Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors in adults and children that can be manifested in any combination and degree of severity. Two children with autism can act completely different from one another and have varying capabilities.


Cognitive Characteristics

 Easily distracted

 Difficulty starting projects

 Perfectionism

 Shut down response to multi-tasking or certain demands

 Fixation on a certain narrow topic of interest

 Literal interpretation of instruction (sarcasm, idioms, etc)

 Preference for visual instructions

 Dependence on step-by-step procedures

 Difficulty generalizing

 Preference for predictability and simple routines

 Impulsiveness

 Compelling need to finish one task completely before starting another

 Attention to detail

 Difficulty with organization

 Difficulty understanding cause and effect and consequences

 Difficulty with writing tasks


Social Characteristics

 Difficulty Expressing Emotions

 Lack of ‘common sense’

 Poor ability to self-relax

 Rage, tantrum, shut down, self-isolating reactions

 Difficulty understanding and reading the thoughts and feelings of others (facial expressions, body language, sympathy, etc)

 Difficulty accepting criticism or correction

 Immature manners

 Blunt and shockingly honest

 Little or no facial affect

 Strong expression of likes and dislikes

 Difficulty understanding social rules and difficulty forming friendships

 Difficulty with unstructured time


 Need to talk oneself through a situation

 Poor understanding of rules of conversation

 Insensitivity to non-verbal cues of others


Physical Characteristics

 Sensitivities to touch, tactile sensations, sounds, lighting, colors, odors, taste

 Balance difficulties

 Gross or fine motor coordination problems

 Anxiety

 Flat or monotone vocal expression

 Difficulty initiating and/or maintaining eye contact

 Strong food preferences and aversions and rigidity to eating behaviors

 Certain textures of clothing may be irritating (tags in clothing also are overly bothersome)

 Bad or unusual personal hygiene

 Bothered by certain noises, or no reaction to noise

 Rocking when sitting, hand flapping, or other stimulating behaviors