Autism Defined

Autism Defined: Disorders on the Spectrum

Autistic Disorder

This type of autism, defined by symptoms that appear before the age of three, is also known as classic autism, infantile autism, Kanner autism, and childhood autism. Autistic disorder often causes significant speech and language delays, with some autistic individuals remaining non-verbal. Marked deficits in social skills, repetitive behaviors, and sensory processing issues are common symptoms of autistic disorder. Affected children may appear very disconnected with the world around them, isolated and unable to interact or maintain eye contact with others. Those with autistic disorder are often unable to use or understand non-verbal communication cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and body posture. Some individuals with autism disorder can be rigidly resistant to change, reacting with anxious or aggressive behaviors.

Asperger's Disorder

Asperger's disorder is considered the mildest of the autism spectrum disorders. Frequently diagnosed much later than autistic disorder, often as late as the teen years, individuals with Asperger's disorder are high functioning, ranging from average to exceptionally high scores in IQ testing. Social communication skills are affected by Asperger's disorder, but basic language skills are left largely intact. Speech may lack inflection or be unusually high pitched. Those with Asperger's syndrome may not understand subtleties such as irony, humor, and non-verbal cues.

PDD-NOS

Pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, or PDD-NOS, is also referred to as atypical personality development, atypical autism, or atypical PDD. This category includes individuals with many of the symptoms included in the checklist for autism, defined for the purpose of autism spectrum disorder screening, but not enough for a clear diagnosis. Individuals diagnosed with PDD-NOS may display behavior patterns, interaction difficulties, and unusual sensitivities similar to those of autistic disorder, but often with a lesser degree of impairment.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

CDD, or childhood disintegrative disorder, is a rare condition that differs from classic autism, defined by its unique pattern of onset. Children affected by CDD usually follow a typical developmental pattern throughout the first two to four years of life, learning to talk, walk, and function just as any average child. Then, affected children abruptly begin to regress, losing language, social, toileting and self care skills to the point that they exhibit symptoms similar to severe autistic disorder.

Rett's Disorder

Rett's disorder, or RD, is another rare pervasive developmental disorder that appears after a period of normal development, and is almost exclusively found in girls. The onset of Rett's disorder usually occurs between the ages of six and eighteen months with a gradual appearance of mental and physical symptoms. In the first stage, head and brain growth begin to slow and muscle tone begins to diminish. As the disorder progresses, children may lose the ability to control their hands - unable to move them with purpose or control involuntary hand motion. The ability to speak is often lost, growth is often impaired, and cognitive disability, breathing difficulties, and seizures are common in children with Rett's disorder. The severity of symptoms and degree of disability varies widely among affected children.

Facts and Figures, Mysteries and Therapies

Currently, approximately one of every 150 children born will be diagnosed with ASD, and those rates are on the rise. Autism is a disorder that knows no bounds, affecting people of every race, ethnicity, and social group in equal measure. However, autism does discriminate according to gender, with boys four times more likely to be affected than girls. Research on autism, defined today by more questions than answers, has yet to discover its cause, nor is there any known cure. However, as researchers work towards solving the many mysteries of autism spectrum disorders, their efforts have resulted in a variety of therapies and treatments that has significantly improved the quality of life for many who live with autism.