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Autism is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in early childhood, mainly manifested as social interaction difficulties, speech and communication impairments, and stereotyped repetitive behaviors. It is more common in boys, with an incidence about four times that in girls, and obvious symptoms often appear before the age of three.
Globally, the incidence of autism continues to rise in countries such as the United States, Japan, and Australia, while diagnostic rates in Southeast Asian countries including China, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines have also significantly increased in recent years. Delayed intervention may lead to lifelong functional impairments, severely affecting individuals, families, and the allocation of social resources.
1. Social communication disorder
Social deficits are the core manifestations of autism. Children often show a lack of interest in others, difficulty maintaining eye contact, and do not use facial expressions or body language to convey emotions, appearing indifferent to people. For example, they may not respond when their name is called, rarely initiate interaction, and show weak attachment to family members.
2. Language delay
Many autistic children have significantly delayed language skills, with some unable to speak even at ages two or three, or only able to echo others’ words. Even when they can speak, their language often lacks communicative intent, with little questioning or conversation, limited vocabulary, and little variation or logic in speech.
3. Stereotyped repetitive behaviors
Stereotyped behaviors include repetitive actions such as hand-flapping, head-shaking, spinning in circles, or tapping objects. They may become fixated on certain objects or routines and cannot tolerate change. Some children like to repeatedly line up toys or follow strict sequences, becoming agitated if disrupted.
4. Abnormal sensory responses
Autistic children often show hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity in vision, hearing, or touch. For example, they may be terrified of ordinary noises, show no reaction to pain, or become obsessed with watching spinning objects (such as fans or wheels), indicating abnormalities in sensory processing mechanisms.
5. Emotional and behavioral abnormalities
Emotional regulation is poor, with irritability, stubbornness, sudden crying, or tantrums. Some children may exhibit self-injurious behaviors such as head banging or hand biting, or aggression toward others. They strongly resist changes in routine, finding it difficult to adapt.
6. Poor learning and adaptive ability
Most autistic children have learning disabilities, especially in imitation, cognition, and logical thinking. Even if some show exceptional skills in memory, drawing, or calculation, overall adaptive living ability remains weak, with high dependence on others for daily self-care.
Experts at United Life International Medical Center remind us that although autism has no cure, early recognition of symptoms and multidisciplinary intervention can significantly improve function and quality of life. Parents should pay attention to their children’s social and language development, seek early medical evaluation, and implement scientific interventions to give children more hope and room for growth.
