Can my child be autistic if they are affectionate and sociable?

The short answer

Yes. Autism does not mean that a child lacks affection, empathy or interest in people. A sociable autistic child may actively seek company while finding the timing, interpretation and flexibility of interaction difficult. They might approach people readily but miss signs that somebody wants to stop, copy peers to work out what to do, speak fluently without managing a balanced conversation, or need substantial recovery after social contact. Assessment considers the quality and developmental pattern of communication and interaction alongside repetitive behaviour, interests, flexibility and sensory experience. No single social behaviour rules autism in or out.

• Wanting people and finding interaction easy are different questions.
• Eye contact, affection, smiling, humour and empathy can all be present in autistic children.
• Social communication includes timing, reciprocity, interpretation and adapting to context.
• A child may connect in ways that other people overlook.
• Look at effort, misunderstandings and recovery as well as sociability.