Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results in an extraordinarily wide range of traits. The characteristics of autism can vary greatly from one person to another so that they may seem as different as the palest pink and the deepest crimson on a color spectrum. 

The following are examples of characteristics associated with ASD. A person may experience some of these characteristics, many of them, or very few. This list is not intended to be complete; rather, it is meant to illustrate the breadth of the autism spectrum and encourage consideration of the many different ways autism may present. 

It is also important to remember that the characteristics noted below are used in the diagnosis of ASD. Many persons with autism learn strategies, develop coping skills, or use tools and supports that compensate for these characteristics, making them less apparent.

  • Social reasoning: avoid social contact; be passive in social interactions; tolerate social time as a means to something they want; want to interact but are awkward and maybe inappropriate in doing so; have difficulty with social cues including tone, facial expressions, and body language.
  • Language abilities: make sounds and noise, but have no words, though likely understand more than it appears; use words and phrases, but in repetition; speaks well and uses good vocabulary but has difficulty with the art of conversation.
  • Cognition: significant learning difficulties, maybe even intellectual disabilities; uneven abilities exhibiting great intelligence in some areas and less in others; typical intelligence with difficulty expressing in a way others understand.
  • Special interests: refers mainly to the range of interests a person may have which could be anything. The interest often changes over time and becomes more complex as a person matures.
  • Sensory sensitivity: extreme sensitivity, feeling constant bombardment of noises, lights, or scents that equates to physical assault; lack of sensitivity and response to pain, heat, or cold; avoiding certain foods or textures. 
  • Expression and management of emotions: when mad or frustrated, a person hits, kicks, or bites; cannot answer the question “how do you feel?”; no visible signs of grief when a close loved one dies; changes the topic when a friend is talking about difficult emotions.

Important to remember:

  • Each person on the autism spectrum is a unique person. What you know about one person is not necessarily true about another. Get to know persons with autism to remove barriers to belonging, but also to befriend them.