What is Autism?
Autism is a term that refers to a collection of neurologically-based developmental disorders in which individuals have impairments in social interaction and communication skills, along with a tendency to have repetitive behaviors or interests. The severity of autism varies greatly, from individuals with little speech and poor daily living skills, to others who function well in most settings. Autism is typically diagnosed during the toddler or preschool years, although some children are diagnosed at older ages. It has been reported that approximately 20 percent of children with autism experience a “regression;” that is, they have apparently normal development followed by a loss of communication and social skills. Boys are three-to-four times more likely to have autism than girls. Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups. A variety of factors could be associated with some forms of autism, including infectious, metabolic, genetic, neurological, and environmental factors. Gen
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults on the autism spectrum typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Autism is one of five disorders that fall under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.
Autism is one of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). ASDs are developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary—from gifted to severely challenged. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person’s life. ASDs include autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS, including atypical autism), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions all have some of the same symptoms, but they differ in terms of when the symptoms start, how severe they are, and the exact nature of the symptoms. The three conditions, along with Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder, make up the broad diagnosis category of pervasive developmental d
All children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) demonstrate deficits in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or interests. In addition, they will often have unusual responses to sensory experiences, such as certain sounds or the way objects look. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASD can vary – from gifted to severely challenged. For instance, a child may have little trouble learning to read but exhibit extremely poor social interaction. Each child will display communication, social, and behavioral patterns that are individual but fit into the overall diagnosis of ASD. ASD begin before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person’s life. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is four times more likely to occur in boys than girls.
