Social Development
- Limited interaction with others
- Lack of developmentally appropriate peer relationships
- Lack of spontaneously sharing of enjoyment, interests, or achievements
- Lack of social or emotional reciprocity
- Ineffective eye contact, facial expressions, body postures, and gestures
- Does not show objects of interests to others, or seek to involve others in play
Communication
- Delayed or lack in development of vocal language
- Impairment in imitation or maintenance of conversation
- Stereotyped and repetitive language or idiosyncratic language
- No or few words or gestures
- No contextual conversation
- Repeated phrases, echolalia, or preoccupation with topics
Stereotyped Responses
- Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects (i.e. playing with wheels, or same toys over and over without variation)
- Stereotyped repetitive body movements (body rocking, hand flapping, etc)
- Tantrums or self-injuries when a routine is not followed precisely
- Hand-flapping, finger-twisting, complex body movements
- Gazing at moving lights, listening to sounds, stimulus over selectivity
- Preservative staring at play items or discussions
- Looking at objects from an atypical angle
For more information on Autism Spectrum Disorder, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web page.
