What are examples of social skill deficits seen in autism?
Significant social deficits are necessary for a diagnosis of autism. • An individual may have poor eye contact, be unresponsive to social cues, or act as though he / she is not able to hear. • He or she may have a lack of, or limited, joint attention. This may be demonstrated by a lack of showing, bringing or pointing out objects of interest to other people. • There may be a lack of or diminished spontaneous efforts to share experiences, enjoyment or interests with other people. • There may be a lack of, or limited, social and emotional reciprocity. • Many individuals with autism do not actively participate in simple social play or games (preferring solitary activities) or may not effectively use or understand facial expressions, gestures, or other non-verbal cues. • There may be a failure to develop appropriate peer relationships, such as when a child may prefer (or appear to prefer) being alone and have difficulty interacting with other children. • Another social deficit may be diffi
