Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Did You Know? Older parents have a higher risk of their child having ASD

National Autism Awareness Month

More can be done to Assure that Children with ASD are Evaluated When Concerns Arise

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors 

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 1 in 68 children in the U.S. have autism. With this number on the rise since the early 1940s, there is continually stride to better understand autism.   

This resource has been developed to explain autism facts, possible symptoms and next steps.   

01 | Autism Facts

• Autism is a mental and neurological disease that affects the development of the brain.
• The Autism Spectrum is comprised of several disorders which are diagnosed independently: Autistic Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder not specified as (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome.
• Boys are five times as likely to be diagnosed with Autism as girls are.
• Autism can affect any child with or without a family medical history of mental disabilities.
• Families can incur additional medical costs up to six times more than the average patient.

02 | Early Signs and/or Symptoms

Signs of Autism, or other mental and developmental disorders, become prevalent prior to the young age of three. Here are some symptoms to be aware of:

• Difficulty communicating or articulating
• Repetitive behaviors – such as spinning a wheel of a truck over and over
• Lack of comprehension
• Poor eye contact
• Impulsive gestures
• Impaired social interaction
• Impulsive behaviors, gestures or responses
• Resistance to change
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Inability to interact in social settings 

03 | NEXT STEPS 

If you feel that your child exhibits one or several typical autistic behaviors, contact your medical provider for diagnostic testing. If there is an autism diagnosis, work directly with your provider to establish a road map for care.  

To learn more about Autism, including symptoms and resources, visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html  

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References

http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/parenting-child-with-autism-special-challenges?page=2 

http://positivemed.com/2013/05/24/autism-spectrum-disorder-chart/