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How can autism spectrum disorder affect eye contact and pointing in young children?

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A woman telephone operator wearing a headset sits at a manual switchboard, connecting calls by plugging cords into rows of jacks, circa 1900. — communication Operator at a telephone switchboard, c. 1900.

In the context of social behavior and communication, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by challenges in social interaction and communication skills.12

Regarding eye contact and gestures, children with ASD often exhibit the following:

Eye Contact: A common sign of atypical social interaction is poor eye contact during interpersonal exchanges. This difficulty can impact the quality of social connections and may contribute to social avoidance in more severe cases.13
Pointing and Gestures: Communication difficulties in children with ASD often include diminished use of gestures. While "pointing" is a specific form of joint attention gesture, the broader category of "diminished gestures" encompasses the reduced use of nonverbal communication tools typically used to share interest or direct attention in early development.1

These symptoms are part of a broader spectrum of communication challenges, which may also include delayed language development or difficulties with conversational skills. Because ASD is a spectrum, the severity and manifestation of these traits vary significantly among individuals.132