Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise neurological and developmental disorders that begin early in childhood, generally before age 3, and lasts throughout a person's life.
NeurologyOverview
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprise neurological and developmental disorders that begin early in childhood, generally before age 3, and lasts throughout a person's life. ASD impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.
It is called a "spectrum" disorder because people with ASD can have a range of symptoms. People with ASD might have problems talking and communicating with others, or they may have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.
Individuals with ASD often suffer from numerous other medical conditions including allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, and sleeping disorders.
Boys are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than girls. ASD occurs in people of all races, regions, and socio-economic statuses.
The causes of ASD are not known. Research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles.
There is currently no single standard treatment for ASD, partly because the symptoms are so diverse, but there are many ways to increase a person’s ability to grow and learn new skills even with ASD. Starting therapy early can lead to better results. Treatments include behavior and communication therapies, skills training, and medicines to control certain symptoms.
Symptoms
- ASD varies from person-to-person and no 2 people will show the same symptoms. The hallmark feature of ASD is impaired social interaction. As early as infancy, a baby with ASD may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with ASD may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.
- Children with an ASD may fail to respond to their names and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they do understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and they do not watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. They may lack empathy.
- Many children with ASD engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging. Children with ASD tend to start speaking later than other children and they do not play or interact with other children.
- Children with symptoms of ASD may have other medical conditions, including Fragile X syndrome (which causes intellectual disability), tuberous sclerosis, epileptic seizures, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder.
Causes & risk factors
The exact causes of ASD are not known, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder, and studies of people with ASD have found irregularities in several regions of the brain. Other studies have suggested that abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain are associated with ASD. All of these findings are preliminary and require further study. Parental practices do not cause ASD.
When to get help
Talk with your child's doctor if you notice delays in speech, social interaction, or play, or a loss of previously gained skills. Early evaluation and support services improve outcomes.
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All information on this site is provided “as-is” for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. You should consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your health.