Considered Mild Autism

High functioning autism is considered mild autism. A child with mild autism communicates and develops social skills better than a child with a more severe case of autism. In fact, sometimes parents do not recognize the autism symptoms in an infant and toddler. Since early diagnosis and treatment provide the best chance for a healthy life, parents should learn the signs of mild autism.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the development of a child's social, language and communication skills. A child with autism experiences significant developmental delays in areas such as speech and cognitive skills. He may not talk or talks less than other children the same age. He often does not understand verbal and nonverbal communication. He prefers to be alone and not socialize with parents or other children. He does not play "pretend" games like other children his age. Due to the developmental delays, autism is generally diagnosed before a child's third birthday.

The Diagnostic Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), the standard classification system of American mental health professionals, categorizes autism as one of five pervasive development disorders (PDD). The five PDD disorders are autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive development disorder-not otherwise specified. The DSM-IV links the disorders because they all affect a child's normal development of communication, speech and social skills.

There are mild and severe forms of autism. A child with mild autism may appear only slightly behind other children his age. Sometimes a child who experiences a developmental delay will still catch up and develop normally. However, a developmental delay can sometimes be an early sign of mild autism. Symptoms of mild autism can include:

• Developmental delays - The child experiences delays in some or all of the developmental milestones such as cognitive, language, social, gross motor and fine motor skills
• Speech and Language Problems - The child takes longer to learn to talk. Once he talks, he struggles with expanding his vocabulary.
• Communication Problems - The child has trouble communicating in a normal manner. He does not always understand verbal instructions or nonverbal gestures such as waving. He cannot participate in a complete conversation. He may talk about subjects out of context. He has trouble making eye contact with others. He does not understand another person's emotional state and makes an inappropriate response to a situation. He may not smile much or express his emotions.
• Socialization Challenges - The child has trouble making friends and may prefer to be alone. He may want to make friends but does not know how to interact with his peers.
• Physical Contact Issues - The child does not like to be hugged or cuddled, even by a parent. He may get upset if someone tries to hug him.
• Obsessive Behavior - The child fixates on a toy or object for hours and is oblivious to his surroundings and other people around him. He may have a certain play routine that he follows with the toy or object. He is preoccupied with tiny details of the toy or object. He becomes irrationally upset if his play routine is interrupted or if he is separated from the object. His reaction is more extreme than a regular toddler tantrum.
• Repetitive Behavior - The child has a habit of repeating phrases or words out of context. Or he may engage in irrational physical repetition behavior such as rocking back and forth, spinning or flapping his hands.
• Extreme Mood Swings - The child's moods change more than an average toddler. He throws tantrums frequently over irrational situations.
• Rigid Routine - The child prefers a rigid routine. He gets irrationally upset when the routine is interrupted.

Symptoms vary among individuals. A child with mild autism may experience only a few of the common autism symptoms.

Medical experts debate about whether high functioning autism should be considered mild autism or Asperger's Syndrome. Diagnosis is sometimes challenging since both autism and Asperger's Syndrome are autism spectrum disorders and share many similarities. However, a child with mild autism usually experiences significant speech and cognitive developmental delays. A child with Asperger's Syndrome generally has stronger speech and language skills in early development than a child with autism. Despite these differences, a child with mild autism who experienced speech and cognitive delays may still be diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

A child with mild autism can live a full and healthy life with the right treatment. Parents who suspect a child has mild autism should consult with a doctor for a diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for the best life quality. Parents of a child with mild autism should learn about autism and the treatment options available. Parents should read books on autism treatment and research autism online. Learning about autism and treatment options will help parents select the best doctors, therapists and teachers for their child. Here are some helpful autism websites:

• The Autism Research Institute
• The Autism Society of America
• The Autism Help site
• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes

The websites provide detailed information on the autism spectrum disorders and support groups.

• Preschool Activities for Autistic Children
• Possible Causes of Autism
• Tips for Raising Kids with Autism
• What Is Your Autism Empathy Rating?

• Lesson Plans for Autistic Children
• Adult Autism Symptoms
• Social Skills Activities for Kids with Autism
• Speech Therapy Ideas for Autistic Children
• Famous Autistic People

• Repetitive Behavior in Autism
• DSM IV
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Autism Diagnostic Interview
• Autism in Infants