Autism Test

From social interaction to communication and behaviour.

Being on the autistic spectrum disorder is a lifelong condition. Therefore, it’ll be well worth your time undertaking an autism test. You’ll notice that we used the term “autism spectrum disorder” because it is, in fact, a spectrum – it isn’t a single disorder. Autism stems from differences in biology that influence brain development. Such people vary and are on the spectrum with different skills, abilities, and characteristics. Despite their differences, however, they all share certain things in common, things that an autism test will detect. We’ll discuss those common features and characteristics in a moment.

Whilst autism is a lifelong condition; children can make significant improvements. They can – just like all children – improve in life, but they will not grow out of autism.

When we talk about autism, we also often include Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). PDD is otherwise referred to as PDD-NOS – or “Not Otherwise Specified”. We also talk about Asperger’s syndrome, which we sometimes refer to as high-functioning autism. Plus, we discuss Childhood Disintegrative Disability or Disorder (CDD) too. The predominant feature linking the autistic spectrum together is difficulties with social interaction. This extends to communication and the area of behaviour, so let’s look at each of those individually.

Social interaction

Social interaction difficulties and anxiety can sometimes mean that making friends is a struggle. Yet, this should never be confused with a lack of desire to have friendships. The vast majority of children and adults on the autistic spectrum do like to socialise. Sometimes, that just means socialising differently. Autism can affect a person’s ability to understand subtle emotional cues, such as tone of language or body language. Yet, when emotions are communicated more directly, there’s a wealth of evidence for the opposite. Children and adults on the spectrum are likelier to feel empathy for others. In the social interaction area, those with autism struggle to maintain and establish eye contact. They have difficulty reading facial expressions, plus their own faces are often inexpressive. They have problems with body posture, knowing how to move their body or moving their body in ways that endear them socially with their peers.

They struggle with emotional signals – knowing when emotions trigger responses – or are aware of their own emotional status.

They have difficulty in the area of reciprocity – that’s the give-and-take that you experience when you’re in a social situation with others. Those with autism also seem not to have a shared interest in or enjoyment with others. Their enjoyment is a very solo, introspective kind. When they behave socially, they are not tuned in or have difficulty tuning into the achievements of others. They have difficulty understanding other people’s feelings. One of the hallmarks of early signs of autism is that they don’t do that social, fun, interactive kind of stuff – for example, playing peekaboo. Most young children will break out into laughter because it’s fun, and there’s a smile attached to it, and they giggle. Yet young children with autism tend not to do that and are often not comforted by touch. The latter of which can be very disconcerting, certainly for young families. With all of that said, many people on the spectrum are in wonderful loving romantic relationships. Just like the rest of the community, not every person on the spectrum chooses to be in a romantic relationship, but that is not the same as not being capable of doing so.

Communication

Regarding communication, people with autism have difficulties in verbal and nonverbal domains. We very often see a delay or even a lack of talk. Young children with autism will sometimes begin to develop language, which will promptly stop. In many cases, that language never develops. They have difficulties in the communication domain with taking turns. So, if they say something, it’s often not in a reciprocal kind of give-and-take way. Therefore, they will have difficulty remaining engaged in conversations. Very often, what we hear and what we see in the communication domain is a stereotyped kind of communication.

So they’ll often repeat a phrase or a sound or word and may also be echolalic; they may repeat something that someone else says.

In the communication domain, individuals with autism have difficulty taking the listener’s perspective. They have difficulty understanding and responding to humour. Innuendo is very difficult for them, and again – as mentioned in the social interaction area – they tend to be concrete. They tend to focus on their self needs as opposed to the needs of others around them. However, the assumption that people on the spectrum don’t have a sense of humour is false. The funniest conversations we have ever had have been with autistic kids and adults, and they run rings around us at telling jokes.

Behaviour

In terms of their behaviour, individuals on the autism spectrum will often focus on parts or pieces of things and not the whole. They may focus on a button on a shirt, or they may focus on the wheels of a truck, but not necessarily how that truck works collectively. So that button is part of a piece of clothing with a particular function. They often have preoccupation. So, they may be preoccupied with toothbrushes, or they may be preoccupied with certain kinds of toys or certain types of objects around the house. They have a very high need for sameness.

Routines are very frustrating for them, and transitions tend to be very difficult.

Classic kinds of autism often are evidenced in some rocking behaviour, so there’s rocking back and forth of the whole body. There may be some flapping behaviour which could be arms or legs or both, and what we call twiddling. This is where you take something, shake it in your hand or move it back and forth, banging it around or tapping with it. Individuals with the autism spectrum disorder often have hypersensitivities to certain things. So, for example the texture of clothing or the texture of food. They may show a lack of awareness of those kinds of things of great interest.

When you think about the autism spectrum disorder, those individuals could be of low IQ . . . or they could have pretty significant cognitive and intellectual challenges, or even be gifted. There are features of ADHD that we see in many individuals on the autism spectrum. Plus, anxiety and depression are often complicating factors in this set of disorders.

We all know of films like Rain Man, where we see someone who is extraordinarily highly developed with sophisticated abilities.

Around 10% of autistic people have skills such as maths or drawing that are of extraordinary ability. They’re incredibly capable of remembering things – lists or maps or dates – or even have certain gifts in the area of music or some unusual sensory issue. However, this is a small proportion of the whole number of individuals diagnosed with autism. So, whilst some individuals present savant-like skills, it’s best to look past this caricature.

Instead, see the extraordinary human that lies beyond the diagnosis.

Some individuals with autism may react differently to touch. They may find touch very aversive or have difficulties managing it. They might not realise that they may be touching someone too hard or might tap someone when they mean to touch them harder. It appears that some people with the autism spectrum disorder may have difficulties with modulation of pain. In which case, they often have problems with certain textures. Also seen in autism are difficulties with sleep, and activities for daily living are almost always interrupted. The ability to care for yourself – to dress and feed and do certain kinds of activities for daily living – can be tricky. Sadly, this is even the case for some higher functioning individuals. So too are the ability to travel from one place to another and manage money. These are typical things that many of us take for granted.

Many people on the spectrum have intellectual disabilities, and also many do not.

Someone may have communication difficulties, but it doesn’t mean they also have intellectual disabilities. What it means is that we have to assess intelligence differently. A way that doesn’t rely so heavily on communication skills. Not every child will be great at maths. Not every child will repeat back words. Not every child will have difficulty speaking, and not every child will have hand mannerisms. Every child and adult on the autism spectrum is different and full of their own unique talents, personalities and – yes – challenges. When you, your family or a friend has an autism test, remember this: the label autism doesn’t mean one thing. What it is is a gateway to understanding a whole new way of thinking about the world and those children and adults are to be cherished for that fact.