What Are The Signs Of Autism?

Not Fond Of Being Touched Or Comforted

One classic sign of autism is a child who's not fond of being touched or comforted. Parents often instinctively try to comfort their children by hugging them, petting their hair, kissing them, and squeezing them. But this kind of touch, especially if it's unexpected or unasked for, can feel more like an assault than comfort to an individual with autism. Parents might want to teach their children to tolerate their touch. But even if a child with autism is trained not to react to being touched in ways they don't like, they still won't like them. They'll just learn not to express that. If someone actually wants to comfort a child or other individual with autism, they need to take the time to learn about how they feel about touch. They should practice asking permission to touch and hug them, and back off if they're told no. And if they don't like hugs and prefer to be comforted through words or contactless company, they need to adapt their communication to fit them. Not the other way around.

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