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Autism Signs: What to Look For
This checklist is not a diagnostic tool. It is a starting point for conversations with evaluators. No checklist can diagnose autism — only a comprehensive evaluation can do that. We are not doctors. We are advocates.
Social Communication and Interaction
□Difficulty with back-and-forth conversation — may dominate with their own interests or not engage in reciprocal exchange
□Limited or atypical use of eye contact — may avoid it, may use it in an unusual way, or may use it mechanically
□Challenges understanding nonverbal communication — facial expressions, body language, tone
□Difficulty making and keeping friendships — may want friendships but struggle with the navigation
□Little spontaneous sharing of interests, emotions, or observations with others
□May appear to prefer solitude, or may seek connection but in ways that seem one-sided to others
□May take language very literally — misses sarcasm, figures of speech, or implied meaning
□Difficulty adjusting communication for different social contexts
Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors
□Intense, focused interests in specific topics — knowing an unusual amount about a narrow subject
□Insistence on sameness, routines, and predictability — significant distress when routines change
□Repetitive movements (stimming) — hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, lining up objects, repeating sounds or words
□Rigid thinking — difficulty with flexibility, gray areas, or unexpected changes
□Repetitive play patterns — playing with toys in a specific way rather than imaginatively
□Strong preference for specific foods, textures, clothing, or environments
Sensory Differences
□Hypersensitivity to sounds, lights, smells, textures, or tastes — may cover ears, avoid certain environments
□Hyposensitivity — seeking intense sensory input, high pain tolerance, not noticing sensory stimuli others react to
□Sensory overwhelm in busy environments — malls, crowds, loud events
□Strong reactions to clothing textures, seams, or physical sensations
□Unusual visual attention — fascination with lights, patterns, spinning objects
If several items across multiple categories feel familiar — especially if these traits have been present from early childhood and affect daily functioning — it may be worth pursuing a formal evaluation. The checklist is not a diagnosis. It is a starting point.