Mental Health Neurodevelopmental Disorders Autism Symptoms Autism Guide Autism Guide Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping Signs and Symptoms of Autism By Lisa Jo Rudy Lisa Jo Rudy Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 12, 2022 Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is board-certified in neurology and specializes in migraine and stroke. She co-founded the migraine and vascular section for the American Headache Society. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Frequent Symptoms Rare Symptoms Complications When to See a Doctor Frequently Asked Questions Next in Autism Guide Causes and Risk Factors of Autism The signs and symptoms of autism are usually seen before age 3. They include impairments in communication, social interactions, and responsiveness, as well as possible obsessive or repetitive behaviors. It's said that "if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." That's because the appearance of autism can vary from person to person in the types of symptoms and their severity. One person with autism may be very verbal, bright, and engaged, while another is non-verbal, intellectually challenged, and almost entirely self-absorbed. Kinzie Riehm / Getty Images Frequent Symptoms The National Institutes of Mental Health has created a list of symptoms that are often seen in autism. It's important to bear in mind that none of these symptoms on their own is likely to indicate autism. Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder, which means that a child must have many of these symptoms in order to qualify for a diagnosis. By the same token, however, many children reach early milestones on time (or even early) and still qualify for an autism spectrum diagnosis. While some children may seem to develop typically for a while and then develop symptoms, others may have obvious symptoms from infancy. Early signs and symptoms of autism include: No babbling or pointing by age 1 No single words by 16 months or two-word phrases by age 2 No response to their name Loss of language or social skills Poor eye contact Excessive lining up of toys or objects No smiling or social responsiveness Unusual over-or-under responsiveness to sensory input such as touch, smell, taste, noise Symptoms of autism are often present before the age of 3. Some children, however, have mild symptoms that may not be obvious at a very young age and such children may, as a result, be diagnosed after age 3. When that happens, it's usually because they have several later indicators, such as: Impaired ability to make friends with peers Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals If symptoms such as these suddenly appear in a child older than 3, and those symptoms were definitely not present from an earlier age, the child would not qualify for an autism diagnosis. The child would, however, almost certainly receive a different developmental or psychiatric diagnosis. Rare Symptoms People with autism are more likely to experience: SeizuresIntellectual disabilitySavant syndrome (extraordinary abilities in one very specific area, such as mathematics)Hyperlexia (early ability to decode words without understanding them)Synesthesia (association of words or ideas with sounds, colors, tastes, etc.)Low muscle tone and/or difficulties with fine and gross motor skills Complications/Sub-Group Indications Autism has many proposed sub-groups, which often align with the presence of other conditions. Symptoms in Boys vs. Girls The vast majority of people diagnosed with autism are boys and men. This may be, in part, because autism tends to look very different in girls and women and, as a result, it may not be recognized as often. In general, boys with autism show overt symptoms such as stimming (pacing, flicking fingers, rocking). They may be quite loud, get upset easily, or become angry when required to take part in activities that are outside their comfort zone. These behaviors naturally draw the attention of parents, teachers, and doctors. Girls and women with autism, on the other hand, tend to be very quiet and withdrawn. They are often loners who choose not to participate in group activities. Because many accept the cultural notion that girls are often quiet and unengaged, these behaviors are much easier to mistake for shyness or normal social reticence. Of course, there can be wide variations depending on the individual. Association With Other Conditions Most of the symptoms of autism are also symptoms of other developmental and mental health disorders. As a result, it is not unusual for children with autism to have multiple diagnoses. In addition, people with autism seem to be more prone to other problems not listed in the diagnostic criteria.These problems include sleep disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, self-abusive behavior, and more. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes specifiers for these co-existing conditions: Intellectual impairmentLanguage impairmentAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Developmental coordination disorderDisruptive behavior disorderImpulse control disorderConduct disorderDepressive disorderBipolar disorderTicsTourette's disorderSelf-injuryFeeding disorderElimination disorderSleep disorderCatatonia When to See a Doctor It can be very tough for a parent to determine whether behaviors are symptoms of autism or just ordinary variations in development. How much lining up of toys is excessive? How much desire for repetition is normal? There is also the possibility that some developmental differences are caused by non-autism-related issues. For example, not responding to a name could very well be a symptom of hearing impairment. Late talking could be due to aphasia or apraxia of speech. To properly diagnose autism, professionals use a set of specific tests that actually measure a child's symptoms. They may also decide that your child should undergo testing for hearing impairment or speech issues that are unrelated to autism. For that reason, if you're concerned about your child, take your concerns to your pediatrician. If the pediatrician is not able to help, and you still have worries, it may be time to make an appointment with a developmental pediatrician or another diagnostician. Frequently Asked Questions At what age do clear signs and symptoms of autism develop? Signs of autism usually develop before a child reaches 3 years of age. These signs include impaired communication, social skills, or responsiveness, as well as repetitive behavior. However, sometimes children with high-functioning autism aren’t diagnosed until later. Since autism presents differently in girls, they may also be diagnosed at a later age. What are signs of autism at 9 to 12 months old? Infants with autism may exhibit a delay in babbling or pointing (which usually develop in the first year of life), as well as impairments in language development—not saying single words by 16 months of age. Among other symptoms, they may also be under-responsive to social stimuli or not respond to hearing their name. What are signs of high-functioning autism? High-functioning autism, once known as Asperger’s syndrome, combines normal or unusual intelligence with symptoms of autism. A child may do exceptionally well academically, for example, but have trouble relating to peers in social settings. Other signs of high-functioning autism include a susceptibility to sensory overload; anxiety or depression; lack of organizational skills and problems with “executive function”; emotional dysregulation; and struggling with verbal communication. Causes and Risk Factors of Autism 9 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Besag FM. Epilepsy in patients with autism: links, risks and treatment challenges. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:1-10. doi:10.2147/NDT.S120509 Hughes JEA, Ward J, Gruffydd E, et al. Savant syndrome has a distinct psychological profile in autism. Mol Autism. 2018;9:53. doi:10.1186/s13229-018-0237-1 Ward J, Hoadley C, Hughes JE, et al. Atypical sensory sensitivity as a shared feature between synaesthesia and autism. Sci Rep. 2017;7:41155. doi:10.1038/srep41155 Giarelli E, Wiggins LD, Rice CE, et al. Sex differences in the evaluation and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders among children. Disabil Health J. 2010;3(2):107-16. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2009.07.001 Mandy W, Chilvers R, Chowdhury U, Salter G, Seigal A, Skuse D. Sex differences in autism spectrum disorder: evidence from a large sample of children and adolescents. J Autism Dev Disord. 2012;42(7):1304-13. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1356-0 Doshi-Velez F, Ge Y, Kohane I. Comorbidity clusters in autism spectrum disorders: an electronic health record time-series analysis. Pediatrics. 2014;133(1):e54-e63. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-0819 Lai MC, Lombardo MV, Chakrabarti B, Baron-Cohen S. Subgrouping the autism "spectrum": reflections on DSM-5. PLoS Biol. 2013;11(4):e1001544. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001544. Epub 2013 Apr 23. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Communication Problems in Children. Additional Reading Ousley O, Cermak T. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Defining Dimensions and Subgroups. Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2013;1(1):20–28. doi:10.1007/s40474-013-0003-1 By Lisa Jo Rudy Lisa Jo Rudy, MDiv, is a writer, advocate, author, and consultant specializing in the field of autism. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit