Distinct Characteristics of Autism

Many of the characteristics of autism are seen in other developmental disabilities, such as in cognitive and learning variations. In addition, some characteristics are seen in certain psychiatric conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizoid personality disorder, and anxiety disorders. Autism is, therefore, a composite of these deficits, and not any one characteristic.

Concept of Meaning

A primary problem of individuals with autism is their inability to impose meaning on their experiences. These individuals can act on their environment and learn new skills but do not understand what these actions mean. Their world consists of a series of unrelated experiences and demands. This severe impairment in generating meaning most likely relates to several other cognitive challenges.

Relevance of Details

Individuals with autism often have a preoccupation with minute details, particularly visual ones. For example, they may frequently notice tiny bits of lint or dust particles on the floor, loose threads in a carpet, or flaking paint on a wall. Some individuals also notice other sensory details, such as the sounds of fans or motors. Individuals who function at a higher level of understanding, usually focus on more cognitive details, such as actors in a movie, area codes, or birth dates. As a result of their preoccupations with these details, many individuals with autism are unable to focus on other stimuli.

Difficulty with Combining or Integrating Ideas

It is frequently difficult for individuals with autism to pay attention to what others are communicating because they have difficulty integrating multiple types of information simultaneously. It is easier for individuals with autism to understand individual facts or concepts than to put concepts together, or to integrate them with related information, particularly when the concepts appear to be somewhat contradictory. In addition, their attention often switches rapidly from one idea to the next making interpretation of the whole concept extremely difficult.

Communication

Individuals with autism have relatively greater difficulty with symbolic or abstract language concepts than with straightforward facts and descriptions. In the culture of autism, words have only one meaning with no additional connotations or subtle associations.

Difficulty with Organization and Sequencing

Related to the general difficulty integrating multiple information are the problems with organization and sequencing. Organizational skills are difficult for people with autism because they require the ability to focus on both the immediate task and the desired outcome at the same time. Sequencing also requires understanding the relationships among the steps with regard to the final outcome. It is usual for people with autism to perform a series of acts in an illogical and counterproductive order because they do not understand the relationship between the steps and the final outcome.

Strong Impulse/Excessive Anxiety

Persons with autism are often extraordinarily persistent in seeking out the things they desire, whether these are favorite objects, food, experiences, or sensations. These behaviors, which resemble the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, can be very difficult to divert or control. In fact, there is such a driven quality to these behaviors that they appear not to be under the control of the individual. Redirecting and channeling these behaviors is a major challenge.

Individuals with autism are also prone to high levels of anxiety. This anxiety can be attributed to the biological factors of these individuals and their frequent confrontations with an environment that is unpredictable and overwhelming. Because of their cognitive variations, people with autism often have difficulty understanding what is expected of them and what is happening around them; anxiety and agitation are understandable reactions to this constant uncertainty.