Signs of autism in children

Main signs of autism

The main signs of autism include differences in how someone communicates, behaves and reacts compared to those who are not autistic.

Signs of autism might be noticed at a very young age, or not until later in life.

Every autistic person is different and many autistic people will not show all the signs of autism, or signs may not always obvious.

Autism may also look different in someone who has other conditions, such as ADHD, an eating disorder or learning disability.

Some people learn to adapt so that signs of autism are less noticeable. This is called masking and it can make everyday activities feel exhausting and stressful. Not all autistic people know that they’re masking.

Signs of autism in young children

Communicating with other people

Autistic children may:

• start to speak at a later age than other children
• take longer to understand what others are saying
• not respond to their name
• not speak much or use single words
• speak in a flat or different tone of voice
• repeat words and phrases
• focus intensely on things that interest them, and talk a lot about them
• talk at other people without listening or responding
• use eye contact less often
• use fewer facial expressions and gestures
• not respond, or respond unexpectedly to other people's facial expressions or feelings

Behaviour and play

Autistic children may:

• get too physically close to people
• not want to be cuddled or have people too close to them
• not seem interested in other children or be aggressive with them
• find it hard to join in playing with other children
• not take part in pretend play (like pretending to be a teacher or imagining an object is something else)
• enjoy repetitive actions, such as opening and closing doors
• actively look for sensations that feel calming or enjoyable, such as movement, pressure, sounds and textures
• do repetitive movements (stimming), such as rocking, spinning, flapping their hands, and flicking their fingers
• have very strong interests
• be worried or upset by changes in routine or their environment and new situations

Sensory differences

Autistic children may:

• find it difficult to describe their feelings such as feeling hungry, in pain, upset or angry
• react very strongly, or not at all, to lights, sounds, smells, tastes or textures
• not like brightly lit or noisy rooms
• not like to wear certain clothes or materials
• only be able to eat certain foods, or eat food in a certain way such as using certain cutlery
• not like foods with certain textures
• not like mixing foods or for foods to be touching

Recognising signs of autism in girls

It can be harder to see some of the signs of autism in girls because of masking (not showing the signs). Autistic girls may be more likely to:

• copy how other children behave and play
• be quiet in situations they find difficult
• appear to cope with social situations
• show fewer signs of repetitive behaviours than autistic boys
• be more likely to have mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression or an eating disorder

Signs of autism in older children and young people

Older autistic children and young people will show many of the same signs of autism as younger children.

They may also:

• have few close friends and spend more time alone
• say or do things that seem rude or inappropriate
• have advanced vocabulary and speak in a formal way
• find it hard to understand what other people mean, such as taking things literally or not understanding sarcasm
• need to follow rules and get upset if rules aren’t followed
• have repetitive behaviours or rituals that make it difficult to carry out daily activities
• find it difficult to adjust to changes in routine and activities, such as when moving from primary to secondary school