Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by a triad of disabilities: emotional/social impairment, inflexibility in thinking/imagination, and difficulty with communication/speech. These behaviors usually manifest in early childhood and can cause difficulties in socializing, communication, and imaginative play. Ritualistic behavior and obsession with a single topic are also common.
The triad of disabilities divides the characteristics observed in people with autism spectrum disorder into three categories. Emotional or social impairment, inflexibility in thinking and imagination, and difficulty with communication or speech make up the triad of disabilities related to this disorder. The behaviors defined in the triad of impairments usually manifest themselves during the first three years of life.
Social disabilities may cause difficulties in making friends or peer acceptance. The autistic child may not pick up on social cues or nonverbal body language of inappropriate behavior. In severe cases, the child may be totally indifferent to others and refuse to be held or touched. An older child might exhibit odd behavior in social settings and become a loner after repeated rejections. If depression sets in, it could lead to further withdrawal from social interaction.
The communication component of the triad of impairments usually appears initially as delayed speech in early childhood, except in children with Asperger’s syndrome. As these children mature, they may have difficulty expressing feelings and communicate inappropriately. They usually take words literally and don’t understand puns or figures of speech. Some children verbalize thoughts in an attempt to organize ideas and process information.
Socially inappropriate communication might involve approaching strangers to talk about a topic of interest to the person with autism. During the monologue, he usually cannot read facial expressions of boredom or lack of interest. An inability to empathize could contribute to this type of behavior. Interrupting while others are talking or making rude or hurtful comments describes other communication disorders. When someone reacts with hurt feelings, the concept may be totally foreign to a person with autism.
Lack of imagination and inflexibility in thinking constitute the final components of the triad of impairments. Children with autism show difficulty pretending during play, such as playing house or cowboys and indians. They usually focus more on reality and concrete objects while playing. A toy gun is a suitable toy, but they generally can’t imagine a stick representing a toy gun.
These children might practice rituals or become obsessed with a single topic, sometimes displaying exceptional skill in that area. Variations in routine could cause distress, leading to an overreaction. Along with the ritualistic behavior, the autistic child might rock, tap his fingers repeatedly, or arrange objects in a specific order.
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