What Are The Signs Of Autism?

Upset By Changes In Routines

Children and adults with autism can both become upset by changes in routines. Many affected individuals have specific rituals and routines they develop. These can be soothing and help them cope with heightened levels of anxiety, which many individuals with autism experience due to sensory issues and trouble with social functioning. The DSM-5 outlines multiple ways this can occur. Individuals might need to eat the same foods or take the same routes each day, may experience rigid patterns in thinking, may have distress when small things are changed, or have trouble transitioning into a new place or period of life. Preventing these rituals can lead to extreme levels of distress, which compounds with any anxiety that already exists. The routines can become a problem if they become so excessive that they interfere with an individual's daily life. Any routine that reaches a point where it causes distress rather than helping is an indication of a problem.

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