What Are the Most Common Signs of Autism That People Usually Ignore?

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If you’re like many other people out there, surely you won’t rush over to the hospital just because a friend noticed a change in your behavior in recent weeks. You’ll say to yourself that it’s nothing to worry about and just continue with your life. You will probably seek medical help only if you realize that your life is severely affected by your condition.

Autism can be a pretty cunning condition, as some of its symptoms can often be perceived with a lack of attention. After all, everybody is a bit sloppy or forgetful from time to time, so why would you bother going to the doctor only for that? Furthermore, it’s in human nature to think optimistically rather than realistic when it comes to health conditions.

Here are some of the most common signs of autism that are often overlooked:

Problems with social interaction

A person suffering from autism will have trouble maintaining eye contact. They may also find it difficult to understand or interpret the facial expressions, body language, and gestures of others.

Autistic people might also find it challenging to make and maintain a friendship, and they may also not have much interest in sharing their experiences with other people.

An apparent lack of empathy

Those who suffer from autism can find it challenging to understand the feelings and perspectives of others. They may also have trouble expressing their own emotions in the appropriate way, while we may also notice on these people a limited use of gestures or facial expressions to convey emotions.

Trouble communicating

Autistic people may also experience trouble communicating with others, such as having delayed speech and language development. These people may also manifest repetitive or unusual language patterns, a condition which is known as echolalia. Initiating or sustaining conversations can also be a major challenge for them, while they’re not big fans of gestures or facial expressions, either.

Sensory sensitivities

An autistic person can overreact or underreact to sensory stimuli, such as sounds, lights, and textures. He might also manifest unusual responses to temperature or pain, while trouble with coordination or motor skills might also be there.

Hyperfocus

While many of those who have autism manifest an apparent lack of attention, the opposite might also be true, meaning that hyperfocus could kick in as well. In other words, they might manifest an intense focus on specific activities and interests to the exclusion of others. At the same time, autistic people might experience trouble shifting their attention from one activity to another.

Can autism appear at any age?

One of the most terrifying facts about autism is that a person can develop it at any age. However, the disorder is typically detected during early childhood, often by the age of 2 or 3 years old. In some cases, individuals may not even receive a diagnosis until later during their childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood, especially when the symptoms are not too severe.

Regardless of when doctors identify autism in a person, appropriate support, as well as early intervention, can seriously improve the outcomes. Healthcare professionals can help out a person with their communication, social, or behavioral development, regardless of their age.

Autism, which is more scientifically known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is recognized as a complex neurodevelopmental condition, and its signs can vary widely from person to person.

Tommy’s hobby has always been playing video games. He enjoys competing in video games tournaments and writing about his experience. It’s not a big surprise that he mostly covers the latest trends from the gaming industry.