- Repetitive behaviors like hand-flapping, rocking, jumping, or twirling.
- Constant moving (pacing) and “hyper” behavior.
- Fixations on certain activities or objects.
- Specific routines or rituals (and getting upset when a routine is changed, even slightly)
- Extreme sensitivity to touch, light, and sound.
Change in severity of autism symptoms and optimal outcome
One key finding was that children’s symptom severity can change with age. In fact, children can improve and get better. “We found that nearly 30% of young children have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3.
- Avoiding eye contact.
- Delayed speech and communication skills.
- Reliance on rules and routines.
- Being upset by relatively minor changes.
- Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch, and smells.
- Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States today.
We know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, most influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. The ways in which people with autism learn to think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged. Some people with ASD may require significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.
Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and attention issues.
Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, they can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Research shows that early intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life for people with autism.
In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged four distinct autism diagnoses into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They included autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome.
more info at: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
*Disclaimer: This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified healthcare provider.
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