AUTISTIC TRAITS (an extensive list)
THINGS TO REMEMBER!
> No child with autism will have every trait listed
> Autistic traits are a spectrum creating a diversity of possibilities
> Every person with autism displays different traits during different circumstances and at varying degrees
> Identity of a person as an autistic is not formed by how many traits they have in this list
> The list will not have every autistic trait out there because who they are is INFINITE
THE TRAITS!
* need for sameness/consistency (talk of routines)
* stimming with any of the senses
* under or overreaction to any of the senses
* eye contact is painful or uncomfortable
* meltdowns
* shutdowns
* photographic memory
* difficult with memory (short or long term)
* difficulty understanding timelines
* detail oriented (in seeing, thinking, speaking etc)
* tends to see the details rather than the bigger picture
* emotional regulation difficulty
* black and white thinking
* auditory processing issues
* sensory issues (over or under stimulation)
* social withdrawal
* does not read social cues
* cannot switch from one task to another on demand
* proprioception difficulties (stimuli to body movement & action)
* nonspeaking, semi-speaking & hyperverbal
* displays different facial expressions for emotions we’re feeling eg smiles when we’re sad
* trouble expressing ideas, thoughts and needs to others
* gives up on tasks not easily overcome
* trouble focusing
* needs repetition of instructions
* not a fan of small talk
* verbosity (being wordiness or using more words than needed)
* considered gifted or savant (a person with high level of knowhow/skill in one area, but usually less able in other fields)
* hands on/visual learners
* difficulty in lying (blatantly honest folks)
* different gait or posture
* has a different tone of voice, maybe monotone sometimes
* difficulty in understanding social hierarchies (eg teacher/parent is in charge)
* difficulties in taking turns (eg when it is our turn to speak)
* experiences intense, overwhelming emotions
* tantrums
* may not be interested in fantasy
* very rule oriented, it is hard to accept when rules are changed
* trouble understanding personal space
* interest in objects
* sensory seeking or sensory avoidance
* scripting – conversation rehearsing (echolalial and social scripting)
* copying another person’s mannerism (talk of social scripting)
* food selectivity (picky eaters/ same food lovers)
* impulsivity
* short attention span
* problems with fine or gross motor skills
* trouble understanding body language and facial expressions
* difficulty seeing from another persons perspective
* difficulties with interoception (not knowing when hungry or when to go to toilet)
* prolonged staring/eaves dropping
* lack of fear towards danger
* sees, interacts with, understands and interprets the world in a completely different way
* sensitivity to the moods, energy and emotions around us
* difficulty telling left from right and compass directions
* stronger connections to animals
* intuition or sixth sense
* separation anxiety
* inability to multitask
* low or high threshold for feeling things physically (pain, heat, cold)
COMORBIDITIES
Here, a comorbidity refers to something you may be more likely to have alongside being autistic. Importantly to note, being autistic does not cause comorbidities!
* anxiety
* depression
* sleep problems
* gastrointestinal problems
* headaches/migraines
* seizures
* attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
* dyslexia
* dyspraxia
* dyscalculia
* motion sickness/vertigo
* Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
* tourette syndrome
* eating disorders
* sensory processing disorder
Thank you for reading through, share and help educate a friend! AUTISTIC TRAITS (an extensive list)
