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Recognizing the characteristics of autistic children from an early age

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disorder in children that results in impaired communication and socialization skills in children. Until now, the cause of autism is not reliably known.


Recognizing the characteristics of autistic children from an early age

However, the risk of developing autistic disorders can be increased by the presence of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins, cigarette smoke, infections, drug side effects, and an unhealthy lifestyle during pregnancy.

What are the characteristics of autistic children?

The symptoms of autism are very diverse and every child with the disorder may show different symptoms. However, in general, the characteristics of autistic children consist of 3 main characteristics, namely:

Communication difficulties


Communication problems that children with autism often face include difficulties in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding sign language such as pointing fingers and waving hands. This makes it difficult to start a conversation and understand the meaning of a word or a clue given by another person.

It is not uncommon for children with autism to repeat a word repeatedly or have heard it some time ago, say something in a certain tone, or seem to be humming, or often get hysterical.

Disorders in social relationships

One of the characteristics of autistic children is socialization difficulties. Children with autism often seem to be immersed in their own world, making it difficult to communicate with others. Sometimes, children with autism also appear to be less responsive or sensitive to their own feelings or the feelings of others.

Therefore, autistic children usually have a hard time making friends, playing and sharing toys with friends, or focusing on a particular subject or subject at school.

Behavioral Disorders

Below are some typical behaviors that children with autism typically exhibit:
  • is angry, crying, or laughing for no apparent reason.
  • likes or eats only certain foods
  • Repeat certain actions or movements, such as swinging your arms or twisting your body.
  • Like only certain items or topics.
  • Performing actions that are harmful to oneself, such as biting hard on the arm or hitting the head against a wall.
  • Language or body movements are usually hard.
  • Difficulty falling asleep
However, the symptoms of autism aren't always bad. Some children with autism have strengths or talents in certain areas, such as the ability to recognize details and then memorize them over time and be interested in learning the arts of music and drawing.

How can you tell if your child has autism?

The characteristics of children with autism can sometimes resemble other disorders, such as hearing loss, depression in children, anxiety disorders, Asperger's syndrome, and reactions to trauma caused by violence. Therefore, children with suspected autism should be examined by a pediatrician.

When diagnosing autism in children, doctors will assess the child's growth and development, for example, assessing the ability to speak, behave, learn, and move. The doctor may also suggest other tests in the form of hearing tests, genetic tests, and child psychology counseling.

Until now, there is no cure that can cure autism. However, there are several therapeutic methods that can be used to help children improve their ability to communicate, interact, and learn.

The doctor will prescribe the appropriate therapy based on the child's overall health. The goal of this therapy is to help children grow and develop properly, and to teach them how to live independently when they grow up.