Several factors are thought to contribute to ASD, including genetic influence, brain abnormalities and birth events. A family history of autism increases the likelihood of your child having symptoms of ASD.

An individual with ASD typically struggles with social interaction and communication in some of the following ways:

• Has difficulty starting or responding to social conversation.
• Lacks initiative to approach or share enjoyment with others.
• Has difficulty understanding emotions.
• Often misinterprets social cues.
• May be slow in speech development.
• May have speech impediments, e.g. echoed or repetitive speech patterns, difficulties using pronouns.
• Has difficulty using and interpreting non-verbal communication, e.g. gestures, facial expressions and body language.

Many children with ASD struggle with how they take in and respond to sensory experiences. Sensory processing difficulties happen when the child has difficulty handling the sights, sounds, smells, textures or movements around them in the usual way.

In fact, studies show that about 95 percent of children with ASD face some form of sensory processing difficulties. Some children can be extra sensitive to sensory input, avoiding it. Others may be less sensitive, requiring more sensory input when moving or coordinating their movements. These sensory differences can make daily activities more challenging.

When it gets too overwhelming, the child may feel anxious or stressed, and display certain behaviours to help them self-soothe. An example is stimming, or self-stimulating behaviour, which may include repetitive movements or sounds to help the child cope with sensory overload, stress, anxiety or even excitement. 

In addition, an individual with ASD often has rigid preferences and restricted interests, which may include:

• Complex routines with objects or toys.
• Inflexibility about these routines, e.g. becoming upset with changes in the routine.
• Unusually strong attachment to certain objects.
• Intense liking or dislike of certain textures (e.g. sand, furry surfaces, glue), sounds (e.g. road-drilling, motorised sounds) or visual stimuli (e.g. shiny objects, bright lights).
• Intense interest in topics (e.g. maps, dinosaurs, transportation systems and routes) that may exceed the amount of general knowledge typical for someone that age.

Intervention of children or adolescents with ASD involves a combination of methods and ways:

• Educational and Behavioural Intervention

  Appropriate education placement is an important consideration, as certain intervention centers and schools offer structured activities which will likely benefit individuals with ASD. Behavioral intervention is often used in managing behaviors in individuals with ASD who present difficulties in regulating their social and emotional responses.

• Specific Therapies

  Some children or adolescents with ASD might require speech and language therapy, occupational therapy or sensory integration therapy to help them cope with some of the difficulties that they may have to deal with in their day-to-day activities. The intensity and need for these therapies vary from person to person.

Medication may be prescribed to help manage other difficulties such as aggression, irritability, tics, anxiety or hyperactivity. Talk to your child's doctor if you have any queries or concerns about medication. Medication should be used in conjunction with and not in place of behavior management techniques.