Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that affects how people see others and socialize with them. This causes problems in communication and getting along with others socially. The condition also includes limited and repeated patterns of behavior. The term “spectrum” in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and the severity of these symptoms.
Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were once thought to be separate — autism, Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and a form of widespread developmental disorder that isn’t specified.
Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood. Over time, it can cause difficulty functioning in society. For example, people with autism spectrum disorder may have problems being social or when in school or at work. Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year of life. A small number of children with the condition appear to develop as expected in the first year. Then between 18 and 24 months of age, they may lose some skills and develop autism symptoms.
There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder. But getting treatment early, during the preschool years, can make a big difference in the lives of many children with the condition.
Some children show signs of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy, such as less eye contact, not responding to their names or not being interested in caregivers. Other children may not develop as expected for the first few months or years of life. Then they suddenly become withdrawn or aggressive or lose the language skills they had before. Signs usually are seen by ages 2 to 3 years old.
Some people in the mild range on the autism spectrum may have more symptoms that aren’t noticed early on. They may not be diagnosed until middle to late childhood, when there is a greater need to communicate and be social. Sometimes a diagnosis is made for the first time in adulthood, though symptoms were likely present during childhood.
Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior that depends on whether symptoms are mild, moderate or severe.
Some children with autism spectrum disorder have trouble learning, and some have signs of lower than usual intelligence. Other children with the condition have usual to high intelligence. These children learn quickly but have trouble communicating, applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting to social situations.
Because each child can have a unique mix of symptoms, sometimes it can be hard to tell how severe the condition is. It’s generally based on how severe the symptoms are and how much those symptoms affect a child being able to function.
Below are some common signs shown by people who have autism spectrum disorder.
Autism spectrum disorder has no single known cause. Since the condition is complex and symptoms and severity vary, there could be many causes. Both genetics and the environment may play a role.
Research tells us that autism tends to run in families, and a meta-analysis of 7 twin studies claim that 60 to 90% of the risk of autism comes from your genome. If you have a child with autism, you are more likely to have another autistic child. Your other family members are also more likely to have a child with ASD.
Changes in certain genes or your genome increase the risk that a child will develop autism. If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may get passed to a child (even if the parent does not have autism). For some people, a high risk for ASD can be associated with a monogenetic disorder, such as fragile X syndrome. For the majority of autism, multiple changes in other regions of your DNA increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. The majority of these DNA changes do not cause autism by themselves but work in conjunction with many other genes and environmental factors to cause autism.
If you or your child has ASD, we recommend that you explore genetic testing. Genetic testing could show you the genetic cause of you or your child’s autism and reveal any genetic mutations that might be linked to serious co-occurring conditions like epilepsy. Genetic testing can give doctors useful information so they can provide better, more personalized interventions. Read two family’s stories on how genomics help their understanding of autism and receiving personalized healthcare.
Most appear to affect crucial aspects of early brain development. Many autism risk genes influence other networks of genes, increasing or decreasing their expression. Some appear to affect how brain nerve cells, or neurons, communicate with each other. Others appear to affect how entire regions of the brain communicate with each other. Research continues to explore these differences with an eye to developing interventions and supports that can improve quality of life.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, certain environmental influences may increase autism risk:
There is no connection between vaccines and autism. Autism is often diagnosed around the same time children receive routine vaccinations, which has led to concerns about a connection—but decades of scientific research have confirmed that vaccines do not cause autism. In fact, vaccines play a crucial role in protecting children from serious diseases like measles.
Hair-Pulling Disorder that begins in younger children (less than 6 years old) may go away without treatment. For most people, the h
People with autism spectrum disorder may have limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities, including a mix of these and other signs:
As they get older, some children with autism spectrum disorder interact more with others and show fewer disturbances in behavior. Some, usually those with the least severe problems, eventually may lead typical or nearly typical lives. But others continue to have trouble with language or social skills. And the teenage years can bring more behavioral and emotional challenges.
air pulling ends within 12 months.
For others, trichotillomania is a lifelong disorder. However, treatment often improves the hair pulling and the feelings of depression, anxiety, or poor self-image.
The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is rising. It isn’t clear whether this is due to better ways to diagnose and report the condition, a real increase in the number of children with the condition, or both.
