ts of yelling “no, no, no” for unknown reasons, not just when challenged but in the middle of playing by herself.
- Would stand still for hugs, but not open her arms to return them.
- Looked at her plate during meal times or sat with her arm over her face.
- Would grab our hand and pull us to what she wanted, instead of verbally requesting it.
- Would repeat a sequence continually in playing. For example, jump off the step, touch the table, put the stuffed animal under the chair, take the stuffed animal out from under the chair, return to the step; jump off the step, touch the table, etc.
- Was fascinated with lights and ceiling fans; she would stare at them for several minutes at a time.
- Entranced with fire. (She was singing for several days “Happy Birthday to you, now blow out the candles.” At her fourth birthday, she sat staring at the flames and wouldn’t respond to our encouragement to blow out the candles. After the flames were extinguished, she returned to singing and reciting the phrases.)
- Used a high-pitched voice to resist when challenged.
A spectrum is a wide range, and children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may exhibit a wide range of symptoms. Some autistic children will repeat a physical movement because it is stimulating to them (sometimes called “stimming”). For example, they may flap their hands or bang their heads over and over. Others have sensory problems such as a lack of pain or an aversion to certain textures. For a comprehensive overview of ASD and many therapies available, read Facing Autism by Lynn Hamilton.
A lot of Hannah’s symptoms could be summarized by these two categories: delayed language development and lack of social perception. Many times such delays are caused by the children’s not “connecting” to the world around them. Most children pick up subtle “clues” from the people around them as they use language and interact. You’ve probably heard the saying, “More things are caught than are taught.” That statement is true for most children, but not for children with ASD.
Q: What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A: A condition in which neurological damage to the brain causes developmental delays. The spectrum includes conditions ranging from mild to moderate to severe.
Q: What are the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A: (See Symptoms section above.)
Q: What causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A: I don’t know. Many theories exist but no definite consensus has been reached.
Q: Is there a cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
A: Not that I know of. However, I’ve read about some children who have recovered enough to no longer retain the diagnosis of ASD. Their recoveries were the result of early detection and immediate therapy (some strictly dietary, some strictly ABA, some both).
Note: Nothing on this Web site should be construed as expert medical advice. The information found here simply summarizes one person’s experiences.