Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

On this page

• About Autism
• Signs and Symptoms of Autism
• Seeing a Professional
• Other Resources

About Autism

People with autism sometimes have challenges with communication and social skills. They might find it hard to have conversations and may not notice social cues. Some people with autism may not talk at all, and others may not have trouble talking. Some people with autism might have trouble with making friends or keeping relationships at school or work.

People with autism also have behaviors that may look different from behaviors of those without autism. You may notice this when watching autistic kids learn or play. They may focus on one topic, like cars or a television show, or they may be attached to a certain object or activity. Sometimes, these behaviors make learning and engaging in new activities more difficult without support from caregivers or peers.

Although the medical community uses the term “autism” to refer to a disorder or a disability, many people consider autistic people to be neurodivergent—that autism is a difference, not a disability. It is important to respect the viewpoint of the person with autism and/or their families about the type of services or care they want to receive.

When talking to or about someone with autism, some people like to be called a “person with autism,” whereas others prefer to be called an “autistic person” or even “autistic.” Different people prefer different terms, and each person should be identified in the way that they prefer.

Autism is present throughout the person’s lifetime, and you may not know what caused it. Sometimes, autism runs in families. Some possible causes include

• genetic differences,
• differences in brain development or in brain function, and
• exposure to harmful materials or chemicals in the environment.

Autistic people might need different levels of support, depending on how much these challenges affect everyday life.

Signs and Symptoms of Autism

You can often see signs and symptoms of autism in very young children. But, sometimes, these signs and symptoms are not very noticeable—and they might not be recognized until school age or even adulthood. Signs and symptoms might be different based on age or gender. Autistic people may have some challenges with communication, social skills, and behaviors and might seek therapy or specialized interventions.

Communication

Communication includes understanding, talking, reading, and writing. A person with autism may have challenges

• understanding and using gestures like pointing or waving;
• understanding and using spoken words;
• understanding language that doesn’t mean exactly what it says, like expressions or ideas that are nonliteral;
• following directions;
• learning to read or write—some children with autism read early but do not understand what they read (this is called hyperlexia); and
• having or starting conversations.

A person with autism may

• lose early words;
• be hard to understand;
• repeat words or phrases that they just heard recently or that they heard days or weeks earlier (this is called echolalia);
• use their voice in a robotic or singsong way;
• talk very little or not at all; 
• use challenging or unconventional behaviors instead of words or gestures to communicate what they want;
• like using visual pictures or examples to learn; and
• need to practice a new skill many, many times to learn and use it.

Social Skills

A person with autism may have challenges relating to others. It might seem like they are not interested in others or in making friends. Making eye contact may be uncomfortable for people with autism, and they might be paying attention to someone else even if they don’t look like they are.

It may be hard for a person with autism to

• share attention with someone else and focus on the same object or event in ways other kids do,
• join in play with others and share toys,
• respond when others invite them to play or talk,
• understand how others feel,
• take turns in play or in conversation, and
• make and keep friends.

Behaviors

A person with autism may

• repeat certain behaviors, including hand or body movements;
• repeat words, phrases, and songs;
• cry, laugh, or become angry for reasons that aren’t obvious to other people;
• have trouble changing from one activity to the next;
• get upset by certain sounds, smells, or textures;
• like only a few foods;
• choose foods based on look or texture; and
• prefer only a few objects or topics.

Seeing a Professional

Testing for Autism

Testing is usually done by a team who knows about autism. The team may include a medical doctor, a neurologist, a developmental psychologist, and an SLP. The person being tested and their family members are always part of the team. An audiologist may also test the person’s hearing to make sure that they do not have a hearing loss.

SLPs test the person’s communication and social skills. They may talk with others to learn about the person’s communication in settings like home, school, or work.

Some people with autism don’t talk at all, talk very little, or have trouble talking. SLPs may recommend using AAC to help them communicate. AAC can include gestures, pictures, digital tablets, and other assistive technology options. There are no requirements needed to learn low- or high-tech AAC. AAC can be considered at any age, even if you have tried using technology before.

All people with autism have social communication challenges or differences, but not all people with social communication challenges have autism. SLPs can help figure out if a person has autism or a social (pragmatic) communication disorder. Knowing the diagnosis will help the SLP choose or recommend the best treatment.

Treatment for People With Autism

People of all ages can find support helpful. It is best to get help early for support with autism. For young children, ask about local early intervention and preschool programs. Autistic adolescents and adults benefit from treatment to help them communicate better in school, at work, and in the community.

A variety of specialists might work with a person with autism throughout their lifetime. These specialists can include audiologists, SLPs, psychologists, special educators, vocational counselors, and job coaches.

SLPs are very important in helping people with autism. They can help a person with autism learn new communication and social skills in different settings like home, school, and work. SLPs can also help the person learn to use AAC. SLPs may work with the person alone or in small groups. Groups can help the autistic person practice their skills with others.

Depending on the person’s needs, SLPs may work on some of the following skills:

• getting along with others in different settings
• using a variety of communication supports
• taking turns in conversation
• moving from one task or setting to another
• accepting change and expanding interests, including trying new foods and activities
• reading and writing skills

SLPs may also teach families and/or caregivers how to play with their child while teaching skills like

• playing without words to develop trust,
• talking about what you are saying/doing,
• talking about what a child is saying/doing,
• adding extra words for what a child has said,
• providing lots and lots of positive opportunities to practice a new skill,
• providing enough help to complete a task while still letting the child do it themselves, and
• providing sensory supports during play.

For autistic people going into the workforce, SLPs can also help them

• write cover letters;
• practice interview skills;
• learn strategies to communicate at work;
• practice advocating for their needs; 
• problem-solve regarding appropriate accommodations; and
• recommend assistive technology to support communication and understanding, including AAC.

SLPs also work to help people with autism communicate their preferred terminology and advocate for themselves. SLPs can help by talking about autism and teaching others about how to include autistic people in activities.

See ASHA’s resource on ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists and autism spectrum disorder [PDF].

Other Resources

See the list below for additional resources. This list does not include every website on this topic. ASHA does not endorse the information on these sites. 

• Autism Navigator
• Autism Parenting Magazine
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ǀ Autism Information Center
• National Institute of Mental Health ǀ Autism Spectrum Disorder
• World Health Organization ǀ Autism