Autism spectrum disorder affects children of all races and nationalities. But certain factors raise a child’s risk, including:
Autism prevalence has risen due to increased awareness of autism, broader diagnostic criteria for autism, improved screening tools and standardized screening processes. These factors have led to earlier detection and more diagnoses.
While the impact of other genetic and environmental factors on prevalence is still being studied, they likely account for only a small part of the increase.
Because people with autism spectrum disorder often have a hard time interacting socially, communicating or behaving, this can lead to problems with:
Babies develop at their own pace, and many don’t follow exact timelines found in some parenting books. But children with autism spectrum disorder usually show some signs of delayed development before they’re 3 years old. Signs of autism spectrum disorder often appear early in development when there are obvious delays in language skills and social interactions.
If you’re concerned about your child’s development or think that your child may have autism spectrum disorder, talk with a healthcare professional about your concerns. Your healthcare professional may recommend developmental tests to figure out if your child has delays in learning, thinking, language or social skills that point to autism spectrum disorder or another type of developmental condition.
There’s no known way to prevent autism spectrum disorder. But many studies have been done to see if taking folic acid and other vitamins before and during pregnancy can lower the risk of having a baby with autism spectrum disorder. A review of studies on what are known as prenatal vitamins shows no clear answer. This is due to the quality of the research. More high-quality studies are needed.
Getting diagnosed and treated early is most helpful in improving behavior, skills and language development. But getting treatment is helpful at any age. Though children usually don’t outgrow autism spectrum disorder symptoms, they may learn to function well.
Your child’s healthcare professional looks for signs of developmental delays at regular well-child checkups. If your child shows any symptoms of autism, you’ll likely be referred to a specialist who treats children with autism spectrum disorder for an evaluation. This specialist could be a child psychiatrist or psychologist, a pediatric neurologist, or a developmental pediatrician.
Because autism spectrum disorder symptoms and how severe they are can vary widely, it may be hard to make a diagnosis. There is no specific medical test to diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Instead, a specialist may:
There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, and there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Treatment seeks to support your child’s learning, development and behavior. Getting treated early, during the preschool years, can help your child learn critical social, communication, functional and behavioral skills.
The range of home-based and school-based treatments for autism spectrum disorder can be overwhelming, and your child’s needs may change over time. Your healthcare professional can recommend options and help find resources in your area.
If your child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, talk with experts about creating a treatment strategy and build a team of health professionals to meet your child’s needs.
Treatment options may include:
In addition to autism spectrum disorder, children, teenagers and adults also can have:
Children with autism spectrum disorder usually continue to learn and come up with ways to handle challenges throughout life. But many continue to need some level of support. Planning for your child’s future opportunities can make this process smoother. This includes where to work, go to school and live, and the services required for support, as well as how to be independent and social.
Because autism spectrum disorder can’t be cured, many parents seek alternative or complementary therapies. But there’s little or no research on these therapies to show whether they’re helpful. And some alternative treatments could be dangerous.
Talk with your child’s healthcare professional about whether research supports any therapy that you’re thinking about for your child.
Examples of complementary and alternative therapies that may offer some benefit when used along with proven treatments include:
Some complementary and alternative therapies may not be harmful, but there’s no evidence that they help. Some also may be costly and hard to carry out. Examples of these therapies include:
Some complementary and alternative treatments aren’t proved to help, and they could be dangerous. Examples of complementary and alternative treatments that aren’t recommended for autism spectrum disorder include:
Raising a child with autism spectrum disorder can tire you physically and drain you emotionally. These suggestions may help:
Your child’s healthcare professional looks for developmental issues at regular checkups. Mention any concerns you have during your appointment. If your child shows any signs of autism spectrum disorder, your child likely will be referred for an evaluation by a specialist who treats children with the condition.
Bring a family member or friend with you to the appointment, if possible, to help you remember information and for emotional support.
Here’s some information to help you prepare for your appointment.
Before your child’s appointment, make a list of:
Also, it may help to bring:
Questions to ask your child’s healthcare professional may include:
Don’t hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.
Your child’s healthcare professional is likely to ask you several questions. Be ready to answer them to reserve time to go over any points you want to focus on. Your healthcare professional may ask:
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