Autism Symptoms Checklist: Top 15 Traits to Look For

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex condition that affects each person differently. There is a wide range of symptoms and characteristics that can manifest in people with ASD.

While autism is unique to each individual, there are behaviors that commonly present with the diagnosis. Here is an autism symptoms checklist of 15 of the most common behaviors and traits. Being aware of the top autistic behaviors can help loved ones, teachers, and employers better support individuals with autism.

The autism symptoms checklist encompasses top typical behaviors and tendencies observed in people across the autism spectrum. Keep in mind that an individual with autism may have none, some, or all.

Autism Symptoms Checklist of 15 Behaviors That May Present with Autism

1. Difficulties with Communication
   One of the core symptoms on the autism symptoms checklist is challenges with communication, both verbal and nonverbal. About 30% of people with autism remain nonverbal. For those who do speak, many may have a delayed development of speech and language skills. Toddlers with ASD often have a slower progression of babbles, gestures and words compared to neurotypical peers.

   Many individuals with autism have trouble making eye contact during conversations. They may avoid looking directly at someone’s face and eyes. For some, too much direct eye contact can feel threatening or overwhelming. Others on the spectrum have monotone or unusual speech patterns such as echolalia, which involves repeating words back verbatim.

   Understanding sarcasm, subtle jokes and figures of speech can also be confusing. These difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication can lead to struggles with reciprocal social interactions.

Read more about eye contact avoidance and eye rolling.

2. Repetitive Behaviors and Routines
   Unusual repetitive behaviors are a telltale sign of ASD. These behaviors appear to be stimming mechanisms for self-soothing, self-stimulation or exerting control over one’s environment.

   Hand flapping, finger flicking, rocking, spinning and repetitive noises are common motor movements. Some may repeatedly arrange toys or objects in meticulous order and patterns.

   Obsessive interests and inflexible adherence to routines are also common. A person with autism may develop rituals like taking the same route to school or eating the same foods at every meal. Even small disruptions to their routines can result in extreme distress.

   These obsessive and repetitive behaviors seem to provide a sense of comfort, stability and distraction from overwhelming stimuli.

Read more about autistic stimming behaviors.

3. Sensory Sensitivities
   A checklist of autism symptoms commonly includes abnormal reactions to sensory input such as light, sound, taste, touch and smell.

   Hypo-reactivity means under-responsiveness to stimuli. This can look like a high pain tolerance or lack of reaction to loud noises. Hyper-reactivity is an intense overreaction to certain stimuli. For example, tags in clothing may feel unbearably scratchy or background sounds are painful.

   Some signs of sensory processing differences include avoiding crowded spaces, covering ears to sounds, resisting new food textures, and continuously smelling or touching objects. Seeking deep pressure, like bear hugs or crunchy foods, is also common. Occupational therapy helps assess and accommodate sensory needs. Understanding and accommodating these sensitivities improves quality of life.
   
   Sensory challenges are commonly part of an autism symptom checklist for adults. Many adult activities include lots of noise, crowds, touch, and lights (think of a music concert, for example). It may be difficult for adults to manage a crowded atmosphere like a concert, but often individuals on the spectrum can adjust and enjoy an outdoor concert where they can sit and move around as they are comfortable.

Read more about autism and sensory challenges.

4. Need for Structure and Routine
   The desire for sameness, routine and order is prevalent across the autism spectrum. People with autism often rely heavily on predictable schedules, rules and structure.

   Strict adherence makes the world seem more controllable and less chaotic. Even small disruptions to routines like taking a detour or substitute teacher can cause intense anxiety.

   Many kids with autism thrive when the school day is meticulously structured with visual schedules mapping out each activity. Transitions between tasks are easier when there is an established routine.

   Home life is calmer when consistent rituals are followed, like eating meals at the same time and putting away toys in assigned places. While the need for rigidity varies, structure and routine help create a sense of stability.
   
   Needed structure and routine is part of an autism symptom checklist for adults as well. While teens and adults may learn to have greater flexibility with schedules, in many cases it continues to be a source of great anxiety and stress. It’s important to learn ways to cope with transitions and change at all ages.

Read more about autism and OCD.

5. Specialized Interests and Hobbies
   A majority of people on the autism symptoms checklist have intense, passionate interests in specific topics like vehicles, logos, weather patterns, maps or golf scores.

   These hyper-focused interests provide enjoyment and opportunities to build knowledge. A child memorizing every element on the periodic table demonstrates an autistic strength – collecting and recalling detailed facts most peers don’t retain.

