What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Understanding ASD — signs, causes, and how we can help.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects the brain's normal development, especially for social interaction and communication. Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
A child with autism may fail to respond to the sights and sounds of the outer world. The child follows a different pattern of growth — with limited speech and language skills compared to other children of the same age.
Impaired social interaction, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication, problems in responding and understanding, and a repetitive pattern of behavior are some main characteristics of ASD. Autistic people may see, hear, or feel differently from other people.
ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins in early childhood and lasts throughout a person's life. It is called a "spectrum" disorder because the word spectrum describes the range of difficulties that people on the autism spectrum may experience and the degree to which they may be affected.
An estimation shows that one in 100 people has autism.
Autism affects almost four times as many boys as girls.
Recognising the Signs of Autism
Every child shows ASD differently. These are some of the most common signs to look for.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is mainly characterised by three core areas:
- Communication Difficulties
- Social Interaction Difficulties
- Repetitive and Restricted Behaviours
What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Experts are still uncertain about the exact causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is no single cause of autism. Research suggests that it develops from a combination of genetic and non-genetic, as well as environmental, influences.
Genes play a major role. It has been found that both identical twins are more likely to be affected than fraternal twins. In a family with one autistic child, there is approximately a 5% chance (1 in 20) of having another child with ASD — much higher than in the general population.
Researchers have found links between certain abnormal genes and ASD. The gene may be one of three to five or more genes that interact in some way to cause the condition. Research shows that genetic factors predominate — but it is complex and unclear exactly which genes are responsible. In some rare cases, ASD is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects.
Resources & Support for Families
Understanding Your Child
Strategies & Resources
Sibling Awareness
Community Support
Autism Treatment You Should Know About
"A treatment method that works for one child may not work for another. The one common denominator for all young children is that early intervention does work, and it seems to improve the prognosis."
— Temple Grandin