Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental problem or disability that can lead to major social, communicative, and behavioral difficulties. Although there is typically nothing about people with ASD that distinguishes them from others in terms of appearance, they may communicate, engage, conduct, and learn in ways that are unique to them.
People with ASD have a wide range of cognitive, reasoning, and problem-solving abilities, ranging from gifted to severely impaired. Some persons with ASD require a great deal of assistance in their daily life, while others require less.
A diagnosis of ASD now encompasses autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome, which were previously diagnosed individually. All of these diseases are now referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Since there is no medical test for ASD, such as a blood test, diagnosing the problems can be difficult. To make a diagnosis, doctors examine the child’s behavior and growth.
ASD can be discovered as early as 18 months of age. By the age of two, a professional diagnosis can be considered quite reliable. Many youngsters, however, do not obtain a definitive diagnosis until they are considerably older. Children with ASD may not receive the early intervention they require as a result of this delay.
Although boys are around 4.5 times more often than girls to have autism spectrum disorders, the prejudice that all autistic people are white men persists. An autistic spectrum disorder can affect people of all races and nationalities. And, while males are diagnosed earlier and more frequently than girls, there is mounting evidence that the incidence of ASD cases in girls is underestimated.
According to Perryman, less ASD testing for young females may be related in part to what people expect of young boys vs girls.
“A lot of people assume, ‘Girls are timid, it’s okay if they’re not talking right now, she prefers to play alone,'” she explains. “And boys, the stereotype is that they should be playing with their pals, running about, roughhousing, and it’s more evident when they see a youngster who doesn’t want to play with his peers.”
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Table of Contents
Causes
According to available scientific research, a child’s risk of developing an ASD is likely to be influenced by a variety of factors, including environmental and genetic factors.
Based on the available epidemiological data, there is no evidence of a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and ASD. Methodological errors were discovered in previous studies that suggested a causal link.
Furthermore, there is no evidence that any other childhood immunization increases the incidence of ASD. Evidence reviews of the possible link between the preservative thiomersal and the aluminum adjuvants in inactivated vaccinations and the risk of ASD. Vaccines do not raise the risk of ASD, according to the findings.
Autism is a strongly heritable condition. Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There are both rare and common varieties in this group. About 15% of autism cases can be traced back to a single gene mutation.
Medical disorders in parents, age, hazardous substances, drugs taken during and before pregnancy, and diet and nutrition are some of the environmental factors that have been researched.
There was a belief in the late 1990s and early 2000s that vaccines given to children between the ages of 18 and 24 months were to blame for autism. We now know, however, that autism begins before birth, probably even before conception, and that immunizations do not cause autism.
Symptoms
Autism spectrum disease symptoms vary greatly from person to person.
Symptoms of the disease may be modest for some people, but they may be more severe for others.
However, communication skills and social habits, such as being excessively reclusive, not wanting to play with other children, or not making eye contact, are common ASD indicators. Children with autism spectrum disorder may engage in repetitive actions (such as flapping their hands) or grow fascinated with a certain item, such as Thomas the Train.
One of the most well-known signs of ASD is a lack of verbal abilities (20 to 30% of persons with ASD are thought to be nonverbal), but this isn’t always the case.
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Treatment
There is no single treatment for autism spectrum conditions at the moment (ASD). However, there are a variety of approaches that can be used to reduce symptoms and increase abilities. If people with ASD receive the right therapies and interventions, they have the best opportunity of utilizing all of their strengths and capabilities.
The most effective therapy and interventions are frequently unique to each individual. Most persons with ASD, on the other hand, benefit from highly structured and specialized programs. 1 Treatment for autism can help people with daily activities and minimize symptoms in some circumstances.
Early diagnosis and intervention, such as during preschool or before, are more likely to have a significant favorable impact on symptoms and later skills, according to research. Learn more about autism early intervention.
Because symptoms of ASD and other illnesses, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sometimes overlap, it’s critical that treatment focuses on the individual’s needs rather than the diagnostic diagnosis.
Even if your child hasn’t been officially diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition, certain treatments may be beneficial. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) allows for these treatments for children under the age of three who are at risk of developmental difficulties.
The type of autism spectrum disorder treatment your child receives is determined by their unique needs. Since ASD is a spectrum disorder (meaning some children have minimal symptoms while others have severe symptoms), there are many different treatments available.
They can include a variety of therapies to help with speech and behavior, as well as drugs to help with any medical concerns associated with autism.
The treatments that will assist your child the most will vary depending on their situation and needs, but the goal will always be the same: to lessen symptoms and increase learning and development.
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Here Are 5 Important Facts About Autism:
1. Autism comes in so many different forms and manifestations that it’s impossible to categorize it into a simple linear spectrum. Autism is caused by hundreds of elements, including how we process change, social interaction, fundamental communication, and forward planning, to name a few, and the spectrum is made up of an endless number of these components.
2. Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder frequently have a strong desire to help others, but they lack the ability to create empathic and socially linked conventional behavior on their own. Individuals with ASD frequently wish to socialize, but they lack the capacity to develop appropriate social skills on their own.
3. Allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive problems, feeding disorders, sleeping disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, cognitive impairments, and other medical illnesses are typical co-morbid medical conditions in autism spectrum disorder.
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4. Every child with autism spectrum disorder is a one-of-a-kind individual; people with ASD differ as much from everyone else. Children and adults with ASD have the ability to communicate and engage with others. They can be making terrific eye contact. They could be either verbal or nonverbal. They could be exceptionally bright, ordinary in intelligence, or suffer from cognitive impairment.
5. There have been many terms for people on the autism spectrum over the years, and with such a complicated disorder, it’s only reasonable to have some sub-categories that highlight typical presentations of the various components. Asperger’s syndrome is frequently connected with above-average intelligence and learning ability, as well as social issues and difficulty recognizing facial expressions or tones.
This sounds a lot like other autism diagnoses, and some individuals believe they should all be lumped together. Others, on the other hand, consider Asperger’s or related diagnoses to be an important part of their identity and do not want to lose it. For the time being, all conditions related to autism are grouped together as Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
6. Autism spectrum disorder is not caused by parents, and it cannot be caused by parents. Although the causes of ASD are unknown, it is known that parental behavior before, during, and after pregnancy does not contribute to the development of ASD.
