ASD characteristics

• Characteristics of Autistic Spectrum Disorder


  • Communication
  • Repetitive Behaviour
• Communication in ASD


  • Lack of reciprocity (ability to have a back-and-forth conversation)
  • Don't use communication to share interests or emotions
  • Don't initiate conversation or respond to others' attempts
  • Can't follow the normal flow of a conversation
  • Inappropriate behaviour such as touching and licking
• Symptoms of ASD are most seen in children, and this is how their diagnosis would have been discovered
• Symptoms of ASD are unlike someone with atypical autism, which is most common in children with severe intellectual disabilities
• Repetitive Behaviour in ASD

  • Special interests (obsessive interest and various knowledge on a specific narrow topic)
  • Echolalia (repeating words or phrases just heard)
  • Repetitive hand gestures or moving an object the same way multiple times
• Behaviour of people with ASD

  • Reluctant to change, having strict routines or methods of doing activities in a specific way
  • Want others to use words in a 'set way' and often don't understand irony or sarcasm
• 90% of those with ASD have major sensory issues to sound, light or any other senses or they don't notice it at all
• Those with ASD become very distressed by stimuli around them but almost have no sympathy for others' pain
• Lacking empathy


  Feeling so strongly towards someone's emotions that their feelings overpower others