Submitted by: Submitted by my4babies
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Date Submitted: 10/02/2014 01:23 PM
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
What is Autism? Autism is a complex developmental disability that causes problems with social interaction and communication. Symptoms usually start before age three and can cause delays or problems in many different skills that develop from infancy to adulthood. What is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Different people with autism can have very different symptoms. Health care providers think of autism as a “spectrum” disorder, a group of disorders with similar features. One person may have mild symptoms, while another may have serious symptoms. Currently, the autism spectrum disorder category includes: • Autistic disorder (also called “classic” autism) • Asperger syndrome • Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (or atypical autism) In some cases, health care providers use a broader term, pervasive developmental disorder, to describe autism. This category includes the autism spectrum disorders above, plus childhood disintegrative disorder and Rett Syndrome. The autism spectrum disorders can often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years, and in some cases as early as 18 months. Studies suggest that many children eventually may be accurately identified by the age of 1 year or even younger. The appearance of any of the warning signs of ASD is reason to have a child evaluated by a professional specializing in these disorders. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. In some cases, the baby seemed “different” from birth, unresponsive to people or focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of an ASD can also appear in children who seem to have been developing normally. When an engaging, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social overtures, something may be wrong. Research has shown that parents are usually correct about noticing developmental problems, although they may not realize the specific nature or...