Characteristics of Autism Excessive Behaviors Needed Skills References Discussion

When viewing the information on this page, remember that every child is an individual and all characteristics will not apply. Children with autism spectrum disorders may need to develop the following skills:

*Each skill is accompanied by a description of how the child may be performing prior to remediation.

A. Communication Skills (Verbal and Nonverbal):

(1) Receptive Language

	Incapable of understanding questions, simple directions or jokes (literal in the translation of spoken words)
	Fail to respond to familiar voices, like parents or teachers

(2) Expressive Language:

	Use language to make request or to protest
	May have a complete delay in or lack of spoken language
	50% of autistic children are mute
	Individuals that do speak may not be able to hold a conversation
	Words and phrases heard are repeated and stereotyped (meaning is unimportant)
	Pitch, intonation, rate, rhythm or stress of spoken language may be irregular
	Immature grammar such as short sentences or phrases
	Voice tone can be monotonous or contain question-like rises at the ends of statements
	May exhibit pronoun reversal (May use "you" when referring to "I".)

B. Attention

	Lack of eye contact
	Tendency to look out of the corner of their eyes while turning their head
	No apparent response to physical affection or an inappropriate response to such attention
	Tunnel vision: focus on obsessions including objects; can only talk about one subject