Occasionally, the onset may appear related to an injury or trauma. No matter how quickly autism onsets, eventually the child will exhibit a striking disregard for other people. The child s motor development is normal and may even be precocious. Intelligence varies, and though a high percentage of children with autism have lower than average IQs, an abnormal IQ is not considered a defining feature of autism. Back to top Language development Children with autism almost always have impaired language development.
Some children never speak.
Others develop only very rudimentary language skills, which never serve as a coherent means of communication. Others may develop abnormal patterns of speech and language. Short sentences may be used inappropriately and often lack the normal intonation that expresses changing mood and affect. Some children may develop an unusual ability to read but may not learn to speak. According to one study, only about a third of all children with autism develop some degree of functional language skills.