| 6. Why won't my autistic child make eye contact? | | | | things out through the corner of their eye to see if |
| The lack of eye contact is frequent in autistic children. | | | | they might be missing a snack, a toy, or something |
| When a healthy adult fails to make eye contact we | | | | else they may want. |
| question if s/he is telling us a lie. This can cause major | | | | It is my belief that many theories are presently being |
| issues during such things as a job interview. However, | | | | offered while the true reasons still have not been |
| it is typical in an autistic child. | | | | determined. Through my research I have been |
| Some psychologists believe that the lack of eye | | | | exposed to a number of possibilities. One of these is |
| contact is a psychological disability. They go on to say | | | | the Atypical Processing of Eye Contact (APEC) which |
| it is a ‘willful defiance.' I question this determination. I | | | | is actually a problem with the eyes. Other possibilities |
| do believe, however, what other psychologists say | | | | include the fact that the child may not know how to |
| that eye contact is both difficult and emotionally painful | | | | make eye contact; the child may forget to make eye |
| - most autistic children do not understand that it is a | | | | contact. It might be impossible for the autistic person to |
| choice they are making. | | | | make eye contact. It may be very distressful; an |
| Researchers from Yale University have done, what | | | | autistic child does not necessarily understand the |
| they refer to as, eye-mapping technology. They | | | | significance or the importance. There are a number of |
| discovered that autistic children spend more time | | | | possibilities. |
| looking at an adult's mouth opposed to looking into their | | | | I address this issue with lessons on how you can |
| eyes. Another study found that autistic children | | | | improve your child's eye contact in my lessons on |
| sometimes do an ‘eye check,' whereby they check | | | | behaviors which will be available soon. |