What is Autism?
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with
social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in
36 children in the United States today.
We know that there is not one
autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and
environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with
autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people
with autism learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to
severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in
their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live
entirely independently.
Several factors may influence the
development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and
medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep
disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and
attention issues.
Signs of autism usually appear by
age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and
often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early
intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism.
* In 2013, the American
Psychiatric Association merged four distinct autism diagnoses into one umbrella
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They included autistic disorder,
childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise
specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.
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