Behavior Characteristics of Autism Checklist
The following is a checklist of various behavior characteristics of autism. It is important for you to become aware of the individual you are caring for and where they fit in each of these categories. Other factors that are important to consider are the Frequency (how often), Duration (how long), Intensity (how strong), and Context (where or under what circumstances) of the displayed behavior characteristics of autism.
Overall State
• Focus on picking up debris
• Feels need to ‘fix’ the environment (arranging and rearranging objects)
• Unable to reach relaxed state
• Very inactive or lethargic
• ‘wired’, hyper-active, agitated
Environmental/Sensory Sensitivity
• Difficulty with loud, confusing, or unpredictable noise
• Difficulty with particular sounds or noises
• Difficulty in highly stimulating environments
• Difficulty with particular lighting conditions (fluorescent lights, bright sunlight)
• Difficulty with or attraction to scents
• Difficulty with or attachment to certain fabrics or clothing types
• Dislikes touch or hugs
Emotional Expression
• Lack of expression in eyes or face
• Inappropriate facial expression
• Outbursts - anger, laughing, crying
• Difficult to read or understand emotional state
• Does not cry
• Does not smile or laugh
• Appears anxious or distraught
Spontaneity
• Maintains rigid and repetitive patterns or rules
• Strong desire or need for structure and control
• Apparent lack of capacity for pleasure or enjoyment
• Does not respond well to unfamiliar situations
• Lacks ability to adapt or make spontaneous changes
• Unusual or unexpected movements (running into the street)
Relationships
• Seems uninterested in others
• Minimal acknowledgment of others
• Seldom makes eye contact
• Does not have friends
• Does not imitate
• Cannot calm self
• Does not respond to name
• Appears indifferent to absence or presence of a parent or caregiver
• Injures self or others
• Does not share or show
Digestion/Elimination
• Incontinence of bowel and/or bladder
• Constipation
• Unusual toilet habits
• Frequent gas, flatulence, burping, or throwing up
Walking
• Walks on toes
• Does not swing arms when walking
• Moves very fast or slow (darts, shuffles)
• Unusual gait (asymmetrical, stiff, broken, not smooth)
• Does not alternate stairs
• Difficulty judging space
• Difficulty changing from one floor surface to another (tile to carpet, wood to carpet, etc.)
Gestures and Communication
• Limited use of gesture to communicate
• Does not use hands to signal or gesture
• Does not use eyes to signal or communicate
• Difficult to understand desires or aversions
Voice and Mouth
• Halting, limited, or absent speech
• Repeats sounds or vocalizations
• Usually makes no sounds
• Teeth grinding
• Grimacing
• Speaks very loudly or very softly
Attention and Distraction
• Difficult or slow to engage in activity
• Seems “lost in own world”
• Gets “locked into” activities of interest
General Movement
• Rocking, spinning, twirling
• Difficulty or awkwardness
• moving through space (bumps into things)
• moving from sitting to standing
• moving through doorways
• getting in or out of a vehicle
• reaching for or grasping an object
Daily Routines
• Prompting to accomplish tasks is required
• Does not perform self care activities without help
• Does not use objects in functional ways
• Does not initiate activities
• Does not appear to be aware of danger
• Responds slowly to requests
• Does opposite of what is requested or expected
• Gets stuck or freezes during routine tasks
• Difficulty stopping an activity or task
• Difficulty with transitions from one activity to another
Posture
• Musculature tight and rigid
• Musculature floppy and limp
• Slouched posture
• Rigid posture
• Odd or unnatural posture
Sleep
• Insomnia or restless at night
• Frequent waking at night
• Seems to require minimal amount of sleep
• Seems to require too much sleep or at odd times
Eating/Drinking
• Swallows food without chewing
• Stuffs mouth or cheeks until over-full
• Gulps large quantities of liquids
• Limited food preferences
• Intolerance to foods with particular texture or color
• Low impulse control around food
This list of behavior characteristics of autism is just a list. Individual with autism may display varying degrees of these behavior characteristics. It is important to get to know the different behaviors that the person you are caring for exhibits so that accommodations can be facilitated with them or on their behalf.