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Do You Know an Adolescent with Autism?

Information on autism and how it affects adolescents’ interaction with same-aged peers.

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What is Autism?

Autism is a multifaceted developmental disability. It usually shows up in the first three years of life (http://www.autism-society.org). The cause of autism is unknown, but most believe it is caused by abnormalities in the brain. Since it is the result of a neurological disorder, autism affects how the brain functions. Both children and adults can suffer from this disorder and no two patients are the same. Those who are diagnosed with autism can have difficulties in any, or all, of the following areas:

Social Interaction

Verbal and Non-verbal Communication Skills

Play/Leisure Activities

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Looking at the Spectrum

Autism if one of the five categories that falls under the title of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). Autism is the most common of PDD and it is said that 1.5 million American are affected, today. Those who are diagnosed with autism are put on a spectrum (http://www.autism-society.org). The spectrum goes from low functioning to high functioning. Where an individual is placed on the spectrum depends on his/her behaviors and severity. Some specific qualities that a person with autism may exhibit are:

Difficulty expressing wants and needs

May laugh for no apparent reason

Difficulty interacting with others

May have little or no eye contact

Prefer to be alone

Over or Under Sensitivity to pain

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Interaction Characteristics of Adolescents Who Function at the Higher End of the Autism Spectrum

The ability to socially interact is greatly impaired in adolescents with autism. They do not develop the play and interaction skills as typically developing adolescents do. “Deficits in social functioning can significantly affect social interactions and interfere with the ability to establish lasting and meaningful friendships, leading to rejection and isolation...”, (Tantam, 2000 as cited in Bellini, 2004). Gillberg and Gillberg (1989) reported that some deficits in interacting with same-aged peers may include the lack of the desire to interact, the lack of understanding social cues, or the lack of the overall ability to interact (Bellini, 2004). Those who function on the higher end of the spectrum may also show the inability to express empathy for others.

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Interaction Characteristics of Typically Developing Adolescents

Adolescents that typically develop usually obtain interaction and friendship skills in four different stages (Miller, 2005). The first stage, which develops in the pre-school years, is learning how to play alongside others. Between the ages of five and eight, the second stage develops, which is realizing to engage reciprocally with others to play adequately. Becoming friends with those who are of the same gender and have the same interests comes around nine to thirteen years, which is stage three. Stage four, the final one, is what happens during the adolescent years. This is where the child learns to trust his/her peers and finds qualities that he/she admires in the peer.

For more information on autism and interaction skills of adolescents, contact a speech-language pathologist (SLP) in your area. SLPs are educated on the disorder of autism. They work with autistic individuals help them to develop better interaction skills. You may also visit the Autism Society of America’s web page for other information on autism at http://www.autism-society.org.

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