Autism and Eye contact

24 Feb Autism and Eye contact

Autism and Eye Contact

A form of non-verbal social communication, eye contact can indicate that a person is paying attention, interested, and engaged.

Lack of eye contact is one of many criteria used by doctors to diagnose autism. Since there are no physical tests for autism, a diagnosis is based on a spectrum of behaviours.

One symptom of autism is impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviours such as:

• Eye-to-eye gaze
• Facial expression
• Body posture
• Gestures to regulate social interaction.

Eye Contact in Autism

Research shows people with autism respond to eye contact differently than neurotypical individuals.

According to the study authors, these findings may indicate children with autism.

• Often lack the usual social motivation that leads other children to make eye contact.
• Find it difficult to focus both on spoken language and on another person’s eyes at the same time.
• May not understand that watching another person’s eyes is more revealing than, for example, watching that person’s mouth or hands.
• Can find eye contact to be a very intense and overwhelming sensory experience.