What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that typically appears during the first three years of life with signs and symptoms that include social interaction and communication challenges; repetitive behaviors and restricted interests; sensory processing issues; as well as IQ differences. Each child with ASD has a unique set of strengths, challenges and needs. Some children with ASD may learn best through one-on-one interactions, while others may need more social support to learn new skills. The range of severity is broad, from mild to severe. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability experienced by those with ASD. The diagnosis of ASD is based on clinical evaluation, involving observing the child over time and across settings.

What are the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Signs and Symptoms Children with ASD might:

• Fail to respond to their name by 12 months of age
• Have delayed speech development
• Avoid eye contact and prefer not to be held or cuddled
• Avoid or resist physical contact, such as being hugged, kissed or held
• Have trouble relating to others or show limited interest in interacting with others
• Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look or sound

Social difficulties. Children with autism may have trouble relating to other people or understanding social cues. They may avoid eye contact, don’t seem to care when someone is upset or doesn’t want to play with others, or fail to point out interesting things they see. Children with autism also might be so focused on something that they ignore what’s going on around them. Repetitive behaviors. Children with ASD often repeat certain actions over and over — such as rocking back and forth, spinning objects, or lining objects up — sometimes for long periods of time. These behaviors may ease anxiety or prevent boredom for the child who has difficulty responding to changing events in his environment. Repetitive behaviors can include following a routine; arranging items in a special way; repeating words or phrases; or insisting on sameness (e.g., always wearing the same clothes). Social communication problems. Children with ASD may have trouble understanding basic social cues such as facial expressions and body language — which can make it hard for them to interpret what other people are thinking or feeling — or sharing experiences with others.

Social Communication and Social Interaction

Some children with autism have difficulty communicating and interacting with others. They may not make eye contact or respond when they are spoken to. They may not point or use gestures such as waving goodbye or pointing to things they want. They may not understand other people’s feelings, thoughts, and reactions. These difficulties can make it hard for them to form friendships. Social Communication Children with ASD often have problems understanding social cues and body language that most people take for granted. For example, they may not know how to respond if someone points at an object or gives a thumbs up sign. They may also have trouble understanding what other people mean by their tone of voice, facial expressions, and gestures. Social Interaction Children with ASD often have trouble making friends because they don’t interact in the same way as other children their age do. They may have trouble maintaining eye contact during conversation, using facial expressions when talking with someone else, or interpreting what another person means by their tone of voice and body language. Children with ASD also tend to avoid physical contact with others because they are sensitive to touch or feel overwhelmed by crowds of people around them (although this behavior doesn’t necessarily mean that the child has autism).

Repetitive Behaviors

Repetitive behaviors are actions or rituals that are repeated over and over again for no apparent reason. They can be physical movements such as hand flapping or rocking back and forth. They can also be behaviors like repeating words or phrases, lining up toys, or ordering objects by size or color. Repetitive Behaviors with ASD Children Children with autism spectrum disorders tend to have more repetitive behaviors than other children their age. The behavior can range from mild to severe and may be different for each child. Some people have a few repetitive behaviors, while others have dozens of them. Some examples of repetitive behaviors include:

• Touching objects in an unusual way
• Repeating words or phrases over and over again
• Becoming upset when routines change; having trouble adjusting to new situations
• Following certain rules without understanding why they are important (such as having to wear clothes inside out before washing them)

How is autism diagnosed?

Autism is a complex condition that can be difficult to diagnose. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible so you can access the right support and treatment for your child. The first step towards diagnosing autism is asking your GP for a referral to see a specialist. They’ll examine your child and ask you lots of questions about their behaviour, development and health. Your doctor may refer you to one of several professionals who specialise in diagnosing developmental disorders: Child psychiatrist or psychologist – they will assess your child and parents, question them about their history and behaviour, and use psychological tests to check how well they are functioning Neuropsychologist or paediatrician – they will assess your child’s development in different areas such as speech, language, motor skills and social interaction

What are the risk factors for autism?

Age of the parents. The risk of having a child with autism increases with the age of the father and mother at conception. Genetic mutations. Some children inherit a genetic mutation that makes them more susceptible to developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This can be caused by either inherited or new mutations. New mutations occur when one parent passes on a new gene that wasn’t present in their DNA before they were conceived. Family history of ASD. If you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with ASD, you’re more likely to develop it yourself — about 10 percent more likely if you have an affected sibling and 20 percent if there’s an affected parent in your family tree.

How is autism treated?

There is no cure for autism. Treatment focuses on helping people with autism become as independent as possible. People with autism may need different types of treatment at different times in their lives. Treatment can include medication, speech and language therapy, behavioral therapy and other services. Medication is not a cure for autism and doesn’t affect the brain’s development. But some medications can help manage certain symptoms associated with autism, such as anxiety or depression, or help people with sleep problems or seizures.

Autism Clinical Trials

Autism clinical trials are research studies that test new treatments. They can be conducted in a variety of ways, including: Clinical trials where patients are randomly assigned to different treatment groups to compare the outcomes of each group. This type of trial is considered the gold standard for determining whether a drug or treatment works and is safe. Observational studies where patients are not randomly assigned to different groups but may differ in other ways, such as age or sex. These types of studies can help researchers understand how diseases develop and what factors may affect their course. The results from autism clinical trials may help doctors tailor treatments for each individual patient based on their needs and concerns.