Indicators that your little one may be autistic

ON AVERAGE one in 68 children worldwide is born with the condition, said Sandy Usswald, the national director of Autism SA.

Although data on the prevalence in South Africa is scarce, Usswald said researchers at the University of Cape Town estimate one to two percent of the population is affected, which translates into around one million people.

The number could be higher, as many people go undiagnosed. “Because of this, it’s really difficult to give a number for how prevalent the condition is,” she said.

Parents’ help guide to autistic behaviour:

● Unusual or inappropriate body language, gestures, and facial expressions (e.g. avoiding eye contact);

● Lack of interest in other people or in sharing interests or achievements;

● Unlikely to approach others or to pursue social interaction, comes across as aloof and detached, prefers to be alone;

● Difficulty understanding other people’s feelings, reactions, and nonverbal cues; ● Resistance to being touched; ● Difficulty or failure to make friends with peers;

● Delay in learning how to speak (after the age of two) or doesn’t talk at all;

● Speaking in an abnormal tone of voice, or with an odd rhythm or pitch;

● Repeating words or phrases over and over without communicative intent;

● Trouble starting a conversation or keeping it going;

● Difficulty communicating needs or desires;

● Repetitive body movements (hand flapping, rocking, spinning) and moving constantly;

● Obsessive attachment to unusual objects (rubber bands, keys, light switches);

● Preoccupation with a narrow topic of interest, sometimes involving numbers or symbols (maps, licence plates, sports statistics);

● A strong need for sameness, order, and routine (lines up toys, follows a rigid schedule), is upset by changes in routine or environment; and

● Hyper- or hypo-reactive to sensory input (e.g. reacts badly to certain sounds or textures, seeming indifference to temperature or pain). — Helpguide.org