Autism (or Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a developmental disability. Children with autism experience challenges in 3 areas: communication skills, social interaction skills, and restrictive/repetitive behavior. There is a wide range of abilities within individuals with autism.
Autism is one of a group of neurodevelopmental disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). These disorders are characterized by three core deficits: impaired communication, impaired reciprocal social interaction and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors or interests.
Advanced parental age at time of conception. Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides. Maternal obesity, diabetes, or immune system disorders. Extreme prematurity or very low birth weight.
A clinical diagnostic instrument for assessing autism in children and adults. The instrument focuses on behavior in three main areas: reciprocal social interaction; communication and language; and restricted and repetitive, stereotyped interests and behaviors.
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. It is important to note that some people without ASD might also have some of these symptoms.
There are five major types of autism which include Asperger's syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Kanner's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified.
An extensive review of the literature by White et al (2009) revealed that up to 84% of individuals with autism meet the criteria for clinically diagnosed anxiety disorders. Due to characteristic communication difficulties, an autistic person may have severe anxiety issues but have a decreased ability to express it.
More than half of kids and teens with autism may be physically aggressive toward caregivers or other kids and grown-ups. This can include hitting, kicking and biting. Other behavior problems can include: being hyperactive, anxious and worried.
Children with ASD may have difficulty developing language skills and understanding what others say to them. They also often have difficulty communicating nonverbally, such as through hand gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions.
Four social brain regions, the amygdala, OFC, TPC, and insula, are disrupted in ASD and supporting evidence is summarized; these constitute the proposed common pathogenic mechanism of ASD.
brain functions. There are two main areas that are affected when an individual has ASD: ● social-communication skills, and ● restricted and repetitive behaviors. Individuals who have been diagnosed with ASD may have difficulty communicating with others, making friends and relating to other people.
Autism is very distinct from ADHD, but the core symptoms of ADHD-Combined type, i.e., attention deficit, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, would appear to also be features of autism. ASD and ADHD are neurobiological disorders characterized by similar underlying neuropsychological “deficits”.
Although the exact cause of autism is still unknown, there is evidence to suggest that genetics play a significant role. Since autism is less prevalent in females, autism was always thought to be passed down from the mother. However, research suggests that autism genes are usually inherited from the father.
A child with mild autism can ultimately lead a very “normal”, productive, and independent life. With early intervention, a child with autism can learn the skills needed for successful navigation in communication and social interaction with peers in school.
Common types of behaviour in autistic children
Some autistic children may behave in ways that put a lot of strain on you and your family. Some common autistic behaviours are: stimming (short for 'self-stimulating behaviour'), a kind of repetitive behaviour. meltdowns, a complete loss of control over behaviour.
The four pillars of assessment include norm-referenced tests, interviews, observations, and informal assessment procedures (or, more generally, tests). An assessment that incorporates each of the four pillars is considered to be a good representation of an individual's unique profile (Sattler, 2001).
The common areas of difficulty for children with ASD include communication, socialisation, sensory activities, and restricted or repetitive behaviours, interests or activities.
Commonly a multidisciplinary team will include a paediatrician (or child and adolescent psychiatrist), a psychologist and a speech pathologist, but other health professionals may provide input if required. A single health professional may be able to diagnose a child with obvious signs of autism.
They reached a consensus that the four disorders that made up the old spectrum "are actually a single condition with different levels of symptom severity in two core domains."2 Those domains are "1) deficits in social communication and social interaction and 2) restricted repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities ...
Sensory overload.
Children with autism can be sensitive to sensory stimulation. In a setting or situation—such as a store or a crowded event—all of the noises, colors, lights, and activity around them become too stressful. They might feel overwhelmed and panic.