Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder may demonstrate a wide range of skills and behaviours, varying in severity. However, all children with this diagnosis demonstrate the following:

Absence or delay of speech and language, which includes:

• Repetition of words (echolalia) in place of a normal verbal communication
• Hand leading to communicate in place of verbal requests
• Absence of verbal communication

Difficulty relating to other children and adults:

• Absence of eye contact.  (When directly in front of the child, they may look in every direction, except at the individual in from of them)
• Apparent aloofness
• Lack of interest in other children
• Lack of response to verbal requests
• No response when name is called
• Avoidance of physical contact (even with parents and siblings)
• Indifference to others in distress or pain

Odd behaviors:

• Self-stimulation, spinning, rocking, hand flapping, etc
• Inappropriate laughter or tantrums for no apparent reason
• Inappropriate attachment to objects
• Obsessive compulsive behaviors i.e. lining up objects
• Repetitive odd play for extended periods of time.  Example: stacking blocks for a half hour at a time
• Insistence on routine and sameness
• Difficulty dealing with interruption of routine schedule and change
• Possible self injurious behavior or aggressive behavior toward others

Sensory Challenges:

• Hyper (over) or Hypo (under) sensitivity of the five senses – this may result in lack of sensitivity to some things (e.g. ignoring a very loud noise in the absence of deafness) or extreme sensitivity to other things (e.g. to bright lights, smells)
• Abnormal responses to the senses
• A lack of response to pain or an overreaction to something seemingly minor such as a door closing

What Parents Learn through Hanen Programs and Resources

• The different ways their child communicates and her/his stage of communication
• How to turn everyday activities into opportunities for their child to learn to communicate
• The most effective strategies that will help their child learn to communicate
• How to talk so their child can expand her/his understanding of language
• How to play, read and use music with their child to enhance her/his communication development

Children who demonstrate some of the characteristics of ASD, but who have not yet received a diagnosis, can benefit from the same kind of early intervention as children with an ASD diagnosis. (While a speech-language pathologist will be able to tell you if their child is showing some symptoms consistent with ASD, the diagnosis can only be made by a medical doctor or a registered psychologist.)

Hanen Programs for Children on the Autism Spectrum

The Hanen Centre has two Programs for Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. For more information on either program please click on the appropriate link.  

Hanen Resources

For more information on any of Hanen’s resources, visit our Online Store