endorsing unusual sensory experiences (increased or decreased sensitivity to sounds, smells, temperature, or textures, and deep pressure, reduced pain sensitivity).demonstrating fixed interests with intense focus (excessive time and energy focused on specific objects or activities at the expense of others).exhibiting inflexibility to change in environment or new experiences (rigid thinking patterns, small changes in schedule or plans may elicit acute distress, difficulty switching to and from tasks or activities).

engaging in repetitive behaviors or speech (recurring gestures or movement with no clear purpose, repeatedly saying the same word over and over).Engagement in restricted or repetitive behaviors, interests or activities, such as:.identifying and understanding social cues.developing and maintaining relationships.utilizing appropriate eye contact and body language.initiating and sustaining back-and-forth conversation.Challenges in social communication and interaction, such as:.The frequency and intensity of the associated characteristics often predict the types of treatment that will be most helpful. Associated characteristicsĪutism spectrum disorder varies substantially from person to person. Regardless of the diagnostic term used, treatment should be tailored to the individual goals and needs of patients and their families.

Other related disorders include social communication disorder (SCD) and non-verbal learning disability (NVLD). Autism spectrum disorder has replaced older diagnositc terms such as Asperger syndrome and pervasive development disorders (PDD). The term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) describes the wide range of symptoms and abilities of individuals with autism. Research evidence continues to demonstrate that there is no link between vaccinations and autism.īecause many different things contribute to autism, it can also present in many different ways. Known risk factors include prematurity, parental age, and certain medications when taken during pregnancy. These risk factors may work by causing changes to genes prior to or shortly after conception or they may directly affect brain development during pregnancy and early infancy. Generally, many risk genes are required for autism symptoms to develop.Įnvironmental risk factors also affect the chances of developing autism. Sometimes parents also carry these genes, and other times the genes are the result of new mutations that occurred during development. The genes involved often affect how cells in the brain grow and communicate with one another. Many different genes and environmental risk factors contribute to the development of autism. For some children, signs and symptoms of ASD may be present early on but do not become impairing until much later in childhood Research shows that changes in brain development actually occur much earlier, likely starting during pregnancy. These challenges often persist over the lifespan, impacting a person’s ability to manage self-care activities, build relationships, pursue academic goals and engage in work.Īutism characteristics usually first appear between 12-24 months of age, although it varies by individual. With behavioral and skills-based treatment, people with autism spectrum disorder can live functional and fulfilling lives.Īutism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects verbal communication, social interaction, sensory processing, and behavioral flexibility.Autism is thought to be caused by the interaction of multiple genetic and environmental factors that impact how the brain develops and learns from a very early age.Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Autism spectrum disorder affects approximately 1-2% of the population.Autism is a disorder of brain development that affects social communication skills as well as regulation of emotion and behavior.

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Getting tested for autism spectrum