• avoiding eye-contact (actively or passively)
• looking away
• turning away
• not interested in having friends
• not interested in the activities of others
• not sharing/showing objects or interests with parents
• prefers to play alone
• lives in a world of their own
• does not imitate actions or language
• doesn’t smile (or only at familiar people)
• seems unaware of others
• uses people as a tool (e.g., puts mother’s hand on jar rather than asking or looking at person for request)
• only interacts to achieve a desired goal
• flat or inappropriate affect or facial expressions
• odd posture (e.g., looks sideways at person)
• does not understand personal space boundaries
• avoids or resists physical contact
• not comforted by others during distress

 Examples of Specific ASD Communication Issues 

The ability to communicate is a crucial part of our everyday being.  People with an ASD often have difficulty using language to convey their thoughts, feelings, and wishes to other people; however, not all people with an ASD have difficulty learning to talk. The communication difficulties related to autism can be much more complicated and subtle – they can be related to the social uses of language and in using nonverbal language to communicate as well.

• repeats words/phrases of others (Echolalia)
• uses own language (jargoning)
• repeats a word or phrase
• reverses pronouns I/me/my and you/your
• refers to self by name
• does not respond to conversational initiation
• gives unrelated answers to questions
• makes comments unrelated to conversation topic
• does not point
• does not respond to pointing
• uses few or no gestures
• talks in monotone or robot-like
• does not respond to own name
• no pretend play; doesn’t understand pretend play
• does not understand jokes, sarcasm, idioms, teasing, or similes

 Examples of Specific ASD Repetitive Behaviors and
 Unusual Interests 

• lines up toys
• plays with toys in same manner every time
• is very organized
• is rigid about routines or object placements
• upset by changes
• eat few foods or only certain textures
• eats inedible things (pica)
• smells food
• insensitive to pain
• unaware of danger (e.g., hot things)
• tantrums for no apparent reason
• has obsessive interests
• hand flapping/finger flicking/toe walking
• self-stimulation
• likes spinning objects
• likes to spin him/herself
• likes parts of objects (e.g., wheels)
• does not use toys appropriately (lines up cars by color rather that zooming them)
• special areas of talent or expertise
• perseveration
• walks over things (e.g., toys) unaware