Autism spectrum disorder impairs the ability to both interact and communicate in a normal way. It affects the nervous system and also the overall emotional, social, and cognitive health of the individual that is affected.
In this article, I will be discussing the signs, symptoms, and causes of the Autism spectrum. Keep reading till the end and find out more details on the same!
About Autism
ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental neurological disorder that affects people and the way they can interact with others, starting with learning the behavior, and also communicating. Autism can be diagnosed at about any age, it is described as a developmental disorder. This is so because the first symptoms generally appear during the first two years of a person’s life.
According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), a guide created by the APA (American Psychiatric Association, which healthcare providers use for diagnosing mental disorders.
Autism is also known as a spectrum disorder due to there being a wide variation in the severity and type of symptoms experienced by the people. People of all ethnicities, races, and genders can be diagnosed with ASD. Even though ASD can be a lifelong disorder, the services and treatments can significantly improve a person’s daily functioning and symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms Of Autism
There are a lot of repeated challenges and behaviors that affect people who have ASD. In this section of the article, I will be discussing a few of such symptoms which are seen in people:
Communication Challenges
Adults and children who have autism have great difficulty with both nonverbal and verbal communication. Here are a few things that their brain cannot make sense of or comprehend properly:
- facial expressions
- spoken language
- eye contact
- the tone of the voice
- expressions that are meant to not be taken literally
- gestures
Some other gestures that they might have difficulty dealing with are:
- seeking out emotional comfort from others
- recognizing the intentions and emotions of others
- expressing one’s own emotions
- getting overwhelmed when faced with social situations
- taking turns when having conversations
- recognizing one’s own emotions
Repetitive And Restricted
The repetitive and restricted behaviors can vary greatly across the whole autism spectrum. They can include:
- obsessive behaviors ( repeatedly keeping things in order, etc)
- getting hyper-fixated on spinning objects or lights
- repetitive movements of the body
- performing repetitive movements with objects
- extreme or narrow interests in topics
- need for a routine
Different Types Of Autism
Here is a list of the different types of Autism:
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
When a kid, who has behavioral and learning difficulties does not fulfill all of the diagnostic criteria for any particular category of autism then their diagnosis gets declared as PDD-NOS. This was a diagnosis that was given to the people who fit into this group. They have much milder symptoms than ASD.
Kanner’s Syndrome
Kanner’s syndrome is referred to as the classic form of autistic disorder. The children who have this syndrome appear clever, attentive, and smart. Some of the underlying traits of this syndrome are – not being able to form emotional attachments with people around them, an obsession with handling objects, etc.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder Or CDD
CDD is a condition that was blended into ASD in the fifth edition of the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The onset of CDD can be different from one person to another person but majorly it is seen in children after they attain three years of age. Because of the late onset of this disorder, the children go through a loss of all the previously gained skills in verbal, motor, and social functioning of the child.
Rett Syndrome
Rett syndrome is a type of ASD that affects one in every ten thousand women. This syndrome very rarely affects a man. It is very frequently diagnosed in children who are aged between six to eighteen months – when they start losing their previously acquired abilities.
Asperger’s Syndrome
Asperger’s syndrome was a term that was used before 2013 and has now been reclassified and referred to as level I ASD according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Of Mental Disorders.
Autism And ADHD
ADHD and Autism are often confused with one another. Children who have been diagnosed with concentrating, fidgeting, and maintaining eye contact with other people are known to constantly have issues. These same symptoms are also found in some autistic people. Despite the similarities, ADHD is not considered to be a spectrum disorder. A major difference between the two is that – people who have ADHD do not have any lack of social-communication skillsets.
If you think that your child is hyperactive then you would need to consult with their doctor about any sort of possible ADHD testing. After getting a clear diagnosis, it will become very important to make sure that your child is going to get the right support. It might also be possible for a person to have both ADHD and Autism.
Treatments of ASD
There are several forms of treatments that are available for getting help with this condition. Here is a list of the following treatments that one can avail for autism spectrum disorder:
- Medication treatment
- Behavioral management therapy
- Speech-language therapy
- Parent-mediated therapy
- Early intervention
- Educational and school-based therapies
- Cognitive behavior therapy
- Joint attention therapy
- Social skills trainingNutritional therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Social skills training
- Physical therapy
To Wrap It Up!
That was all for information regarding Autism and other general information related to it. Thank you for reading up till here. I hope you found the information useful.
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