What is autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? | Summaries
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that results in impaired functioning of social skills, communication, and flexibility in thought and behavior. Asperger syndrome is a form of autism. Here you can read more about what characterizes autism.
This information is based on an article on the Norwegian Health Library .
Children with autism have a brain that works a little differently than it does in normally developed children. This has consequences for how autistic children develop.
From the outside, autistic children look like any other child. However, children with autism do not develop the skills they need to function socially or at school.
You may have noticed that your baby was different from the time it was an infant. Most children with autism often show clear signs of diagnosis before the age of three. Autism affects different children in different ways. Some children will need help throughout their lives. Others can fend for themselves and will be able to live an independent life as adults.
If your child is autistic, you will probably see signs of the diagnosis between 18 months and two years of age, or even earlier. People with autism will often have difficulty speaking, struggle in social situations and may behave strangely.
does not respond when you shout at him / her, even if he / she seems to hear sounds
do not meet your gaze, smile at you or notice that you are leaving or entering the room
often seems to be in their own world
Three main areas are affected in autism:
Deviant social interest
You may have noticed that your child plays a little differently than other children. Children with autism often prefer to play alone. Usually children play role-playing games from the age of two. This rarely applies to children with autism.
Children with autism often dislike social activities such as playing with other children. They often show little affection in the form of smiles and physical closeness, which can be sad for parents and relatives.
Difficulty in communication skills is an important symptom of autism.
Rigidity in behavior and interests
Children with autism can also be constantly repetitive in relation to certain activities and show interest in only certain things. For example, they can drive a toy car back and forth over and over again, and get very angry if you try to participate in, or change the game. You may therefore want to have exactly the same routines every day.
Other frequent signs
Special interests / preoccupations: Some children with autism are preoccupied with a particular thing / toy / topic, and will carry it with them at all times.
Language difficulties: Most children can make simple (two word) sentences from the age of two. If your child is autistic, the language development will probably take longer. Children with autism will sometimes start talking by the time they are around five years old. Some say just a few words that they often repeat. Others learn to speak the first year, but stop speaking in their second year of life.
Tantrums: Children with autism may also have frequent tantrums.
Other signs of autism include learning disabilities, sound sensitivity, hyperactivity, writing problems and physical problems. Some children with autism also have epilepsy.
Only a specialist can diagnose autism. If you experience that your child has any of the problems mentioned above, you can talk to your GP. He or she should be able to refer you to a specialist. Somewhat different diagnostic tools are developed for respectively children and adults .
It has proved to be somewhat difficult to provide a solid estimate for how common autism is. The number of cases has risen dramatically in recent decades, and various hypotheses have been put forward to explain this phenomenon. Among the most frequently addressed possibilities are expanded diagnostic criteria, more awareness of the disorder, diagnosis at earlier ages, and the recognition that autism is a lifelong condition .
Previously, prevalence estimates of autism was very low, ranging from 0.4 to 2 per 1,000 inhabitants in the 1960's and 1970's - translating to only around 0.04 to 0.2% .
In recent years the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders is established as around 1.5% .
Experts are not sure what causes autism, but there is evidence to suggest that genetics play the biggest part in explaining why someone develop autism .
However, researchers have not found a specific gene for the condition, but it may seem that it is a combination of genes that contribute to the diagnosis. Some parents may worry that they could do something to prevent their children from becoming autistic. There is no evidence for such a mindset.
What kind of treatment works for autism?
There are no drugs that help with autism. But behavioral therapy (specifically applied behavior analysis, ABA) can help your child communicate and perform better . The most important treatment methods use specialized techniques to improve the child's learning ability and behavior. These forms of treatment have the best effect the earlier you start.
Different children need different types of treatment, depending on their abilities and problems. For example, a child who does not speak needs a different type of treatment than a child who speaks. A specialist will assess the child's strengths and weaknesses before deciding what kind of treatment is best. Most children with autism do not need medication. Some doctors will still choose to give medication if the child has additional child psychiatric problems.
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