What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions that start early in life and can affect how someone communicates and interacts with others. People with autism have differences in the way their brains develop and understand information, and this affects how they function at home, in school, and in the community.

What's It Like to Have Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Every autistic person is different, and there is broad range of severity of autism symptoms. For this reason, autism is described as a "spectrum." 

Some people with autism have learning problems, while others do well in school. Some have trouble speaking but others have good speech and language skills. Some have little interest in others, while some people with autism want to make friends but have trouble with social skills. Some people only need a little support while others need more.

Some autistic people do not feel that they have a disorder and don't want to change. They're proud of who they are and they want to be accepted, even though their strengths and weaknesses differ from those of most other people.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Autism?

Signs of autism can include

• poor eye contact
• using only a few gestures (waving, clapping, pointing)
  
• not sharing enjoyment or interests with others
• unusual ways of moving the hands, fingers, or whole body
• being very focused on or attached to unusual objects
• rituals such as repeating things over and over or lining up objects
  
• problems with forming friendships

People with autism might have trouble:

• expressing feelings
• understanding the feelings of others. They may ignore or misunderstand how other people might feel or behave in a situation.
• reading social cues. They might not understand body language or facial expression; they might stand too close or ignore signs of boredom or frustration.
• handling sensory information. Loud noises, bright lights, or crowds may bother them.
• handling a new routine. It might be hard for them to sit in a different seat or have a substitute teacher.

What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?

The exact cause of autism isn't known. It's likely that a combination of different things leads to changes in the way the brain develops before a baby is born. It probably has something to do with DNA — the genes passed down from our parents. Other things, including problems during pregnancy or at birth, might play a role.

Vaccines do not cause autism.

How Is Autism Diagnosed?

Doctors check toddlers and little kids for signs of autism at each checkup. A parent may think that something is wrong and tell the doctor. Maybe the child is old enough to speak but doesn't. Or a kid doesn't seem interested in people, or plays in unusual ways.

If the doctor suspects autism, a team of experts (which may include doctors, a psychologist, speech therapist, and occupational therapist) will do an evaluation.

How Is Autism Treated?

There is no cure for autism, but treatment can make a big difference. The sooner treatment starts, the better. With therapy, people with autism work on language skills, improve in school, and build social skills. Many kids with ASD are in special education classes or get special education services.

A treatment program might include:

• speech therapy to help with talking and language skills
• occupational therapy to help with everyday tasks, like dressing
• behavioral therapy to lessen repetitive or disruptive behaviors
• social skills training to help with relating to others
• special education to help learning
• learning to be safe
• learning to take care of their bodies
• medicine to help with things like sleep, paying attention, and hyperactivity

How Can I Help a Friend Who Has Autism?

It might be hard to be friends with someone who has autism, but try to be patient and kind. People with autism often don't understand playful jokes or sarcasm. You may need to be very clear and factual when you communicate with them. Remember how hard it might be for the person with autism to understand how to be a friend.

Students with autism may be teased, bullied or left out because they're different. This is never the right way to treat others, so stand up for a classmate who is bullied. Tell adults (like parents, teachers, or coaches) so they can help.