Parents who looked forward to the joys of cuddling, teaching, and playing with their child may feel crushed by this lack of response.
Children with autism also take longer to learn and understand what others are thinking and feeling. Social cues - whether a smile, a wink, or a grimace - may have little meaning. To a child who misses these cues, " Come here," always means the same thing, whether the speaker is smiling and extending her arms for a hug or squinting and planting her fists on her hips. Without the ability to understand gestures and facial expressions, the social world may seem bewildering.
To compound the problem, children with autism have problems seeing things from another person's perspective. Most 5-year-olds understand that other people have different information, feelings, and goals than they have. A person with autism may lack such understanding. This inability leaves them unable to predict or understand other people's actions.
Some children with autism also tend to be physically aggressive at times, making social relationships still more difficult. Some lose control, particularly when they are in a strange or overwhelming environment, or when angry and frustrated. They are capable at times of breaking things, attacking others, or harming themselves. For example a child may fall into a rage biting and kicking when he is frustrated or angry. An other child when tense or overwhelmed may break a window or throw things. Others are self-destructive banging their heads, pulling their hair, or biting their arms.
Research done with Exceptional Lives Special Education .
Language Difficulties:.
Research shows that about half of the children diagnosed with autism remain mute throughout their lives. Some infants who later show signs of autism do coo and babble during the first 6 months of life. But they soon stop. Although they may learn to communicate using sign language or special electronic equipment, they may never speak.