Q5. What are the symptoms of autism?

A5. There are three obvious signs of autism which are usually referred to as the ’triad of impairments’.

These impairments include problems with communication, interaction and imagination. These signs vary between individuals.

Other symptoms include obsessive or repetitive behaviour, temper tantrums, clumsiness, sensory hypersensitivity (or sensory hyposensitivity) and a fondness for structure and order.

Many autistic people experience gastrointestinal problems such as constipation and stomach upsets. People with a severe form of autism often have a learning disability as well.

These symptoms are discussed further in our symptoms of autism section.

Autism FAQs:

Autism FAQs

• Q1. What is autism?
• Q2. Is there more than one type of autism?
• Q3. Why are there more children with autism than adults?
• Q4. What causes autism?
• Q5. What are the symptoms of autism?
• Q6. How do you diagnose autism?
• Q7. How common is autism?
• Q8. Why are there more boys with autism compared to girls?

• Q9. Can you cure autism?
• Q10. How do you treat autism?
• Q11. What is 'SPELL?'
• Q12. What is 'TEACCH?'
• Q13. How do parents cope with autism?
• Q14. How does an autistic adult manage their condition?
• Q15. Do autistic people have other medical conditions?