Autism And Autistic Spectrum Disorders

What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means that it impacts how a child develops. Autism begins in utero, although children with ASD might not be diagnosed until they are older, when signs of the disorder become more apparent.

While there used to be three types of ASD to include Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), there is currently a single diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, with varying specifiers for level of impairment, and related intellectual or language deficits. Autism spectrum disorder is called a spectrum because individuals with Autism may have a wide range of symptoms,cognitive abilities, language skills and behaviors.

When discussing autism, people tend to use different terminology. Some people prefer to use a “person-first” approach and will say “a child with autism.” However other people, including many self-advocates, will use the term “autistic.” This is “identity first” language. Some individuals believe that using the phrase “with autism” implies autism is negative versus a natural and integral part of a person’s identity that corresponds with many strengths. We use both phrases to acknowledge the diversity of opinions on this matter. In addition, although the term Asperger’s disorder is technically outdated per current diagnostic criteria, there are many people who continue to use the term to describe Autistic individuals who are without language or cognitive impairment.

What are Symptoms of Autism?

Symptoms of ASD typically appear in early childhood – usually before age 3. However, in some cases, an individual will not be diagnosed with Autism until later in life when their difficulties become more apparent in day to day life. In general, autism symptoms typically fall into two categories: Difficulties in social skills and communication and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors (including sensory challenges). It’s important to keep in mind that autism is considered to fall on a spectrum due to the significant variance among symptoms, language skills, cognitive abilities, and behaviors.

Prevalence rates indicate that males tend to be diagnosed with autism at a higher rate compared to females which may be related, in part, due to the fact that females don’t typically fit the standard mold of the diagnostic criteria. Some reasons for this include that autistic females tend to “mask” their symptoms and are good at imitating what they see around them (such as eye contact or some social interaction skills). In some cases, females with autism may be diagnosed with other conditions first such as anxiety, low self-esteem, or depression.

Autism in Children and Adolescents

Autism is a disorder that severely affects a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. Children with autism generally have problems with social interaction, language, and behavior. But because symptoms vary greatly, two children with the same diagnosis may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills. Many children show signs of autism in early infancy. Others may develop typically for the first few years of life but then suddenly become withdrawn, aggressive or lose language skills they've already acquired. Young children may have a hard time sharing experiences with others. As they mature, some autistic children become more engaged with others and show less marked disturbances in behavior, particularly with early intervention. Others continue to have great difficulty with language or social skills, resulting in the worsening of behavior problems during adolescence. Individuals with autism can display a range of intellectual abilities. An extremely small number of individuals are "autistic savants," having exceptional skills in specific areas such as art, math, or music.

Though each Autistic child is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior, these characteristics are common signs of the disorder:

Signs of Autism in Younger Children (under age three):

• Fails to respond to his or her name
• Poor eye contact
• Preference for solitary play
• Difficulties with shared attention
• Appears not to hear you at times
• Fails to use gestures to communicate
• Resists cuddling and holding
• Delays in speech or language
• Loses previously acquired ability to say words or sentences
• May be fascinated by parts of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car

Signs of Autism in Older Children and Adolescents:

• Appears unaware of others' feelings or lack empathy
• Seems to prefer playing alone or retreats into their "own world"
• Speaks with abnormal tone or rhythm – may use a singsong voice or robot-like speech
• May repeat words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use them (echolalia)
• Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning, or hand-flapping
• Develops specific routines or rituals
• May be unusually sensitive to light, sound, and touch, yet oblivious to pain
• Dislike changes in routine
• Not able to pick up on social cues such as reading others' body language
• Have trouble with starting, maintaining, or taking turns in a conversation (one-sided conversations are common)
• Speak formally or use more advanced words for his or her age (e.g. uses the word "beckon" instead of "call" or "return" instead of "come back")
• Have unusual facial expressions or postures
• Talk excessively about, be preoccupied with, and be very knowledgeable about a favorite subject or a few select interests
• Have delayed or awkward gross or fine motor skills
• Have heightened sensory sensitivities and become overstimulated by loud noises, lights, strong tastes, or textures

How to Help a Loved One with Autism

The first step to helping those with autistic spectrum disorder is diagnosis. Check out our Autism Testing page to learn more about this evaluation, and the range of subsequent therapy, social skills, and parent coaching services we offer to help your family.