Children with autism develop differently compared to children who do not have this condition. While a child without autism will develop various skills at approximately the same pace and in the same time, a child with autism will develop certain skills much faster than the other ones.
The cognitive skills or the language abilities could develop more rapidly than the motor skills, for instance. As a rule, a child with autism will always have underdeveloped social skills compared to those of other people.
Senses: hear, smell and see
A sudden stimulation of the senses of a child with autism is very disturbing for them. Loud noise, strong smells or unexpected changes in light or temperature are factors that can trigger negative reactions. Some people believe that the reaction is not so much about the smell, noise or light, but about the surprise brought by the unexpected change. They think that if the autistic person would have a chance to prepare for what is about to happen, their reaction will be much improved. So it could help constantly reminding them that certain things are likely to happen.
Communication
Communication is one of the main challenges for people with autism. Speaking skills are generally underdeveloped. The more sever the disease, the less the person will talk. Some of the autistic children will not speak at all, some will just continuously repeat words or phrases they heard.
The way they talk can also be different from the way the other children talk. They might use a formal tone, or resemble very much a teacher’s style.
Repetition
Predictable actions are the favourites of the children with autism. Knowing what will happen next gives them self confidence and makes them relax. Repetitions are an important part of their existence. When other people see the same actions being performed over and over again they might find it strange. The repetitive actions can be anything, from jumping according to the same pattern again and again, to making the same drawing or singing the same song.
Changes in the daily routine are usually easily accepted by children without autism. For autistic kids change is the biggest challenge. Their day could be totally ruined if for instance you change the order of getting dressed and start with the trousers instead of the blouse. Minor changes which could even go unnoticed by the other children could make them very angry or miserable. Some people think that making children with autism accept changes is the right thing to do to make their life better. But most of them also agree that trying to force them to react to like other kids do will have a negative impact on their wellbeing.
You never know when and what they will learn
Most of the children who do not have autism follow the same pattern of learning and are expected to develop the same skills at approximately the same age. This is very different for autistic children. They might learn things long before they are supposed to, according to the average expectations, and they might have difficulties acquiring basic skills.
Tics and stereotypy
Tics and stereotipies are quite common in children with autism. Stereotipies start developing at an earlier age than tics, sometimes before the age of three, and they are more complex actions. While people with autism have a certain degree of control over the tics, conscious control of stereotipies is rare. They are both periodic movements or activities that follow the same pattern. However, those who have tics say that the need for them is very intense and if they try to refrain they cannot take their mind from them. Some of the tics can make the parents concerned, especially when children prefer to go to a quiet private place when they do them.
Obsessions
Obsessions are quite commonly met at people with autism.
What people believe about autism
An autistic person can experience exactly the same feelings as a person without autism does. They can be happy or sad, feel love or pain, just like anybody else. The only thing that is different is the way they express their feelings, but the essence is the same. It is very important that people realize that the common belief that autistic people have no feelings is completely untrue. People without autism need to be helped to understand that autistic people might be special in their own way and they express themselves different from the average persons.
While some autistic people are very gifted and have a special skill, most of them are just regular people with a special way of expressing themselves.