Possible Signs

Call Autism South Africa if you notice 3 or more of the signs for ASD
0114849909 info@autismsouthafrica.org www.aut2know.co.za

Little awareness of others.

Self-injurious behaviour, e.g. head banging, scratching or biting.

Imaginative play may be poor. E.g. cannot play with a wooden block as if it is a car.

Unusual habits such as rocking, hand flapping, spinning of objects etc.

The development of speech and language may be atypical, absent or delayed.

Indifference to, or dislike of being touched, held or cuddled.

Minimal reaction to verbal input and sometimes acts as though he/she is deaf.

Sense of touch, taste, sight, hearing and/or smell may be heightened or lowered.

Changes in routine or the environment may cause distress.

Sudden laughing or crying for no apparent reason

Pursues activities repetitively and cannot be influenced by suggestions of change.

Uneven gross/fine motor skills.

Abnormal sleeping patterns.

Inappropriate attachment to objects.

Displays extreme distress and/or tantrums for no apparent reason

Prefers to play alone.

Difficulty in interacting with others and little or no eye contact.

No real fear of dangers.

Possible Signs (taken from Autism Ontario – Durham Region)

No babbling by 11 months of age
No simple gestures by 12 months (e.g., waving bye-bye)
No single words by 16 months
No 2-word phrases by 24 months (noun + verb – e.g., “baby sleeping”)
No response when name is called, causing concern about hearing
Loss of any language or social skills at any age
Rarely makes eye contact when interacting with people
Does not play peek-a-boo
Doesn’t point to show things he/she is interested in
Rarely smiles socially
More interested in looking at objects than at people’s faces
Doesn’t make attempts to get parent’s attention; doesn’t follow/look when someone is pointing at something
Seems to be “in his/her own world”
Odd or repetitive ways of moving fingers or hands
Oversensitive to certain textures, sounds or lights
Lack of interest in toys, or plays with them in an unusual way (e.g. lining up, spinning, opening/closing parts rather than using the toy as a whole)
Compulsions or rituals (has to perform activities in a special way or certain sequence; is prone to tantrums if rituals are interrupted)
Preoccupations with unusual interests, such as light switches, doors, fans, wheels