What are signs of autism in secondary school aged children

A guide for parents/carers:

There are signs you may notice when your child is of secondary school age which could suggest that they are autistic.

Below is a list of common communication and behaviour signs to look out for.

Communication

Spoken language

Your child’s way of speaking might seem unusual or different from other children their age. For example, they might:

• Not talk much
• Speak in a flat or dull tone
• Say the same phrases over and over or talk a lot about their favourite topic
• Talk “at” people, not having a two-way conversation
• Say things that sound rude or strange without meaning to.

Interacting with others

Your child might:

• Not understand personal space, getting too close or not liking others near them.
• Find it hard to make and keep friends or understand what friendship means.
• Want friends but not know how to make them.
• Seem to prefer being alone.
• Not say hello or goodbye in a way people expect.
• Not understand what is “normal” behaviour in social situations.
• Get upset if they lose games or don’t like taking turns.
• Not care about the things other children their age like.
• Talk too formally or too casually in some situations.
• Take things literally and not understand jokes, sarcasm, or metaphors.
• Say things without realizing they could upset someone.
• Refuse to follow instructions in expected ways.

Behaviour

• They might repeat certain movements like hand flapping or rocking back and forth.
• They may have very specific hobbies or interests.
• They may follow rules very strictly and get upset if things feel unfair.
• They might do the same things over and over, which could make daily life harder.
• They may get very upset by small changes in their routine.
• They might not like change and could get anxious or upset, sometimes showing this by being angry.
• They might react too strongly or not strongly enough to things like sounds, textures, or smells.
• They may have very strong likes and dislikes about food, including its taste, smell, or texture.
• Might not play imaginative games like other children, but they may copy things they’ve seen on TV.
• May not use eye contact, gestures, or facial expressions when talking.

Other things to notice

• They may have strengths in some areas (like reading or remembering facts) but struggle with others (like coordination or social skills).
• They may act younger than other children their age, trust people too easily, or seem less independent