--Characteristics+of+Indiviuals+with+Autism

// Information from Wisconsin DPI //
 * Characteristics of Autism**

To identify a child under this paragraph, the criteria under subd. 1. and 2. and one or more criteria under subd. 3. through 6. shall be met. 1. The child displays difficulties or differences or both in interacting with people and events. The child may be unable to establish and maintain reciprocal relationships with people. The child may seek consistency in environmental events to the point of exhibiting rigidity in routines. 2. The child displays problems which extend beyond speech and language to other aspects of social communication, both receptively and expressively. The child’s verbal language may be absent or, if present, lacks the usual communicative form which may involve deviance or delay or both. The child may have a speech or language disorder or both in addition to communication difficulties associated with autism. 3. The child exhibits delays, arrests, or regressions in motor, sensory, social or learning skills. The child may exhibit precocious or advanced skill development, while other skills may develop at normal or extremely depressed rates. The child may not follow normal developmental patterns in the acquisition of skills. 4. The child exhibits abnormalities in the thinking process and in generalizing. The child exhibits strengths in concrete thinking while difficulties are demonstrated in abstract thinking, awareness and judgment. Perseverant thinking and impaired ability to process symbolic information may be present. 5. The child exhibits unusual, inconsistent, repetitive or unconventional responses to sounds, sights, smells, tastes, touch or movement. The child may have a visual or hearing impairment or both in addition to sensory processing difficulties associated with autism. 6. The child displays marked distress over changes, insistence on following routines, and a persistent preoccupation with or attachment to objects. The child’s capacity to use objects in an age—appropriate or functional manner may be absent, arrested or delayed. The child may have difficulty displaying a range of interests or imaginative activities or both. The child may exhibit stereotyped body movements.

//Information from The Child-Autism-Parent-Cafe.com //

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Autism is a spectrum disorder. Behavioral symptoms or characteristics for autism can be present from mild to severe. We often hear terms or labels used to describe our loved ones, like autistic, autistic-like, high-functioning or low-functioning. The important point to remember is our loved ones with autism can learn, make progress and may grow up to function productively with an appropriate education, benefits, supports and services.Below is a list of common characteristics for autism that both children and adults may show in any combination, level or degree of severity. =====

A person with autism usually has problems interacting with people in the following ways: A person with autism will usually have problems communicating, such as: An individual with autism may show restricted, repetitive, or ritualistic behaviors, interests, and activities, for example:
 * may avoid or lack eye-contact,
 * may not imitate others,
 * may not point or use other hand gestures,
 * may prefer to be alone, and
 * may not understand social cues.
 * <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may not speak at all,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may be severely language delayed,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may have unusual or odd speech patterns (repeat words and phrases heard by others, i.e. tv or videos,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may be unable to initiate or engage in a conversation,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may be unable to use their imagination during play i.e. pretending a banana is a telephone).
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may be preoccupied with a narrow range of interest (i.e. dinosaurs, astronomy, trains or roller coasters,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may insist on sameness (i.e. prefer certain clothing or eating only certain foods,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may line up their toys or objects,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may flap their hands, or make odd hand and body gestures,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may spin or like to spin objects,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may rock themselves,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may be self-injurious i.e. head banging,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may anger easily or show aggression,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may be resistance to change,
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may become angry or upset if their daily routine changes in any way, and
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">may focus on only a small part of a toy or object).