WHAT IS AUTISM?

Autism is part of a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders called autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The autism spectrum disorders include:

Autistic Disorder
Asperger’s Disorder
Rett’s Disorder
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Autism spectrum disorders are present early in life and characterized by varying degrees of impairment in the following areas:

Communication/language
Social abilities
Restricted/unusual patterns of activities and interests

The symptoms and characteristics of autism spectrum disorders can be present in different combinations and at different levels of severity. Often specific behaviors of individuals with ASD vary widely from person to person.

 

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT AUTISM

• How common are autism spectrum disorders?
• What causes autism spectrum disorders?
• How can I tell if a child has an autism spectrum disorder?
• What should I do if I am concerned about my child?
• Treating autism spectrum disorders?

How common are autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders occur in as many as 1 in 166 individuals, are about 3 times more common in boys than in girls, and occur in all racial, ethnic, and social groups.

What causes autism spectrum disorders?

The specific causes of ASD are not yet known, although there is consensus that genetic vulnerability and unidentified environmental factors cause atypical brain development related to the core features of the disorder. Up to 20-30 sets of genes may play a part in the development of autism spectrum disorders; however, genetics alone do not account for all the variability in cases of Autism Spectrum disorders. While scientists are looking into possible environmental origins and/or other triggers, there is no current established scientific link to proposed causes such as vaccines, diet, or toxin/environmental exposure.

How can I tell if a child has an autism spectrum disorder?

There are at present no medical or genetic tests for autism spectrum disorders. As such, diagnosis is dependent on assessing and observing a child’s behavior. No two children with autism are alike, but there are some common features and characteristics that may be identifiable as early as 18 months of age, or even sooner. Early red flags for concerns about possible autism spectrum disorders in the first years of life include:

Delayed development of spoken language

- Child has a vocabulary of less than 50 single words and/or no 2-word phrases.

Failure to use nonverbal forms of communication to compensate for delayed language development

- Child demonstrates inconsistent use of eye contact, gestures (such as pointing or shaking head), and facial expressions to convey needs and desires.

Inconsistent response to sounds

- Child may not respond to his/her name being called; deafness may be suspected.

Failure to direct the parent's attention to objects or events to share interest

- Child may point to request, but does not point to share interest.

- Child may bring a toy to the parent for help, but does not hold up a toy to show it to the parent for the purpose of conveying interest.

Failure to imitate simple adult movement

- Child does not wave good-bye or imitate hand movements in games like pat-a-cake.

Failure to interact in a reciprocal, back-and-forth manner

- Child may show interest only on his/her terms.

- May initiate games (or affection) but not respond when parents initiate them.

Lack of interest in simple social games

- Child may be more interactive during physical games with parents, such as swinging or tickling, than during social games such as peek-a-boo.

Lack of interest in other children

- Child may show limited interest in watching or playing with other children.

Repetitive and restrictive toy play

- Child may show limited interest in toys, may play with toys in an unusual manner (for example, lining them up), may play with toys the same exact way each time, and/or may show limited imaginative play.

** Not every child with ASD will have all of these behaviors. Further, the isolated presence of one of these behaviors does not warrant a diagnosis of ASD. It is the collection of these behavior patterns that leads to a diagnosis of autism.**

What should I do if I am concerned about my child?

Parents are typically the first people to develop concerns and notice unusual behaviors in their children. Some parents describe children whose development has been atypical since birth, while other parents describe children who were developing normally and then seemed to lose skills. Although some parents may have reservations about labeling a young child with autism, early identification and early intervention are key components to optimizing outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders. Emerging work in the field suggests that when parents suspect something is wrong with their child, they are usually correct. If you have concerns about your child’s development, talk to your child’s pediatrician or a behavioral professional immediately about getting your child screened for ASD.

Treating autism spectrum disorders?

At present, there is no cure for autism spectrum disorders; however, research indicates that extensive and intensive behavioral intervention in appropriate early intervention settings can dramatically improve the lives of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. There is no single treatment protocol for all children with autism, but most individuals with ASD respond best to highly structured educational programs. Some of the most common interventions are Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Floortime Therapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Relationship Development Intervention, Verbal Behavior Intervention, and the school-based TEAACH method.