• Your child may have extreme responses to sensory stimuli like touch, sight, sound or smell. They may cover their ears, or not bear to feel certain textures, or need to touch things all the time.
• Your child may play with toys differently, like lining, sorting or organising with toys rather than playing with them. They may prefer playing on their own to playing with other children.
• Your child may experience communication challenges, which can be anything from delayed speech to difficulties understanding language and emotions. They may not even respond to their name.
• Your child may have limited or unusual social interactions, including a lack of eye contact, or preferring behaviour rather than speech to tell you what they need.
• Your child may show repetitive or unusual behaviours, like a fixation on certain objects or activities. Some of these repetitive behaviours (called stims) include clicking their fingers or flapping their hands – this helps them regulate their emotions and relax in challenging environments.
• Your child may have sudden mood swings, going from very happy to very upset very quickly. This could be because they have trouble regulating their emotions, or because they are struggling to communicate with you.
• Your child may thrive on routine and order and hate surprises, or even minor changes in their daily routines. Structure helps to reduce their anxiety.

Although most people with autism learn coping mechanisms that help them interact with the world as they grow older, they may still face challenges throughout their lives. Some adults with autism continue to struggle with understanding social cues, facial expressions, tone of voice, and maintaining conversations. They may also exhibit repetitive behaviours and can be extremely sensitive to sensory stimuli.