Visual Symptoms Highly Associated with ASD
- Gaze aversion
- Turning my head, looking out of the corner of my eye
- Being attracted to shiny surfaces or mirrors
- Prolonged fixating on light patterns, windows, or blinds
- Hyper fixating on one object while ignoring other objects in the room
- Always prefers/avoids a particular color
- Shows distorted body postures or orientation including arching back, hyperextension of neck
- Toe walking
- Touches all surfaces (walls, furniture, etc.) when in an unfamiliar environment
- Anxiety or avoidance associated with fast-moving objects or animals
- Spinning objects close to face
- Intense light sensitivity
- Poor attention to one’s surroundings as well as a lack of interest in one’s environment
- Preference for looking at objects (or parts of objects) rather than people
Visual symptoms included in the screening/ diagnosis of ASD
- Poor eye contact
- Excessively lines up toys or other objects
- Fidgets with objects repetitively
- Maintains interest in spinning objects for periods greater than a couple of minutes
- Does not follow where someone else is looking
- Walks on tiptoe
- Flicking fingers or hands near the face
- Stares at nothing with any apparent purpose
- Excessive interest limited to a single toy
Early signs of autism
- No name call response
- Poor eye contact
- Becoming very upset if they do not like a particular taste, smell or sound.
- Repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or stiffening of body.
- Speech and language delay.
- Echolalia ( Repeating back what the speaker says.
- Poor understanding of feelings and emotions.
- Poor attention.
- Becoming very upset if their daily routine such as food cycle, sleep cycle changes.
- Unusual play behavior.
- poor peer group interaction.
