| Another characteristic of autism is that children | | | | developmental stage, and most children use their |
| affected by this disorder will become fixated on | | | | imaginations to pretend to feed a doll or to take |
| certain repeated activities or behaviors, getting | | | | on the role of someone else. Autistic children |
| "stuck" on a particular object or activity. Autistic | | | | rarely engage in this make-believe play. Instead of |
| children also have difficulty adjusting to a change | | | | pushing around a toy car, for instance, they may |
| in routine. Because autism affects the way a | | | | instead hold it and spin the wheels for hours. |
| child's brain processes sensory input, their fixation | | | | Explanations for These Behaviors |
| on repeated activities interferes with imaginative | | | | Although great strides have been made in autism |
| play. | | | | research, there are not yet concrete explanations |
| Physical Manifestations of Obsessive Behavior | | | | for these behaviors. Researchers theorize that |
| Repeated motions, called stereotypies or | | | | perhaps the sameness and order that obsessive |
| self-stimulation, set children with autism apart | | | | behaviors bring foster some stability in a world of |
| from other children. Some children with autism | | | | otherwise confusing sensory stimulations. Autism |
| may spend hours flapping their arms or flicking | | | | seems to cause an imbalance in the senses: if a |
| their fingers, or rocking back and forth. Some | | | | child cannot process his environment through his |
| may suddenly freeze in one position, while others | | | | senses, the world is a confusing place. Routine, |
| repeat certain actions over and over - turning | | | | then, is comforting. |
| lights on and off, or touching or arranging a set of | | | | Focused behaviors may help block out painful |
| objects over and over. | | | | stimuli, or perhaps these behaviors are linked to |
| Still other children may become fixated on specific | | | | senses that work either well or poorly. The child |
| objects, developing a fascination with particular | | | | who smells everything, for instance, may be using |
| objects and amassing collections of things such as | | | | his stable sense of smell to explore, or perhaps |
| rocks or bottle tops. | | | | he is trying to stimulate and strengthen a weak |
| A demand for consistency in the environment is | | | | sense of smell. |
| another manifestation of autism. Autistic children | | | | One of Many Symptoms |
| may, for instance, insist on eating the same foods | | | | Obsessive or repetitive behavior is but one of |
| at the same times, sitting at the same spot at | | | | many signs of autism and autism spectrum |
| the table, over and over. A minor change in | | | | disorders. If you suspect that your child's behavior |
| routine or in placement of a familiar object can be | | | | is indicative of autism, voice your concerns with |
| very upsetting for autistic children. | | | | your pediatrician, who can assist you in further |
| Pretend or imaginative play is an important | | | | diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. |