Features of Autism
The difficulties of autism can be explained in terms of a series of excesses and deficits in behaviour. Below are lists of the main excesses and deficits. It is important to note that the excesses and deficits vary from child to child.
Excesses - behaviours that are repeated too often:
- Tantrums
- Non-compliance
- Self-stimulatory behaviour
- Aggression
- Self-injury
These behaviours need to be decreased.
Deficits - behaviours that are seldom expressed:
- Communication, especially reciprocal communication and social
communication - Attention - children with autism often display gross inattention
- Social interaction skills
- Play skills
- Self-help skills
- Difficulty with empathy and recognition of emotional behaviours
These behaviours need to be increased.
Relatively Normal:
- Motor development
- Memory
