Social Communication and Interaction in Autism 

This article is based on a video link, where Dr. Ajay narrates the common signs and features of Autism through the observation of a child’s social communicative responses. He demonstrates using examples from real video recordings of how these signs may appear to us in real life, for easier and faster correlation.

Limited social interaction

A major characteristic trait of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is diminished levels of social interaction.Some of the features include:

1. Lack of Initiation,
2. Lack of response
3. Lack of engagement or the ability to reciprocate. 

Dr. Ajay Sharma explains with an example of a young boy who according to his mother does not want to play with others. Even when the boy was taken among other children he just stood by the mother and did not participate in the play.

Upon observation, it was noticed:

• He did not pay attention to others
• He uses gestures when he wants something but does not connect to others
• He did not engage well in activities

A child who did participate in activities was observed:

• To engage in simple activities alone
• More interested in sensory exploration
• Had very limited interaction with others around.

Limited social communication

Another feature observed in individuals with autism is difficulty in social communication. It includes:

1. Lack of name response 
2. Limited communication 
3. Reaching out to others by mechanical gestures
4. Poor use of gestures 

These features are explained by using examples.

In one example, we can see the adult trying to communicate with a child who has normal hearing and vision. However:

• the child does not respond to his name 
• ignores any attempts to engage in conversation. 
• In such cases, the child can be observed to respond to other sounds

Some children in autism can also be seen to 

• use other’s hands as a mechanical tool to get things done, such as opening a door or a container or to turn on a handle or switch.
• They may do this instead of communicating their wants and needs

The video shows another child 

• Has poor eye contact
• Has limited use of gestures
• limited conversational skills though he knows the answers to the questions being asked

Other prominent features of Autism that are cause for concern are: 

Inability to engage in play: Many children on the spectrum prefer to play alone without much engagement with other children.

Repetitive behaviours:  It’s often observed that many children like to do things over and over again.

• Like playing with the same toy continuously or playing with the toy in the same way repeatedly. 
• Here, in the video it can be seen how a child plays with a toy truck in the same push-pull manner repetitively. 
• Some children may also show intense interest in the small parts of the toy such as the wheels of a toy car or truck. 
• They may be more interested in spinning or rotating the wheel rather than playing with the whole toy.

Unusual aversion to sounds: 

• Loud sounds may bother children with autism. 
• However, it is seen that some children close their ears even in the absence of any loud sounds. 
• Others may become anxious in the anticipation of a particular sound, like that of a balloon bursting, for instance. 

Sensory sensitivities:  Children with autism have different sensory interests, be it visual, sense of smell or touch. 

• Often children are observed having visual sensory preferences where they enjoy seeing objects sideways or from too close. 
• Smelling or mouthing things is sometimes seen in children. 
• A combined auditory and visual sensory is also present in some children, who prefer the sensory input from both sound and sight. They can be observed playing with things, dropping them to watch the drop and also enjoy the sound.

Motor Mannerisms:

• Children with autism often present a wide range of different movements, like flicking of fingers or flapping of hands, among a range of different movements. 
• Some children can also be seen walking on toes in the absence of any concerns in other motor skills. 
• Movements may also involve the whole body in some children.
• These repetitive movements are occasionally accompanied by some sounds.

Children with the requisite cognitive and verbal skills may have the desire to interact and communicate. However, they simply might not be able to understand how to do so appropriately. They may lack an understanding of personal space and might need reminding about others’ and their own safety. 

Each child on the spectrum is different and may exhibit different mannerisms and skills. It is important to have an understanding of these attributes. It will help parents develop an understanding of the whats and hows of your child’s condition. Being empowered with knowledge will help approach the concerns with better understanding of the probable underlying cause.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

We have also compiled a list of frequently asked questions with regard to Autism. Please access it here.