14 Signs of Autism

April is Autism Awareness Month, and publishing company Future Horizons has put together a great poster listing 14 warning signs of autism.  Future Horizons is a publisher of books and magazines covering all aspects of the Autism Spectrum.
 
Fourteen Signs of Autism:

• May avoid eye contact
• May prefer to be alone
• Echos words or phrases
• Difficulty interacting with others
• Spins objects or self
• Insistence on sameness
• Inappropriate attachment to objects
• Inappropriate laughing or giggling
• May not want cuddling
• Difficulty in expressing needs.  May use gestures
• Inappropriate response or no response to sound
• No real fear of danger
• Apparent insensitivity to pain
• Sustained, unusual or repetitive play.  Uneven physical or verbal skills

 
If you suspect your child may have autism, we encourage you to consult your physician or a clinically trained psychologist specializing in the diagnosis or treatment of autism.  While autism is a lifelong disorder, many people diagnosed with autism have learned to lead happy and productive lives.
 
For a free catalog of Future Horizons publications, you can visit their website at www.FHautism.com, or call 1-800-489-0727.

How to interact with a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Autism Society of America has published some helpful tips on how to interact with a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

ASA’s helpful tips for interacting with someone who has Autism

People on the autism spectrum may:

• not understand what you say
• appear deaf
• be unable to speak or speak with difficulty
• engage in repetitive behaviors
• act upset for no apparent reason
• appear insensitive to pain
• appear anxious or nervous
• dart away from you unexpectedly
• engage in self-stimulating behaviors (i.e. Hand flapping or rocking)

Helpful hints for interaction:

• Speak slowly and use simple language
• Use concrete terms
• Repeat simple questions
• Allow time for responses
• Give lots of praise
• Do not attempt to physically block self-stimulating behavior
• Remember that each person is unique and may act differently than another

For more information, visit the Autism Society of America's website at www.autism-society.org, or call them at 1-800-3-AUTISM.