What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

ASD Definition, Characteristics, and other factors
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disorder that affects each person in different ways.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Characteristics

The characteristics of ASD fall into three categories:

1. Challenges relating to people, things and events: including difficulty with reading body language and interacting with others.
2. Communication challenges, such as difficulty understanding and/or using language.
3. Repetitive body movements or behaviors, such as hand flapping, repeating words/phrases, repeatedly organizing objects in a specific way.

Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder

• ASD is typically diagnosed in childhood and is found to have lifelong impacts.  However, some individuals with milder presentations of ASD may not be diagnosed until late childhood or adulthood, as the social requirements of their environment begin to exceed their capacities.
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism with boys 3-4 times more impacted than girls.
• There is no medical test for Autism. It is therefore diagnosed based on observations of the child as compared to their same age peers. Skilled professionals, including speech-language pathologists, psychologists, psychiatrists and/or neurologists typically work together to diagnose Autism by talking with the child and asking questions of parents and other caregivers.

Considerations and Recommendations

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened for developmental disorders such as Autism at well-child preventive visits before age three.

• Research shows that early diagnosis and intervention for children with Autism typically results in major positive effects on symptoms and later skills.
• There is no known cure for Autism. However, applied behavior analysis (ABA) and speech-language therapy are two of the primary recommended treatments.
• Those diagnosed with ASD in adulthood may still benefit from targeted treatments to address their social and emotional challenges.
• For a recent diagnosis, join a group for parents of children with Autism (ex: National Foundation for Autism Research) or adults with ASD (Autism Society of San Diego) for more support. 

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Adapted from the American Psychiatric Association (2016) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

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