintelligible sounds. However, since you specified the most common characteristic, I would have to say that it is the lack of interpersonal communication-no eye contact, little to no speech and general introversion.

Answer 5

I have worked with several autistic children and they were all different! The one trait I found similar in almost all of them was the fact that they seemed to not be able to feel normal sensations. In other words they would do something to a more extreme level just to feel it. For example, if you and I would clap gently, they tend to clap hard, they hug tighter, make louder sounds from their mouths ( so that they feel it), etc. One little girl I had the pleasure of working with (age 12) would want to sit in my lap and pull my arms around her tight. She would smile so big and start to hum and sway. I would take the cue and rock her and sing in low tones so she could feel them in my chest. She also had a habit of touching her eyes with her fingers because it was sensitive and she could really feel it. Kind of disturbing to see, but she would also cause herself to vomit just to feel it. (sorry that's kind of graphic) ANyway, in answer to your question about a most common trait, I would have to say that doing things in an extreme, (sound, rocking, slapping themselves) to get an extreme sensation would be my answer. They, and their parents are my privilege to know and work with!

Answer 6

My nephew is autistic. He can't look you in the eye. He'll do anything to avoid looking you in the face. He is five. Non-verbal. Good luck - there are some great programs out there. Don't wait if you think there is a possiblity.