Characteristics of ASD

There are five major characteristics/core deficits associated with ASD: communication deficits, repetitive behaviors & interests, social skills deficits, cognitive deficits, and sensory processing difficulties.

* Characteristics and severity of symptoms can vary in each individual. These lists are just some characteristics that may be demonstrated by some individuals with ASD and are not exhaustive. To learn more about something listed, click on the link below within the characteristics box.

Communication

Some individuals diagnosed with ASD may not be able to communicate using speech or vocal language, and some may have very limited speaking skills. Others may have a very rich vocabulary and can be able to talk about specific subjects (often of preferred interest) in great detail.

Some individuals with limited or no speech can utilize an augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC). (This includes all forms of communication that aren't talking. These can be tech based or non-tech.)

Learn more about AAC

Echolalia is the repeating of words or phrases spoken by another person, usually without an understanding of the meaning of the words. This occurs in three forms: immediate, delayed and scripting.

Learn more about echolalia

Difficulty with the social aspect of communication called pragmatics. Pragmatics can include the following:

Responding to small talk
Introducing appropriate topics for conversation
Reading body language and facial expressions
Changing language based on the listener
- Using appropriate eye contact
- Keeping and maintaining appropriate distance from the speaker/listener
- Understanding verbal and non-verbal cues
Waiting for a turn during conversation

Some individuals may demonstrate receptive language difficulties such as:
- Following directions
- Parroting - repeating what you hear but not understanding the meaning of the words (the opposite of this can be true as well, an individual can understand language that they are not always able to communicate.)

Sensory processing

Individuals with ASD can have unusual reactions to sensory stimuli. Individuals are either seeking to obtain or avoid sensory input or output. Individuals with ASD may demonstrate the following:

Hyposensitivity - a lack of stimulation
from stimuli.
- No reaction to cold, hot, or pain

Hypersensitivity - overstimulation from
sensory stimuli.
- Sensitivity to light, sound, touch, smell,
  and taste.
- Can describe the overstimulation as
  painful or to cause physical discomfort
- Can lead to extreme behaviors in order
  to avoid the stimuli

Repetitive Behaviors
& Interests

Individuals with ASD may have intense focus of their interests. Over times, these interests often become less age appropriate to their neurotypical peers.

Some repetitive behaviors, often referred to as stimming, may include:
- hand flapping
- finger flicking
- spinning
- body rocking
- self talk (use of repeated words or phrases)

Some restrictive behaviors that individuals with ASD may demonstrate:
- Severe inflexibility
- Inability for flexible thinking
- Severe inflexibility
- Repetitive schedules/routines
- Need for sameness
- Collecting facts or objects about "special interests"

Social skills

Individuals with social skill deficits may demonstrate difficulty connecting with people and making and keeping friends. There are three parts of social interactions: perception, interpretation, and response. Individuals with deficits in social skills can include difficulty in any or all the three steps involved in social interaction, traits demonstrated may include:

Little interest in social interaction/ prefer to be alone
Difficultly interpreting facial expressions or body language
Can be very literal with words and not understand sarcasm
Can have difficulty with understanding the perspective of others and with empathy
May come off as rude when interrupting or saying blunt things (EX. I am bored.)
May share information in inappropriate ways
Can tend to monopolize a conversation with off-topic comments to a topic of their interest

Learn more about social skills deficits