What is Autism?
When people refer to “Autism” today, they are usually talking about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which are five complex, brain-based disorders that affect a person’s behavior as well as social and communication skills. The Centers for Disease Control describes ASDs as: "developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary—from gifted to severely challenged. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person's life."
Autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls, and is found in all racial, ethnic, and social groups. There is no known single cause for autism, although the best available science points to important genetic components. Through twin studies, scientists have determined that autism is a genetically based condition. If one identical (monozygotic) twin has autism then there is an 80-90% chance that the other twin will also be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. For non-identical (dizygotic) twins the chance is about 3-10% that both twins will develop autism spectrum disorder. The chance that siblings will both be affected by ASD is also about 3-10%.
Scientists are unsure what, if any, environmental triggers may be involved in autism. One theory, popular in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, that vaccines cause autism, has since been disproven by numerous studies conducted around the world.
Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by significant impairments in social interaction and communication skills, as well as by the presence of extremely challenging behaviors. Such behaviors include repetitive motor behaviors (hand flapping, body rocking), insistence on sameness, resistance to change and, in some cases, aggression or self-injury. Many individuals with an autism spectrum disorder have significant cognitive impairments, although some have typical or even above average IQs. 30-50% of people with autism also have seizures.
Dr. Leo Kanner first described autism in 1943. He reported on eleven children who showed a marked lack of interest in other people, but a highly unusual interest in the inanimate environment. Initially, autism was thought to be an early form of schizophrenia, which led to the belief that its onset could be caused by negative experience or bad parenting. We now know that this is not the case.
There are five Autism Spectrum Disorders, sometimes called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD):
The Autism Science Foundation is a partner in the CDC’s “Learn the Signs, Act Early Campaign”. The following early indicators of autism were developed by the experts in this program.
Get a PDF of these early warning signs. Also, read more about the importance of early diagnosis.
If your child is 2 months old, you should consider talking to your doctor if your child exhibits the following behavior:
Autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls, and is found in all racial, ethnic, and social groups. There is no known single cause for autism, although the best available science points to important genetic components. Through twin studies, scientists have determined that autism is a genetically based condition. If one identical (monozygotic) twin has autism then there is an 80-90% chance that the other twin will also be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. For non-identical (dizygotic) twins the chance is about 3-10% that both twins will develop autism spectrum disorder. The chance that siblings will both be affected by ASD is also about 3-10%.
Scientists are unsure what, if any, environmental triggers may be involved in autism. One theory, popular in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, that vaccines cause autism, has since been disproven by numerous studies conducted around the world.
Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by significant impairments in social interaction and communication skills, as well as by the presence of extremely challenging behaviors. Such behaviors include repetitive motor behaviors (hand flapping, body rocking), insistence on sameness, resistance to change and, in some cases, aggression or self-injury. Many individuals with an autism spectrum disorder have significant cognitive impairments, although some have typical or even above average IQs. 30-50% of people with autism also have seizures.
Dr. Leo Kanner first described autism in 1943. He reported on eleven children who showed a marked lack of interest in other people, but a highly unusual interest in the inanimate environment. Initially, autism was thought to be an early form of schizophrenia, which led to the belief that its onset could be caused by negative experience or bad parenting. We now know that this is not the case.
There are five Autism Spectrum Disorders, sometimes called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD):
- PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Delay - Not Otherwise Specified).
- Autism (sometimes referred to as Classic Autism, Early Infantile Autism, Childhood Autism, or Autistic Disorder)
- Asperger Syndrome
- Rett Syndrome
- Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
The Autism Science Foundation is a partner in the CDC’s “Learn the Signs, Act Early Campaign”. The following early indicators of autism were developed by the experts in this program.
Get a PDF of these early warning signs. Also, read more about the importance of early diagnosis.
If your child is 2 months old, you should consider talking to your doctor if your child exhibits the following behavior:
- Doesn’t respond to loud sounds
- Doesn’t watch things as they move
- Doesn’t smile at people
- Doesn’t bring his/her hands to mouth
- Can’t hold his/her head up when pushing up on tummy
- Doesn’t watch things as they move
- Doesn’t smile at people
- Can’t hold his/her head steady
- Doesn’t make sounds or coo
- Doesn’t bring things to his/her mouth
- Doesn’t push down with legs when feet are placed on a hard surface
- Has trouble moving one or both eyes in all directions
- Doesn’t reach for things
- Shows no affection for caregivers
- Doesn’t respond to sounds around her/him
- Doesn’t make vowel sounds (eh, ah, oh)
- Doesn’t laugh or squeal
- Seems unusually stiff or unusually floppy
- Doesn’t look where you point
- Doesn’t respond to his/her own name
- Doesn’t babble (mama, dada)
- Doesn’t play back and forth type games
- Doesn’t seem to recognize familiar people
- Doesn’t sit with help
- Doesn’t bear weight on legs with support
- Doesn’t transfer toys from one hand to the other
- Doesn’t point to things
- Doesn’t learn gestures like waving bye bye, or shaking head yes or no
- Doesn’t search for things that she sees you hide
- Doesn’t say single words like mama, dada, up, bye, this, that, juice
- Doesn’t crawl
- Loses skills he/she once had
- Can’t stand when supported
- Doesn’t point to show things to others
- Doesn’t know what familiar things (cup, spoon, phone) are used for
- Doesn’t imitate or copy others
- Doesn’t have at least six words
- Doesn’t gain new words
- Doesn’t notice or react when a caregiver leaves or returns
- Doesn’t walk
- Loses skills he/she once had
- Doesn’t use 2-word phrases (mama up, want milk)
- Doesn’t know what familiar things (cup, spoon, phone) are used for
- Doesn’t imitate actions and words
- Doesn’t follow simple instructions
- Doesn’t walk steadily
- Loses skills he/she once had
- Has unclear speech or drools a lot
- Doesn’t speak in sentences
- Doesn’t follow simple instructions
- Can’t work simple toys (simple puzzles, turning knobs/handles, peg board)
- Shows little interest in toys
- Doesn’t want to play with other children
- Doesn’t play make believe or pretend
- Doesn’t make eye contact
- Falls down often or has trouble on stairs
- Loses skills he/she once had
- Ignores other children
- Doesn’t respond to people outside the family
- Shows no interest in make believe or pretending games
- Can’t retell a favorite story
- Doesn’t follow 3-step directions
- Doesn’t use “you” and “me” correctly
- Doesn’t understand “same” and “different”
- Speaks unclearly
- Doesn’t scribble or has trouble scribbling with a crayon
- Loses skills he/she once had
- Doesn’t show a wide range of emotions
- Shows behavioral extremes (unusually aggressive, fearful, sad, shy)
- Is unusually withdrawn and not active in social situations
- Is easily distracted and has trouble focusing on an activity for more than five minutes
- Doesn’t respond to people or responds only superficially
- Can’t tell the difference between real and make believe
- Doesn’t participate in a wide variety of games and activities
- Can’t give his/her first and last name
- Doesn’t use plurals, pronouns or past tense properly
- Doesn’t talk about daily activities
- Doesn’t draw pictures
- Loses skills he/she once had
- Can’t do daily activities (brush teeth, wash and dry hands, or get undressed) without help
- Impaired social skills
- Avoiding eye contact
- Rigid adherence to daily activities
- Unusual interests or obsessive/repetitive behaviors
- Being highly sensitive or under responsive to sound, light or touch