What is Attention Shifting

This chapter surveys the core attention and socio-cognitive deficits of autism. It begins by discussing the key characteristics as reflected in the standard diagnostic criteria and screening tools. It then turns to research on attention-related differences in infants and toddlers later diagnosed with autism, including diminished attention to voices and faces, diminished eye contact, stimulus over-selectivity, and difficulties with attention shifting and joint attention. It then turns to later-stage socio-cognitive difficulties, particularly issues with emotional and cognitive perspective-taking, weak central coherence, executive function, and complex information processing. It concludes with a discussion of comorbidities like sensory issues, motor control difficulties, and intellectual impairment; of other skills that may be intact; and of open questions about central vs. peripheral symptoms of autism.