What Is Autism?
4. Signs and Symptoms - Developmental Features
One of the developmental feature of ASD is developmental regression. For example, 13% to 48% of patients with ASD have normal development until they lose verbal and nonverbal communication skills at the age of 15 to 30 months old. Protodeclarative pointing is a feature where the toddler uses the index finger to indicate an item they are interested in. Absence of this behavior in is predictive of a diagnosis of ASD.
Parents of children with ASD have also reported unusual responses such as lack of reaction to sensory input or an excessive reaction to environmental stimuli. For example, certain sounds may result in incessant screaming or display of rage to bright lights or touch. In some cases, parents may have to rearrange the family routine so housekeeping activities are performed when the child is absent. Speech abnormalities in ASD children are also common. Delays, deviations, reversals (using you instead of I), speech habits, words only the child understands, and more, may be observed.
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