CO D/HH+ Autism

Fast Facts: Hearing Differences and Autism:

On average, a child who is deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) will be diagnosed with autism later in life than a hearing child with autism. In one study, D/HH children were diagnosed an average of 1 year later: deaf-autistic group: 4.1 years old; hearing-autistic group, 3.1 years old (Mandell, Novak, & Zubritsky, 2005).

Twice as many children with a hearing difference have autism than those who are hearing. (1 deaf child in 76 was receiving services for both a hearing loss and autism, about twice what is currently believed to be the national prevalence rate, which is 1 in 150 children in the general population have autism) in the 2006-7 Annual Survey of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Youth, Gallaudet Research Institute.

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Do you suspect your child with a hearing difference may have autism? 

While each child is unique, there are some common characteristics among deaf and hard of hearing children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD.) The earlier ASD is identified and strategies put into place for language learning, the better.

• Does your child have trouble watching others as they talk or sign?

• Does your child have difficulty engaging in shared attention? Typically, children will visually track objects in a room or look in the same direction that a parent or caregiver does. Children who are deaf do this often. A child who is deaf and has autism may not.

• Does your child show an intense interest in a particular activity or object?

• Does he or she shy away or avoid playing with others directly? Does she or he seem more drawn to things than people?

• Does he or she seem to have trouble playing games that involve imagination?

• Does your child get upset when a routine is changed?

• Does your child repeat actions or sounds in a nonmeaningful way?

• Does your child have difficulty imitating facial expressions or actions of others (smiling, sticking out the tongue, clapping, signing)?

• Does your child have unusual reactions to the environment that cannot be attributed to hearing loss, for example, flashing lights, smells, and textures, refusal of hearing aids because of sensory sensitivity?

• Does your child’s development lag behind peers? Sign skills may develop slowly even in an inclusive signing environment.

• Has difficulty understanding sign language or verbal language unless it is simplified.

• Does your child seem to resist being held or cuddled? (This can be especially tough to see that a child may express love differently.)

(Adapted from Szymanski, Christen. Brice, Patrick.  When Autism and Deafness Coexist in Children,

What We Know Now.)

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These are red flags that might help you consider seeking more evaluation from professionals. It is important to seek out those who are familiar with both autism, deafness and how your child communicates.  With knowledgeable early intervention and ongoing support, a child can learn to interact and communicate more effectively with others.