What is an autism checklist
Posted on Aug 21, 2008 under early symptoms of autism |An autism checklist is an aid to parents who suspect their child may have autism. I have expanded the information to explain more about autism and the signs and symptoms of autis. These signs and symptoms of Autism are not as easily identified in infants. It is only when the child reaches the age of about three that these signs of Autism can be really seen.
What is autism? It is part of the autism spectrum and is sometimes referred to as an autism spectrum disorder, or an ASD. The word spectrum is used because, while all people with autism share three main areas of difficulty, their condition will affect them in very different ways.
It can be hard to create awareness of autism as people with the condition do not look disabled. Parents of children with autism often say that other people simply think their child is naughty; For people with autistic spectrum disorders, body language can appear just as foreign as if people were speaking ancient Greek.
People with autism have difficulties with both verbal and non-verbal language. They may not understand the social rules which most of us pick up without thinking for example they may stand too close to another person f, or start an inappropriate subject of conversation, appear to be insensitive because they have not recognised how someone else is feeling prefer to spend time alone rather than seeking out the company of other people They may appear to behave strangely or inappropriately, as it is not always easy for them to express feelings, emotions or needs.
Difficulties with social imagination mean that people with autism find it hard to understand and interpret other people’s thoughts, feelings and actions predict what will happen next, understand the concept of danger, for example that running on to a busy road, engage in imaginative play and activities
Children with autism may enjoy some imaginative play but prefer to act out the same scenes each time cope in new or unfamiliar situations. The world can seem a very unpredictable and confusing place to people with autism, who often prefer to have a fixed daily routine so that they know what is going to happen every day. If there is something that a person with autism does well, it should be encouraged
Many people with autism have intense special interests, often from a fairly young age. As with autism, people can have different degrees of learning disability, so some will be able to live fairly independently - although they may need a degree of support to achieve this - while others may require lifelong, specialist support. There are over half a million people in the UK with autism. IThere is no cure for autism, children with autism grow up to become adults with autism.
