What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how people communicate and interact with others and the world around them. Individuals with ASD often engage in restrictive and repetitive patterns of behavior and have deficits in reciprocal social communication. Symptoms of ASD often appear within the first three years of life and, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 31 children has autism. The term “spectrum” in Autism Spectrum Disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity.
What Causes Autism?
The causes of ASD remain unclear but a combination of genetic and environmental factors are believed to play a role.
How is Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosed?
Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be difficult. There is currently no medical test, such as a blood test or a brain scan, to diagnose the disorder. Instead, the individual making the evaluation considers factors including the individual’s:
- Developmental history
- Observed patterns of behavior
- Reported concerns or behavior (as reported by the individual and/or by their parents/caregivers)
Who Can Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Individuals qualified to evaluate for autism can include developmental pediatricians; pediatric neurologists; child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrists; psychologists; and neuropsychologists.
Birchtree does not diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. To learn more about how autism is diagnosed, you can consult online resources such as the Autism Speaks website and the Autism Society website. To search for individuals and agencies who can diagnose autism in your area, you can consult online resources such as the Autism Speaks Resource Guide or the Autism Society’s AutismSource Resource Database.
What Can Help Individuals With Autism to Reach Their Full Potential?
Instructional methods such as applied behavior analysis (ABA) have proven effective in helping individuals with autism learn to overcome many of the challenges that autism presents. These interventions have proven particularly effective when started during the first several years of a child’s life; however, intervention is helpful at any age.
