What is currently known about autism?

  • Autism is a complex developmental disability which is neurological and brain-
    based, meaning that it relates to a biological issue within the brain, as opposed to
    a psychological disorder.
  • Although autism is more common in boys than girls, autism has no boundaries
    and is found in all classes, countries and ethnicities.
  • Though autism is commonly diagnosed before a child is three, many children and
    adults within the autism spectrum umbrella have mild symptoms which are never
    diagnosed.
  • Children and adults with autism have trouble with communication and language
    development, which can range from losing verbal ability altogether, to subtle
    communication challenges with full verbal ability.
  • Autism is associated with increased sensory ability or hypersensitivity that causes
    sensory confusion.  Hypersensitivity affects each individual with autism differently,
    and it may include a sensitivity to sound, touch, taste, the visual world, smell, or all
    of the senses together.  Sensory processing becomes a challenge.
  • When autism is suspected, immediate intervention is important, especially in
    early childhood.  With current therapies and treatments, the development of
    children and adults with autism can be positive.

How is autism diagnosed?  

Diagnosis should only be made by a QUALIFIED medical practitioner who has a full
knowledge of the patients behavior and physical symptoms.  Medical doctors,
psychiatrists, PhD Psychologists, neurologists, and developmental pediatricians may be
qualified, but their qualifications are monitored state to state.  The following is a glimpse
at the diagnostic criteria of the American Psychiatric Association manual.

  • The diagnostic criteria for autism investigates social interaction, communication,
    and behavior.  There is no physical "test' for autism, though diagnosis can be
    made from the disorder's symptoms.
  • The "Social interaction category of the diagnostic process looks for a marked
    impairment in non-verbal behaviors, age-appropriate peer relationships,
    spontaneous seeking of shared relationships, and emotional reciprocity.
  • The "Communication" category looks for a delay or impairment of spoken
    language, conversational skills, and make believe play.  Repetitive use of
    language is also common
  • The "Behavior" category looks at inflexible adherence to routines, repetitive motor
    mannerisms, and persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
Autism is the most common member of a group of
developmental disorders under the autism spectrum
umbrella, which is also known as Pervasive
Development Disorders, or PDD.  The autism
umbrella also includes Asperger's Syndrome,
Childhood Disintagrative Disorder, Rhett's
Syndrome, and PDD-NOS (NOS stands for "not other
specified").  A diagnosis should only be made by a
qualified medical practitioner.