   The challenge is that these special interests can border on obsessiveness and dominate conversations. A child may incessantly talk about elevators without regard for the listener’s interest.

   Shifting focus to new topics or compromising on activities can also prove difficult. With coaching on balance and compromise, these specialized interests can be cultivated productively. The knowledge attained sets the stage for potential vocations.

Read more about autism obsession.

Movement and Coordination Differences
Clumsiness, motor delays and coordination challenges are frequently seen in ASD. Basic movements like running, jumping, catching a ball or using a zipper can lag behind peers.

Handwriting is often messy and slow. Many have an unusual gait or posture. Exercise caution before attributing these motor struggles to mere laziness or defiance. 

Addressing motor skills helps with activities of daily living like getting dressed, participating in gym class and using utensils. Physical and occupational therapy provide exercises and accommodations tailored to the individual’s needs.

Adapting sports equipment and rules enables children with ASD to reap the physical, social and cognitive gains of play. Patience, encouragement and accommodations foster healthy development.

Read more about hyper-focus as it relates to sports.

6. Difficulty Sustaining Focus and Attention
   Attention deficits are another common trait on the autism symptoms checklist. A person with autism may be easily distracted by background noises or classroom activity.

   Staying focused on tasks requires extra effort. Hyperactivity and impulsivity can also co-occur. The overload of stimuli competing for attention coupled with sensory sensitivities makes it doubly challenging to concentrate. These attention issues aren’t a sign of defiance or laziness.

   There are many strategies to help combat attention difficulties: Allowing fidget toys to channel excess energy, providing noise-canceling headphones, letting the child work in a quiet room, creating a visual schedule and checklist, and providing tactile objects for focus. With structured support, children with autism can better regulate their attention.

Read more about the connection between autism and ADHD.

8. Challenges Interpreting Social Cues
   ASD is defined by challenges interacting socially. The social difficulties typically tops the autism symptoms checklist. Making eye contact, reading facial expressions and body language, and conversing don’t come intuitively.

   While peers pick up on subtle social cues and norms naturally, these nuances have to be intentionally taught to kids with autism through social skills training. Understanding sarcasm, white lies and figurative language is often literal. This leads to confusion and social blunders.

   Helping kids decipher body language, modulating tone of voice, and judging what to say or not say during conversations enables better social connections. Social stories, role playing and rehearsing for interactions prepares them for real-life situations. With ample practice conversing and relating, social competency progresses.
   
   Body language and social cues is almost always on an autism symptom checklist for adults. It can sometimes present a different type of challenges with making and maintaining relationships.  When possible, neurodiverse adults should discuss their checklist of autism symptoms with their partner, close co-workers, and good friends to foster better understanding.

Read more about autism masking and code switching and social awkwardness.

9. Exceptional Memory Abilities
   A common cognitive strength seen in ASD is excellent rote memory. Many demonstrate astounding capabilities recalling facts, numbers, maps, schedules and details most people would deem trivial.

   For example, a child can remember the entire bus system map after studying it just once. These memory feats are linked to heightened sensory perception – the ability to notice minute details others overlook. But keep in mind, this doesn’t apply to all individuals with autism, and most autistics are not geniuses or savants.

   Harnessing this uncanny memory can enable learning. A child who struggles with math concepts but can memorize formulas still progresses. Out-of-context facts stick when kids with autism hyper-focus on a favorite topic.

   Leveraging memory abilities while continuing to build connections and comprehension is the ideal combination.

Read more about autism stigmas and stereotypes.

10. Rule Orientation and Black-and-White Thinking
    Individuals with autism tend to think concretely about morality and ethics. There is often a strong sense of order, structure, rules and justice.

    This perspective leads to following rules rigidly. For example, a child will refuse to step on grass if told to stay on the sidewalk. Rules are absolutes, rather than situational or open to interpretation.

    The inclination towards black-and-white thinking also manifests in perceived fairness. For example, a student may grow extremely upset if they complete 10 math problems but a peer only has to do 5 before recess.

    Understanding that rules and norms have nuance, and navigating moral grey areas, are skills that require guidance. With time, the ability to flexibly interpret rules and fairness improves.

    While an autism symptom checklist for adults often presents challenges like sensory struggles, anxiety, and learning differences, it also offers unique capabilities. Strengths like memory, focused interests, concrete thinking and integrity are assets. With the right support, environments and coping strategies, people with ASD can thrive personally and professionally. There is no single profile, but understanding common behaviors provides needed clarity.

