| The impairment of social interaction and | | | | temper tantrums may find it very difficult to |
| communication skills in children with autism | | | | interact with other children, who may avoid him |
| symptoms becomes more apparent through play | | | | because of it. Additionally, the extra stimulation of |
| activities. While the lack of social interaction and | | | | having others about may overwhelm the child, |
| speech can sometimes be missed in the home | | | | who may be extra sensitive to noise. |
| environment (not all children vocalize and interact | | | | Inappropriate attachments to objects may also |
| at the same level at similar age), poor interaction | | | | preclude sharing toys with other children. His |
| with other children of a similar age is a significant | | | | inability or unwillingness to make eye contact with |
| indicator of potential autism. | | | | others may be disconcerting enough to cause |
| Due to the lack of social awareness, the autistic | | | | other children to avoid him, as is the lack of the |
| child may appear to prefer playing alone. The | | | | ability to smile spontaneously. |
| tendency of the autistic to focus on an object, | | | | Lacking an interest in the activities of others' |
| for example, may be apparent in a simple activity | | | | emotions and activities, the child with autism |
| like playing with a toy truck. While it appears that | | | | misses out on the feelings of joy derived from |
| the child is indeed playing with the truck, in reality | | | | imaginative social play. Moreover, play is an |
| he may be more interested in the turning of its | | | | important means of learning about the world |
| wheels. | | | | around him and the autistic child misses out on |
| Indeed, the more or less typical ritualistic play of | | | | these life lessons. |
| the autistic child does not allow for spontaneous | | | | There are many more resources and information |
| interactive play, as a change in routine may | | | | about autism signs, symptoms, treatments, and |
| trigger an inappropriate outburst. The lack of | | | | cutting edge medical research in, Autism: |
| spontaneity also precludes any role-playing or | | | | Everything Parents And Caregivers Should Know |
| "pretending" type of play involving other children. | | | | About The Disorder. |
| Also, the child with autism who is prone to | | | | |