What are the Signs of Mild Autism?

Autism belongs to the autism spectrum disorders and is a disorder that develops from early childhood and is something you have to life with for the rest of your life. Signs of mild autism are associated with related disorders like PDD-NOS and Asperger syndrome. The diagnosis of autism is most frequently given in toddlers aging 3 to 5 years old. However, research has shown that the first autism symptoms are already seen much earlier in infants. Children with mild autism mostly grow up having an average IQ level, sometimes lower and sometimes higher. Recognizing signs of mild autism can be quite difficult. Below is a list of frequently seen symptoms in children with mild autism.

• Children with mild autism often have difficulties in communicating with peers and initiating friendship with other children. Because children with an autism spectrum disorder are verbally not so skilled, they are not able to start a discussion or sustain one.
• It is paradoxical that a child with mild autism is not always able to empathize feelings of other persons but does feel a abnormal affection for certain toys. Frequently they have 1 specific toy were they are crazy about and can not go anywhere without it. When they play with it they forget everything around them.
• Sometimes the child will try to communicate with other children, but when he does he is not able to talk about shared interests. He is only able to talk about things he does and he likes. This often results in a disinterest from other peers.
• The individual sometimes has an unnatural interest in certain topics or objects.
• Frequently children with signs of mild autism don’t like to make eye contact or maintaining eye contact. This is a symptom that dates back to infancy.
• Mood Swings, aggressive outbursts, shouting and a lack of empathy for others are all emotions frequently seen in toddlers with mild autism. If your child shows these symptoms than you should ask a doctor for advice.
• Another symptom or sign is that they will frequently quote lines from a certain book or movie to which they are preoccupied with.
• Understanding body language and emotions in others is very difficult for someone with autism. Sometimes this could lead to painful situations.

Because they are different than other children they are also often teased by their peers. However, with the right education and treatment, someone with autism, mild autism or PDD-NOS is able to live a ‘normal’ life.

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