3 Types of Autism
Autism is a developmental disability that strikes 1 in 110 children in the United States. This disability presents a challenge for parents and caregivers as it affects behavior, communication and social skills. Autism affects each person differently and autistic symptoms can range for mild to severe.
Autistic disorder – This is the type of autism that most people think of when they hear the word autism. The symptoms with this type of autism are usually severe and may be linked with intellectual disabilities.
Asperger Syndrome – The symptoms with this type of autism are usually milder. They usually have social challenges and unusual interests and behaviors. They usually do not have communication problems or intellectual disabilities.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder – People who have some symptoms of autism but not all usually fall under this diagnosis. People in this category usually have mild symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of autism begin before the age of 3. The age the symptoms begin may vary and the child may actually develop normally up to the age of 24 months. Symptoms may improve with age but will last the person’s entire life.
A few symptoms to look for include:
It is important to diagnose autism early so intervention can begin. There is no cure for autism but the earlier skills are taught the better the outcome. An experienced professional can diagnose a child by the age 2. Therapies to help the child walk, talk and interact with others begun early have a better result.
The cause of autism is unknown. Genetics seems to be one factor involved. Children who have a parent or sibling with autism are at a great risk. Prescription drugs such as thalidomide and valproic acid seem to also raise the risk. It is not true that poor parenting has anything to do with it.
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Autism affects all races, genders and socioeconomic groups but it appears to strike boys 4 times more than girls. There seems to be an unexplained increase in the diagnosis over the past few years. It could be due to better diagnosis techniques, a broader definition of what autism is or a combination of both. If you are concerned that your child might have autism, most states offer a free evaluation thru their early intervention programs.
