This article is geared toward parents of newly diagnosed autistic children and parents of young autistic children who are not acquainted with many of the basic issues of autism. Our discussion is based on a large body of scientific research. Because of limited time and space, detailed explanations and references are not included.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div> Receiving a diagnosis of autism can be devastating to some parents, but for others it can be a relief to have a label for their child\u2019s symptoms. Some parents can be overwhelmed by fear and grief for the loss of the future they had hoped for for their child, and joining parent support groups and talking to other parents may help. However, these strong emotions also motivate parents to find effective help for their children seek evidence-based treatments in the critical early intervention phase. The diagnosis is important because it can open the doors to many services, and help parents learn about treatments that have benefited similar children.<\/p>\n The most important point we want to make is that autistic individuals have the potential to grow and improve. Contrary to what you may hear from out-of-touch professionals or read in old books, autism is treatable. It is important to find effective services, treatments, and education for autistic children as soon as possible. The earlier these children receive appropriate treatment, the better their prognosis (though it\u2019s never too late to improve overall quality of life). Their progress through life may be slower than others, but they can still live happy and productive lives with appropriate support.<\/p>\n Authors:<\/strong> Index<\/p><\/h2><\/div> back to menu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div> Autism is a developmental disability that typically involves delays and impairment in social skills, language, and behavior. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that it affects people differently. Some children may have speech, whereas others may have little or no speech.<\/p>\n Autism is a very broad spectrum. In profound cases, young children may not interact with others or treat people as objects. In milder cases, it involves difficulty understanding and relating to others and difficulty understanding other people\u2019s perspectives and emotions.<\/p>\n Without appropriate support, children will not develop effective social skills and may speak or behave in ways that create challenges. Very few individuals recover completely from autism without any intervention. The good news is that there are a wide variety of medically appropriate treatment options which may be very helpful. Some treatments may lead to measurable improvement, whereas other treatments may have little or no effect. Because the biological aspects are autism remains elusive, it is impossible to identify an educational strategy or therapy that helps everyone. A growing body of research probing the possible causes of autism and potential treatments for autism has shed light on co-occuring medical conditions which, when addressed, have improved patient health and therapeutic outcomes.<\/p>\n It is important to understand that autism is a label for people who have a certain set of symptoms (impairments in social skills, language, and behavior). The label of autism does not explain the cause of autism, and it is likely that multiple factors can contribute to the symptoms of autism.<\/p>\n Asperger syndrome was phased out with the introduction of DSM-V in 2013 in favor of an umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The diagnosis of Asperger syndrome was characterized as a subtype of high-functioning autism. Most individuals diagnosed with Asperger syndrome were described as \u201csocial but awkward.\u201d That is, they want to have friends but find it particularly challenging to begin and\/or maintain a friendship. Like their peers on the spectrum, high-functioning autistic individuals were often delayed in developing speech\/language. Those with Asperger syndrome tended not to have speech\/language delays, but their speech was usually described as peculiar, such as being stilted and perseverating on unusual topics.<\/p>\n<\/div> back to menu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div> Possible symptoms of autism may be observed by a parent, pediatrician, or teacher, and screening tests such as the M-CHAT<\/a> can help determine if a child is at risk of having autism. However, a formal diagnosis of autism requires an evaluation by an experienced psychiatrist, psychologist, neurologist, or developmental pediatrician (a pediatrician who specializes in developmental disorders). Some individuals are easy to diagnose, but in milder cases or cases with other co-occurring symptoms it can be difficult to obtain a diagnosis. Some children are initially misdiagnosed with other disorders, such as speech delay or ADHD. A clinician should base their diagnosis on both a personal interaction with the child and a discussion with the parents of their behavior in other settings.<\/p>\n Two common misconceptions are that if a child can talk or is affectionate then they cannot have autism. That is not true. Some people diagnosed with autism have normal language, and many are affectionate to friends and family. However, the common core of all types of autism spectrum disorders are delays or impairments in social understanding and social relationships.<\/p>\n<\/div> back to menu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div> Autism develops sometime during pregnancy and the first three years of life. Some parents report that their child seemed different at birth. These children are referred to as having early-onset autism. Other parents report that their child seemed to develop normally and then had a major regression resulting in autism, usually around 12-24 months. These children are referred to as having late-onset or regressive autism. Some researchers argue that the regression is not real or the autism was simply unnoticed by the child\u2019s parents. However, many parents report that their children were completely normal (e.g., capable of speech, appropriate behavior, and social interaction) until sometime between 1 and 2 years of age.<\/p>\n A study published in 2003, conducted by the first author, compared 53 autistic children with 48 typical peers. The parents of the early-onset autism group reported a significant delay in reaching developmental milestones, including age of crawling (2 month delay), sitting up (2 month delay), walking (4-5 month delay), and talking (11 month delay or more). Thus, there appeared to be a delay in gross motor skills as well as of talking, so many children with autism also need physical therapy. In contrast, the late-onset autism group reached developmental milestones at the same time as typical children.<\/p>\n Several brain autopsy studies have been interpreted as suggesting that brain damage occurred sometime during the first trimester of pregnancy, but many of these studies involved individuals who were born prior to 1990. Thus, these findings may not apply to what appears to be the new population of people with regressive autism.<\/p>\n<\/div> back to menu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div> Autism appears to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but it is generally unclear which genetic and which environmental factors are important. About 5-10% of autism cases involve a single severe genetic defect or disorder, such as Fragile X or tuberous sclerosis,<\/a> and many of those individuals develop the symptoms of autism. However, 90-95% of cases do not involve a single severe defect, but instead, appear to require a complex set of many genetic variations and environmental factors.<\/p>\n![\"Hands](\"https:\/\/autism.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/AdobeStock_99773651-scaled.jpeg\" "\\"holding")
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\nJames B. Adams, Ph.D., Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona<\/em>
\nStephen M. Edelson, Ph.D., Autism Research Institute, San Diego, California<\/em>
\nTemple Grandin, Ph.D., Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado<\/em>
\nBernard Rimland, Ph.D., Autism Research Institute, San Diego, California<\/em>
\nJane Johnson, Autism Research Institute, San Diego, California<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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What Is Autism<\/h3><\/div>
What is the difference between Asperger\u2019s Syndrome and Autism?<\/h4>\n
Diagnosis<\/h3><\/div>
Onset of Autism: Early Onset vs. Regression<\/h3><\/div>
Causes of Autism<\/h3><\/div>