Autism Mayo Clinic

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
Overview
 Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development

that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing
problems in social interaction and communication. The disorder also
includes limited and repetitive patterns of behavior. The term "spectrum"
in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and
severity.
 Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were previously
considered separate — autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood
disintegrative disorder and an unspecified form of pervasive
developmental disorder. Some people still use the term "Asperger's
syndrome," which is generally thought to be at the mild end of autism
spectrum disorder.
 Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood and eventually causes
problems functioning in society — socially, in school and at work, for
example. Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year. A
small number of children appear to develop normally in the first year, and
then go through a period of regression between 18 and 24 months of age
when they develop autism symptoms.
 While there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder, intensive, early
treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.
SYMPTOMS
 Some children show signs of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy,

such as reduced eye contact, lack of response to their name or
indifference to caregivers. Other children may develop normally for the
first few months or years of life, but then suddenly become withdrawn or
aggressive or lose language skills they've already acquired. Signs usually
are seen by age 2 years.
 Each child with autism spectrum disorder is likely to have a unique
pattern of behavior and level of severity — from low functioning to high
functioning.
 Some children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty learning, and
some have signs of lower than normal intelligence. Other children with
the disorder have normal to high intelligence — they learn quickly, yet
have trouble communicating and applying what they know in everyday
life and adjusting to social situations.
 Because of the unique mixture of symptoms in each child, severity can
sometimes be difficult to determine. It's generally based on the level of
impairments and how they impact the ability to function.
 Below are some common signs shown by people who have autism
spectrum disorder.
 Social communication and interaction
 A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have problems with
social interaction and communication skills, including any of these signs:
 Fails to respond to his or her name or appears not to hear you at times
 Resists cuddling and holding, and seems to prefer playing alone,
retreating into his or her own world
 Has poor eye contact and lacks facial expression
 Doesn't speak or has delayed speech, or loses previous ability to say
words or sentences
 Can't start a conversation or keep one going, or only starts one to make
requests or label items
 Speaks with an abnormal tone or rhythm and may use a singsong voice or
robot-like speech
 Repeats words or phrases verbatim, but doesn't understand how to use
them
 Doesn't appear to understand simple questions or directions
 Doesn't express emotions or feelings and appears unaware of others'
feelings
 Doesn't point at or bring objects to share interest
 Inappropriately approaches a social interaction by being passive,
aggressive or disruptive
 Has difficulty recognizing nonverbal cues, such as interpreting other
people's facial expressions, body postures or tone of voice
 Patterns of behavior
 A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have limited,
repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities, including any of
these signs:
 Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand
flapping
 Performs activities that could cause self-harm, such as biting or head-
banging
 Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the
slightest change
 Has problems with coordination or has odd movement patterns, such as
clumsiness or walking on toes, and has odd, stiff or exaggerated body
language
 Is fascinated by details of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy
car, but doesn't understand the overall purpose or function of the object
 Is unusually sensitive to light, sound or touch, yet may be indifferent to
pain or temperature
 Doesn't engage in imitative or make-believe play
 Fixates on an object or activity with abnormal intensity or focus
 Has specific food preferences, such as eating only a few foods, or refusing
foods with a certain texture
 As they mature, some children with autism spectrum disorder become
more engaged with others and show fewer disturbances in behavior.
Some, usually those with the least severe problems, eventually may lead
normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have difficulty
with language or social skills, and the teen years can bring worse
behavioral and emotional problems.
When to see a doctor

 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 age 2
years.
 If you're concerned about your child's development or you suspect that

your child may have autism spectrum disorder, discuss your concerns with
your doctor. The symptoms associated with the disorder can also be
linked with other developmental disorders.
Signs of autism spectrum disorder often appear early in development when

there are obvious delays in language skills and social interactions. Your doctor
may recommend developmental tests to identify if your child has delays in
cognitive, language and social skills, if your child:
 Doesn't respond with a smile or happy expression by 6 months

 Doesn't mimic sounds or facial expressions by 9 months
 Doesn't babble or coo by 12 months
 Doesn't gesture — such as point or wave — by 14 months
 Doesn't say single words by 16 months
 Doesn't play "make-believe" or pretend by 18 months
 Doesn't say two-word phrases by 24 months
 Loses language skills or social skills at any age
 Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic
CAUSES
 Autism spectrum disorder has no single known cause. Given the complexity of
the disorder, and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there are probably
many causes. Both genetics and environment may play a role.
 Genetics. Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum
disorder. For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a
genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other
children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum
disorder. Still other genes may affect brain development or the way that brain
cells communicate, or they may determine the severity of symptoms. Some
genetic mutations seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously.
 Environmental factors. Researchers are currently exploring whether factors
such as viral infections, medications or complications during pregnancy, or air
pollutants play a role in triggering autism spectrum disorder.
 No link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorder
 One of the greatest controversies in autism spectrum disorder centers on
whether a link exists between the disorder and childhood vaccines. Despite
extensive research, no reliable study has shown a link between autism
spectrum disorder and any vaccines. In fact, the original study that ignited the
debate years ago has been retracted due to poor design and questionable
research methods.
 Avoiding childhood vaccinations can place your child and others in danger of
catching and spreading serious diseases, including whooping cough (pertussis),
measles or mumps.
 Risk factors
 The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is rising. It's
not clear whether this is due to better detection and reporting or a real increase
in the number of cases, or both.
 Autism spectrum disorder affects children of all races and nationalities, but
certain factors increase a child's risk. These may include:
 Your child's sex. Boys are about four times more likely to develop autism
spectrum disorder than girls are.
 Family history. Families who have one child with autism spectrum disorder
have an increased risk of having another child with the disorder. It's also not
uncommon for parents or relatives of a child with autism spectrum disorder to
have minor problems with social or communication skills themselves or to
engage in certain behaviors typical of the disorder.
 Other disorders. Children with certain medical conditions have a higher than
normal risk of autism spectrum disorder or autism-like symptoms. Examples
include fragile X syndrome, an inherited disorder that causes intellectual
problems; tuberous sclerosis, a condition in which benign tumors develop in the
brain; and Rett syndrome, a genetic condition occurring almost exclusively in
girls, which causes slowing of head growth, intellectual disability and loss of
purposeful hand use.
 Extremely preterm babies. Babies born before 26 weeks of gestation may have
a greater risk of autism spectrum disorder.
 Parents' ages. There may be a connection between children born to older
parents and autism spectrum disorder, but more research is necessary to
establish this link
Complications
 Problems with social interactions, communication and behavior can lead to:
 Problems in school and with successful learning
 Employment problems
 Inability to live independently
 Social isolation
 Stress within the family
 Victimization and being bullied
 Prevention
There's no way to prevent autism spectrum disorder, but there are treatment options.
Early diagnosis and intervention is most helpful and can improve behavior, skills and
language development. However, intervention is helpful at any age. Though children
usually don't outgrow autism spectrum disorder symptoms, they may learn to
function well.

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AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

 Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development

 Some children show signs of autism spectrum disorder in early infancy,

When to see a doctor

 If you're concerned about your child's development or you suspect that

Signs of autism spectrum disorder often appear early in development when

 Doesn't respond with a smile or happy expression by 6 months

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