In infancy, kids tend to exhibit different signs and symptoms of this disease, usually diagnosed by age 3. At times, kids appear normal when their age is 2 years, but their condition regresses. A combination of symptoms in an autistic patient may vary from mild to severe.
Infants that show signs of Autism at the birth exhibit the following symptoms: Abnormal reaction to sensory stimuli i.e. being over or underactive. For instance: regular touch might appear as painful, daily noise may sound too loud, or ordinary smells might be unpleasant. In addition, at times bright lights and loud noises might result in inconsolable crying.
Infants may also show some other signs such as:
- Being indifferent to the surrounding environment
- Being happy while playing alone
- Having no interest in toys
- Giving no response to others
- Extreme reduction or increase in activity level
- Refuses to cuddle
Young autistic kids might also show language problems. They have difficulty expressing their needs and therefore might use gestures instead of words to show undue distress or laugh for unknown reasons. Some patients have rudimentary language skills, but these might not be enough for communication. The young children also show abnormal speech patterns without expression or intonation and might also repeat phrases (echolalia). Some might, however, learn how to read.
Asperger’s syndrome and autism are both now known as Autism Spectrum Disorders in which a child’s typical development fails to occur. Asperger’s syndrome is on the milder side of the spectrum whereas Autism lies on the more excellent side. These disorders start early in childhood and continue to exist throughout adult life. Three main areas of development known as impairment triads might also be affected. These triads include:
- Nonverbal and verbal communication
- Social interaction
- Imaginative or creative play
Asperger’s Syndrome:
Asperger’s Syndrome is also known as Asperger’s disorder or AS. This is one of the disorders found in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in which the patients have difficulty socializing and have restricted activities and interests. Asperger’s syndrome is different from Autism as this disorder doesn’t show a delay in cognitive development or lingual skills. However, these children often report some elements of motor problems and atypical language skills.
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