Question
What are some key characteristics and behaviors that teachers should look out for in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
Answer
In the classroom, deficits in social reciprocity, which essentially refers to the ability to engage in back-and-forth conversations or play interactions, may warrant attention. Children on the spectrum may struggle with this interactive dance, resulting in limited engagement or responses during social interactions. For example, when asked about their day, they may provide a brief response without reciprocating the inquiry. Another scenario to observe is when a child is engaged in play, such as playing with trucks, and you offer a verbal interaction like, "I like that truck. That's a really cool truck," but the child doesn't respond. This lack of reciprocal response is referred to as a bid. In typical social interactions, individuals often acknowledge and respond to such bids with a comment or acknowledgment. However, children on the spectrum may struggle to reciprocate these social cues, which can impact their ability to engage in meaningful social exchanges.
Another area to observe is deficits in nonverbal communication. Pay attention to whether children pair gestures with verbal communication, such as waving while saying "bye-bye" or performing finger movements while singing songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider." Challenges with eye contact and understanding personal space may also be evident. Young children often display quirky and awkward behaviors, but when these patterns persist, it could indicate difficulties in interpreting nonverbal cues.
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course Understanding Early Childhood Diagnosis: What Preschool Teachers Need to Know, presented by Karalynn Royster, PsyD, IMH-E®.
