Unmistakable Clues Your Child Could Be on the Autism Spectrum

9. Not Fond Of Being Touched Or Comforted

One classic sign of autism is a child who's not fond of being touched or comforted. Parents often instinctively try to comfort their children by hugging them, petting their hair, kissing them, and squeezing them. But this kind of touch, especially if it's unexpected or unasked for, can feel more like an assault than comfort to an individual with autism. Parents might want to teach their children to tolerate their touch. But even if a child with autism is trained not to react to being touched in ways they don't like, they still won't like them. They'll just learn not to express that. If someone actually wants to comfort a child or other individual with autism, they need to take the time to learn about how they feel about touch. They should practice asking permission to touch and hug them, and back off if they're told no. And if they don't like hugs and prefer to be comforted through words or contactless company, they need to adapt their communication to fit them. Not the other way around.

10. Sleep Disturbances

Sleep disturbances are a little-discussed, but very prevalent, issue for individuals with autism. There are several potential reasons for this including sensory issues, racing thoughts, emotional discomfort, and repetitive physical behaviors that make settling down difficult. Despite the vast prevalence of sleep issues in individuals with autism, researchers are still compiling evidence about it. Studies indicate anywhere from forty-four to eighty-six percent of children with autism experience serious sleep issues. Only ten to sixteen percent of neurotypical children experience these problems. The wide range in individuals with autism is because different studies defined serious sleep issues in different ways. Individuals with insomnia have to take eleven more minutes than a neurotypical person to fall asleep, on average. Many also experience frequent nighttime wakings and sleep that doesn't feel restorative.