Autism is a developmental brain disorder. It affects your social, behavioral, and communication skills. People who have autism start showing signs at an early age. The degree of autism varies from person to person. Because of this, doctors often refer to autism as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). People who have mild symptoms may be considered “high-functioning.”
Asperger’s syndrome (AS) is the most common ASD. It is a form of “high-functioning” autism. Typically, people who have AS have a normal to high IQ. They may exhibit a special skill or area of interest. Their verbal language development is considered normal. However, people who have AS can have trouble using language correctly in social situations. They often have a hard time with nonverbal communication, such as making eye contact, reading facial expressions, and using body gestures. General social skills, such as developing relationships and adjusting to change, also can be affected. People who have AS can learn these skills through behavior and communication therapy.
People with autism can have a range of symptoms. Some are common, and some depend on the severity of the disorder. Your child may:
- Avoid physical touch or eye contact.
- Not respond to voices or other sounds.
- Not respond to someone calling their name.
- Not talk.
- Not understand hand gestures or body language.
- Rock back and forth, spin, or bang their head.
- Stare at part of an object, such as the wheels of a toy car.
- Fixate on certain topics or things.
- Not pretend or play make-believe games.
- Be concerned with order, routine, or ritual and become upset if it is disturbed or changed.
- Have a flat facial expression and/or use a monotone voice.
- Be unafraid of danger and accidentally cause injuries.
Approximately 20% of children who have autism develop normally for the first 1 to 2 years of their lives. Then, they experience what doctors call a regression. This means that they lose skills that they had before, such as the ability to talk.
On the other hand, some autistic children gain special skills. For example, they may be able to do complex math problems in their heads. Abilities like these are less common.
Doctors are not sure what causes autism. Some studies suggest that it is genetic (runs in families). Certain health problems or things in your child’s environment may play a role. Kids who are born to older parents have an increased risk of autism. Boys are more likely to be autistic than girls. In most cases, the cause of a child’s autism is never known. As doctors continue to study autism, they may learn more about what causes it.
Vaccines do not cause autism. This includes the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Vaccines are an important part of your child’s health. If you have concerns about the safety of vaccines, talk to your doctor.
There is no lab test that can detect autism. Talk to your doctor if your child does not behave as expected for their age. If the doctor suspects autism, they may suggest seeing a child psychiatrist or other specialist. A specialist can observe your child to look for signs of autism.
Some children who have autism also are intellectually disabled. This means that their intellectual abilities function well below average. It causes developmental delays. This can make it hard to diagnose autism. Children with autism do not respond to questions the same way other kids do. An expert can give your child special tests to learn more about your child’s condition.
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