Autism: What It Looks Like & 6 Ways to Help

Autism spectrum disorder is a heterogenous developmental condition characterized by sensory sensitivities, repetitive behaviors and difficulties with social interaction and communication. Typically, diagnosis happens within the first four years of life, but some are diagnosed later, even into adolescence and adulthood, says Oana De Vinck-Baroody, D.O., a developmental-behavioral pediatric specialist at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Here’s what you should know about recognizing signs of autism and how to support someone with this condition.

What Autism Looks Like

Diagnosis is not always straightforward because there’s so much variability. “Each child is unique and different in autism,” Dr. De Vinck-Baroody says.

That said, common traits include:

• Repetitive behaviors, such as hand flapping, spinning and rocking
• Restricted interests, meaning a hyperfocus on a particular interest, such as birds or a TV show, that is more intense than a typical strong interest in childhood
• Decreased eye contact
• Language delays
• Difficulties understanding language for the sake of communication (for example, a child who has language can use words to label things like shapes and colors but has a hard time asking a parent for juice)
• Limited interest in other children or people
• Absence of imaginative play (for example, a child may line up dolls but not create a scenario with them or play with others collaboratively)
• Sensory sensitivities, such as to specific sounds or food textures, or the feel of water or sand or particular fabrics
• Rigid behaviors, meaning being unable to shift, for instance, from talking about their interest in volcanos to someone else’s interest in dogs
  
  

How to Support Someone with Autism

How much support someone with autism will need over their lifetime depends on the person. When someone is diagnosed as a young child (when the brain is more responsive to intervention), it’s important to be proactive about care in order to improve outcomes. As the child ages, it is important to continue building skills in areas of weakness but also focus on areas of strength, says Dr. De Vinck-Baroody.

She offers six tips for parents:

1. Form a team around your child. That team can consist of friends and family; teachers and service providers in your school district; therapy providers, such as occupational and speech therapists, developmental pediatricians, neurologists and applied behavior analysis practitioners.
   
   
2. Enable regular communication among your child’s team. It’s important that everyone is on the same page and knows what’s going on so you can prioritize and build skills.
   
   
3. Work with your child at home. Practice the skills they’ve been learning at school and with their therapists and service providers.
   
   
4. Plan ahead. Think about the skills your child will need in the years ahead and collaborate with the team to incorporate training on those skills early. These skills aren’t just school subjects, but life skills. Ask yourself what skills your child will need at age 12 or 16 or 20. Think about building those skills, then begin practicing them at home and have your child’s providers work on them in school and therapy settings.
   
   
5. Change behaviors early. Some behaviors may be endearing when your child is young, such as touching someone’s legs, but that behavior may not be socially acceptable for an adolescent or an adult. It’ll be easier to change such behaviors when your child is young.
   
   
6. Take care of yourself. It’s just like being on an airplane where you are told to put your oxygen mask on before your kids’, says Dr. De Vinck-Baroody. You can’t care for your child if you’re not taking care of yourself first.
   
   

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Oana De Vinck-Baroody, D.O.       
• To make an appointment with a pediatric behavior specialist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
  
  

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.