In addition to some of the physical indicators of autism, there are some social and emotional signs that parents can watch for.
Social Development
Social impairments can be observed even in infants, as they smile less and pay less attention to what goes on around them, socially. As toddlers, autistic children continue to have less eye contact. Due to their limited verbal skills, they are more likely to physically grab someone’s hand to get their attention. As the preschool years approach, autistic children are less likely to communicate verbally, and lack social understanding. They may also have difficulty taking turns with others. The lack of social skill can at times make it difficult for autistic children to form friendships.
Autistic children also show empathy deficits. They often do not recognize or respond to faces, so they do not connect that each face they encounter belongs to a different person. They may feel that their own feelings are the only ones that matter. If people are showing emotion, such as crying, an autistic child may not react. They are not cold or heartless, they simply lack awareness of their surroundings without focused training.
Because of the lack of communication and these empathy deficits, autistic children have difficulty embracing social situations. They may not return eye contact and will instead fixate their eyes on inanimate objects. Instead of seeking out and accepting relationships, they may avoid them. They will take comfort in their inner world.
The fear of relationships can manifest as aggressive behavior. The aggression is not always directed at those around them. Instead, the aggression can be directed inward and may result in self-injurious behaviors. If autistic children cannot calm their fears, they may also resort to compulsive behaviors to distract or calm themselves. Routines are important with autistic children and may help smooth over any social anxiety they may experience.
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