Difficulty making eye contact is a common symptom in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but this is not the same for everyone. Because autism is a spectrum, symptoms related to eye contact can vary greatly from person to person.

🔍 Common Characteristics Related to Eye Contact in Autism:

• 👀 Making little or no eye contact

• 🙈 Feeling uncomfortable or avoiding eye contact.

• 🤷‍♀️ I don't understand that making eye contact has a social meaning.

• 🧠 Difficulty focusing while making eye contact (it can be difficult to listen and make eye contact at the same time)

• 🔁 Sometimes eye contact seems mechanical or forced (unnatural)

However, it is important not to forget this:

• Avoiding eye contact is not a sign of autism in itself.

• Someone who avoids eye contact may also be shy, anxious, or experiencing other social difficulties.

• Some autistic individuals may learn to make eye contact over time, or they may make eye contact in some situations but not always.

What should you do if you have concerns about eye contact?

• 🧒 If you notice differences in eye contact in a child, it's important to consider this in conjunction with other social and communicative behaviors.

• 👨‍⚕️ It is important to consult with a child psychiatrist, developmental pediatrician, or psychologist for a developmental assessment.