What is Autism?

Autism is a neurological disorder that currently affects 1 in 150 children in the United States. It is a worldwide epidemic affecting individuals in every nation.

Autism Spectrum Disorders encompass a group of developmental disabilities that are defined by significant impairments in language, communication skills and social interaction. There is often the presence of unusual behaviors and/or interests.

Children diagnosed with autism have a different way of interacting. There is often impairment in communication, in both receptive and expressive language. This can lead to frustration and certain maladaptive behaviors. Children with ASD often react intensely to certain stimuli such as sounds and reflective light.

Autism is usually diagnosed between the ages of 18 months to 3 years, when children are not meeting the developmental milestones of their peers.

Early diagnosis is key to the child’s future as the sooner a family is able to intervene and set up intensive behavioral therapy, the better the chances for the child.

Autism Spectrum Disorders include Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

When are Autism Spectrum Disorders typically detected?

The diagnosis can be made as early as 12 months by a child psychiatrist, developmental pediatrician or pediatric neurologist. The more common age for diagnosis is 18 months to 3 years.

Doctors may request a pediatric hearing test. Hearing problems can cause behaviors that could be mistaken for Autism. Children with delayed speech development should have their hearing tested. Hearing impairments should be ruled out before moving on to an evaluation for Autism.

Child psychiatrists and neurologists are the first step in determining an autism diagnosis. Some pediatricians may want to take a “wait and see” approach or may want to spare the parents from a devastating diagnosis. A child psychiatrist will use a screening process to gather information about a child’s development and behavior. Many rely on parent observations; others rely on a combination of observations by the psychiatrist and the parent. Each child on the spectrum is very different in skills and abilities. This is a very wide spectrum from the non-verbal child to the child with language but with unusual social behaviors.

What are the causes of autism?

There are many theories on the causes of autism – the environment, vaccinations, genetics, etc. – but, to date, there is no empirically proven source of the disorder that is universally accepted.

What are the common signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders?

The DSM IV has been the guideline for diagnosing Autism. However, the DSM IV is a tool that is used by pediatric psychiatrists and is not currently available on the web. You need to see a professional to make a proper evaluation.

Some signs of Autism in children are:

Language impairments in both understanding and speaking
Lack of eye contact
Unresponsive to their name
Difficulty in expressing wants or needs
Disinterest in other children
Lack of coordination - both Gross and Fine Motor
Delays in Gross Motor skills
Unusual behaviors
Tantrums, either unusually intense or long
Self-injurious behavior
Uses toys or household items in an unusual way
Intense interest in unusual items
Lack of social skills

How are Autism Spectrum Disorders treated?

Behavioral interventions such as Applied Behavior Analysis and Verbal Behavior are used to teach children to communicate and to reduce difficult behaviors. Many children who have gone through Early Intervention gain the skills needed to become mainstreamed. Of those children, perhaps 8-15% can be indistinguishable from their peers. Intensive behavioral intervention should occur as soon as possible, even before an official diagnosis is made. Children diagnosed in later years can make progress in their communication abilities and improve their behavior, but the data shows that Early Intervention holds the most promise for a positive outcome.

Many parents pair Applied Behavior Analysis or Verbal Behavior with biomedical interventions. However, there is no scientific data at this time that definitively proves that biomedical interventions work. Current research is being done on gluten-casein-free diets and other biomedical treatments but the results are not yet in. Anecdotal evidence from some parents suggest that some biomedical treatment coupled with behavioral intervention has aided in reducing problematic behaviors.

There is significant scientific data on Applied Behavior Analysis. It has been proven to be the most effective treatment for children diagnosed with autism.

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Asperger’s Syndrome is part of the autism spectrum that is characterized by some early delays in speech and language, gross motor issues and socially inappropriate behavior. These children have difficulty interacting successfully with peers. A strong indicator of Asperger’s Syndrome is a child’s obsessive interest in a single topic. These children, sometimes known as “little professors” often have a high level of vocabulary and learn everything about their topic of interest. They have a singular interest in relating this information without understanding the social format of conversation.

Although these children possess developed language, they often need to learn social skills in approaching people, learning to take turns in conversation and to understand the emotions of others by reading facial expression.

References:

Autism Resources
This is one of the best sites for comprehensive information on autism.

AutismSpeaks
This site has all of the latest information on autism and fundraises for autism research

Organization for Autism Research
A wonderful resource for teachers of children with Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Other References:

CDC

NINDS - Autism

NINDS - Asperger's