Triad of Impairments in Autistic People

Autistic people have severe difficulties in three main areas. These are:

• Social Communication.
  Autistic children usually always start talking late, if at all. If they use language, they often have problems expressing themselves and in understanding the meaning of what is being said to them.
  
• Social Interaction.
  Often autistic children do not notice people around them or acknowledge others when they are being spoken to. Eye contact tends to be very poor. Facial expressions are often practically non-existent and/or inappropriate. Body posture is often 'stiff' and awkward. Some autistic children are profoundly withdrawn from other people, resisting contact.
  
• Social Imagination.
  Flexible thinking and pretend play are rare for autistic children. Their play tends to be repetitive and stereotypical (example: copied from videos). Often obsessive behaviors occur in ways such as lining up toys, and spinning objects (or themselves). Autistic children tend to play by themselves and not interactively with other children.
  

The following are some features commonly associated with autism:

• Learning difficulties: often either severe or moderate.
  
• Obsessive interests: example: in cars or collecting odd things (like bottle tops)
  
• Need for routines: often autistic children get very distressed with changes in daily routines.
  
• Patchy profile of abilities: example: some autistic children are very good at complex tasks (such as computer games) but are unable to dress themselves.
  
• Odd mannerisms: commonly - hand flapping, tiptoe walking, spinning or jumping up and down when excited. Some children rock back and forth, bang their heads or self injure (pick at skin or bite themselves)

Source: Parents of Autistic Children Together
http://www.pact-uk.co.uk/autism.htm