Nathan On Exercise Ball with Mom

Video Summary

Whereas Benjamin, a toddler with developmental delays but not autism, actively engages with his therapist while playing on the exercise ball, Nathan, a child on the autism spectum, does not engage with his mother at the same level. While he seems to enjoy the sensation of the ball, his eye contact is not consistent, nor clearly directed at his mother. As soon as he is given the opportunity, Nathan walks away from the interaction.

Keywords

• Nonverbal Behaviors Used in Social Interaction
• lack of eye contact
• lack of social smiling
• Social Interaction
• lack of engagement
• Social Interaction
• lack of relatedness
• lack of excitement in interactions
• lack of interest in swinging and bouncing