About Autism
The CDC defines Autism this way:
"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less."
- https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
"Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less."
- https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
"Communicate, Interact, Behave, and Learn in Different Ways"
So what do these differences look like? Autism is a spectrum, and individuals on the spectrum each have their own unique combination of associated traits. Understanding the Spectrum describes these unique combinations in the form of a webcomic.
Here are some traits children or adults with autism might show:
- Communication
- have difficulty expressing their needs in words
- have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions
- echo words or use repeated words in place of typical language patterns
- may not use words at all
- Social Interactions
- avoid eye contact while speaking or listening
- seem like they are unaware of or ignoring when people speak to them even though they do respond to other sounds
- prefer not to be held, cuddled or touched, or might only when they initiate the closeness
- not engage in "pretend" play or imagined play - a child might not enjoy "feeding" a doll or "being" a dinosaur
- struggle to relate to others' emotions
- seem uninterested in others - this might be because they are actually uninterested or because they are not sure how to communicate or interact with others
- Behaviors
- have heightened sensitivity to sounds, smells, or textures - they might have unusual reactions to how things feel, taste, smell, or sound
- repeat actions including motions, sounds, and words
- engage in activities that stimulate their senses such as making noises, flapping their hands, or rocking their bodies
- fixation on sensory experiences they find enjoyable
- have difficulty adapting to changes in schedule - this is more than just disappointment; they experience stress even if they would normally enjoy a certain activity
- Learning
- a child might not point at objects or might not follow with their eyes when someone points to something
- a child might lose skills they once had (such as loss of vocabulary)
- delayed language development
- delayed cognitive or learning skills
- may have obsessive interests and learn everything they can about a certain subject
What Causes Autism?
Developmental differences associated with autism stem from differences in the brain. Just as there is a spectrum of symptoms associated with autism, there are also multiple factors that work together to determine how a person develops.
Some of these factors are easy to pinpoint, like a genetic condition. Years of studies have shown that there is a strong hereditary component and multiple genes have been identified as playing contributing roles in ASD. Autism occurs in all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups. However, it is 4 times more common in boys than in girls. We discuss the physiological effects of these genes and the differences in brain structure on our Symptoms and Traits of Autism page.
Human development is complex. The medical community continues to work to deepen their knowledge of what causes autism. Here are some studies of various genes: Reiner 2016, Contreras 2018, Guo 2020
Some of these factors are easy to pinpoint, like a genetic condition. Years of studies have shown that there is a strong hereditary component and multiple genes have been identified as playing contributing roles in ASD. Autism occurs in all races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic groups. However, it is 4 times more common in boys than in girls. We discuss the physiological effects of these genes and the differences in brain structure on our Symptoms and Traits of Autism page.
Human development is complex. The medical community continues to work to deepen their knowledge of what causes autism. Here are some studies of various genes: Reiner 2016, Contreras 2018, Guo 2020
What Conditions Are Part of the Autism Spectrum?
Several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately are now included as part of ASD. These include autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome.
Have an autism diagnosis and want to know the next steps to gaining services? Visit our "From Diagnosis to Services" page.