Read more about autism challenges.

11. Anxiety and Emotional Dysregulation
    Many people with autism also struggle with anxiety and emotional regulation issues. The world can feel unpredictable, chaotic and overwhelming. Difficulty communicating needs and sensitivities exacerbates anxiety. Transitions, social interactions and sensory input provoke stress.

    Anxiety on the autism symptoms checklist often manifests as withdrawal, irritability, agitation or meltdowns. Repetitive behaviors may increase in an effort to self-soothe. Panic attacks, reluctance towards new situations, and physical symptoms like stomachaches signal anxiety. Learning coping skills and finding healthy outlets to decompress are crucial to managing anxiety.

Read more about autism and anxiety and coping mechanisms.

12. Uneven Skills and Abilities
    It’s common for those with ASD to have an uneven profile of strengths and deficits. For example, language and vocabulary may be advanced, while social skills or self-care lag behind. Gross motor skills like running may be clumsy, but fine motor skills needed for art are refined. Or academics like math and music come easily, but reading poses challenges.

    Seeing these uneven abilities as opportunities allows kids to gravitate towards their strengths. Leaning into their cognitive strengths and interests fosters confidence. Continuing to build up relative weaknesses is important so they become well-rounded. It’s vital to have realistic expectations that align with the individual profile.

Read 6 top FAQs about autism.

13. Details Over Main Ideas
    Individuals with autism often hyper-focus on details rather than main ideas as a common thread on the autism symptoms checklist.

    For example, an autistic may memorize and recite small intricate parts of a story, without understanding the broader meaning. Or they notice background objects in a picture, oblivious to the focal point. This impacts academics like reading comprehension and math word problems.

    Helping orient thinking towards themes, inferences and context is crucial. Visual outlines, graphic organizers and checking for understanding after reading passages or lessons improves retention of main ideas.

    Figuring out which details are most important is a skill that improves with guided practice. Allowing details to accumulate into meaningful wholes takes time.

Read more about understanding neurodiversity.

14. Literal Thinking and Interpretation
    Literal thinking is common among people with ASD. Figurative language, idioms, sarcasm, white lies and exaggeration are often interpreted literally. This leads to confusion and miscommunications. Metaphors like “You’re pulling my leg” may be perplexing or seen as falsehoods. Jokes and nuance go over the head. This literal perspective reflects a concrete, logical thinking style.

    Parents and teachers can help decode figurative speech by explaining the non-literal intent. Breaking things down in a concrete way helps register the real meaning. With repeated social encounters, the ability to pick up on nuances and nonverbal cues improves over time. But a propensity towards literal thinking often remains.

Read more about pathologizing and autism acceptance.

15. Learning Differences
    It’s common for individuals with ASD to have specific learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia or dyscalculia. These co-occurring symptoms as part of a checklist of autism symptoms make reading, writing and math difficult. ADHD or executive functioning issues can also co-occur, affecting attention span and organization. Problem-solving and critical thinking deficits may become apparent in higher grades.

    Getting a comprehensive assessment of strengths and needs is essential for academic planning. An Individualized Education Program and accommodations like extra time, modified assignments and assistive technology provide a framework for success. Teaching study strategies tailored to the cognitive style is also beneficial. With the right supports, tailored instruction and accommodations, academic skills progress.

Read more about autism labels and autistic life after high school.

Autism Symptoms Checklist: Remember ASD is a Spectrum, and Everyone is Different

Not everyone on the spectrum exhibits the behaviors on the autism symptoms checklist. But since many do, it’s become a big stereotype for a reason. A lot of these behaviors aren’t necessarily a problem individually, but if the behaviors add up, it can become more challenging to navigate life.

That’s why if you are autistic, it’s  a good idea to work on them so they won’t adversely impact the quality of your life. Everyone has bad habits that they need to work on so don’t feel bad for needing to grow as a person because everyone does; it’s completely normal. So keep learning and keep growing to become the best version of yourself!

Read more about ways to stay motivated when you have autism.

The autism spectrum encompasses an incredibly diverse range of individuals, each with a distinct combination of traits. While certain characteristics like communication challenges and sensory issues are widely shared, no two people with autism are exactly alike.

Understanding the range of potential behaviors, perspectives and needs allows us to compassionately embrace and accommodate the unique brilliance within each person.

Other Common Autistic Behaviors

There are many behaviors associated with having autism. Keep in mind that everyone presents differently, which is why it is caused a spectrum disorder.

However, there are common autism behaviors. Learn more about them. 

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