Diagnosing Autism

About Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions in which the growth and development of the brain is affected. This can impact an individual’s language, emotions, behavior, self-control, learning and memory. Delays or deficits usually show up early in a child’s development, many times before the child enters elementary school, and can continue throughout the individual’s lifetime. They can be limited in nature, for instance affecting speech or learning only, or the deficits can be global and affect intelligence, learning, communication, social skills, behavior and daily functioning together. Examples of neurodevelopmental disorders include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), communication disorders, intellectual developmental disorder, motor disorders and specific learning disorders. It is not unusual for these disorders to occur together.

Talk to your child’s health care provider about any questions or concerns you have regarding your child’s development. The provider will help you to decide if further evaluation is needed and if so, where to go for these services.

About Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Symptoms are present early in development, often noticed within the first two years of life, and impact the individual’s social, occupational and/or other important areas of daily life. Scientists do not know the exact causes of ASD, but research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles.

Prior to 2013, Autism fell under the classification of pervasive developmental disorder and was divided into five sub-categories: Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. With the most recent update of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the disorder was reclassified into a single diagnostic category of “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” This change was made based upon years of clinical practice and research and reflects the wide range of skills and symptoms demonstrated by individuals with autism.

Individuals diagnosed with ASD often have problems with social, emotional and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not want change in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention or reacting to things. Children and adults with ASD might:

• Not point at objects to show interest (for example, not point at an airplane flying over).
• Not look at objects when another person points at them.
• Have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all.
• Avoid eye contact and want to be alone.
• Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings.
• Prefer not to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only when they want to.
• Appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds.
• Be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play or relate to them.
• Repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language.
• Have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions.
• Not play pretend games (for example, not pretend to feed a doll).
• Repeat actions over and over again.
• Have trouble adapting when a routine changes.
• Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel or sound.
• Lose skills they once had (for example, stop saying words they were using).
• Have difficulty understanding subtleties in social communication, such as figurative speech or different types of humor, such as sarcasm.
• Have difficulty with perspective taking.

It is important to keep in mind that symptoms of ASD can present very differently across individuals. Two children diagnosed with ASD may not show the exact same behaviors and s