Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Known medical or genetic condition

ASD can be associated with a known medical or genetic condition or environmental factor.

Another neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder

ASD can be associated with another neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder.

With catatonia

ASD can be associated with catatonia, which involves purposeless movements.

Intellectual impairment

ASD can be associated with intellectual impairment, although it can also occur without accompanying intellectual impairment.

Language impairment

ASD can be associated with language impairment, although it can also occur without accompanying language impairment.

Gender

ASD has a male-to-female sex ratio of 4:1.

Complex neurodevelopmental disorder

ASD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in social behavior, language and communication skills, and unusual behaviors and interests.

Spectrum disorder

ASD is a spectrum disorder because its characteristics are expressed in any degree or in many different combinations.

Abnormalities in social communication

ASD is characterized by abnormalities in social communication, including deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors, and developing and maintaining relationships.

Communication impairments

ASD is characterized by communication impairments, including inconsistent use of early preverbal communications, lack of useful language development, echolalia, perseverative speech, and impairments in pragmatics.

Deficits in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships

ASD is characterized by deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or making friends.

Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors

ASD is characterized by deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication to abnormalities in contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gesture.

Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity

ASD is characterized by deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation to reduced sharing of interest, emotions, or affect.

Hyper- or hypoactivity to sensory input

ASD is characterized by hyper- or hypoactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment, such as apparent indifference to pain/temperature or adverse response to specific sounds or textures.

Impairments in communication

ASD is characterized by impairments in communication, including deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors and difficulties in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships.

Impairments in social interaction

ASD is characterized by impairments in social interaction, including deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors, and developing and maintaining relationships.

Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior

ASD is characterized by restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, such as stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, and highly restricted and fixated interests.

Restricted respective patterns of behavior, interest, or activities

ASD is characterized by restricted respective patterns of behavior, interest, or activities, such as stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, and highly restricted and fixated interests.

Unusual and repetitive behaviors

ASD is characterized by unusual and repetitive behaviors, such as stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, insistence on sameness, and highly restricted and fixated interests.

All or nothing

ASD is not an 'all or nothing' phenomenon, as it can range from a mute child with toileting problems to a researcher with a corporate job.

Age of Diagnosis

ASD is usually diagnosed around 2 to 3 years of age, with deficits becoming increasingly noticeable around age 2.

Age of Diagnosis

ASD is usually diagnosed in the preschool period or later, with deficits becoming increasingly noticeable around age 2.

Actual Increases in cases of ASD

There are actual increases in cases of ASD, which may be attributed to environmental factors, increased awareness, and advances in diagnostic tools.

Actual increases in cases of ASD

There are actual increases in cases of ASD, which may be attributed to environmental factors, increased awareness, and advances in diagnostic tools.

MMR vaccination

There is a belief, despite lack of empirical evidence, that there is a direct link between MMR vaccination and the onset of autism.

Debate about core deficits of ASD

There is ongoing debate about the core deficits of ASD and how they affect social-emotional development, language development, and cognitive development.

Regression

Up to 1/3 of individuals with ASD experience regression, with the mean age of regression being between 18 and 24 months.

Regressive autism

Up to 1/3 of individuals with ASD experience regression, with the mean age of regression being between 18 and 24 months.

Epidemiology of Autism

The prevalence of autism has increased from 1 in 5000 in 1975 to 1 in 44 children, with a higher prevalence in boys.

Rates of autism

The rates of autism have increased from 1 in 5000 in 1975 to 1 in 44 children, with a higher prevalence in boys.

Advances in diagnostic tools

Advances in diagnostic tools may improve the identification and diagnosis of ASD.

Intellectual Disability

Approximately 60 to 70% of individuals with ASD show intellectual disability (ID).

Asperger

Asperger defined a milder form of autism known as Asperger's disorder.

History

Autism was first described by Kanner in 1943, and a milder form known as Asperger's disorder was defined by Asperger in 1944.

Changes in diagnostic criteria

Changes in diagnostic criteria for ASD may contribute to the increase in reported cases.

Social and emotional reciprocity

Children with ASD have deficits in social and emotional reciprocity, including unusual nonverbal behaviors, limited social expressiveness, and atypical processing of faces and facial expressions.

Joint attention

Children with ASD have difficulties with joint attention, which involves sharing focus of attention and engaging in make-believe play.

Variability in intellectual ability

Children with ASD may vary in their level of intellectual ability, ranging from profound disability to above-average intelligence.

Qualitative language impairments

Children with ASD often exhibit qualitative language impairments, such as echolalia and perseverative speech.

Severity of language problems

Children with ASD vary in the severity of their language problems.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors such as medications, alcohol, and infection may contribute to the increase in ASD cases.

Increased awareness

Increased awareness of ASD may lead to more accurate diagnoses and reporting of cases.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger's disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified, should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

Kanner

Kanner coined the term 'early infantile autism' to describe young children with autistic symptoms.

Inconsistent use of early preverbal communications

One of the first signs of language impairment in ASD is inconsistent use of early preverbal communications.

Mother-Blaming

Parents, especially mothers, were historically blamed for causing autism due to cold and neglectful parenting practices.

Refrigerator mothers

Refrigerator mothers were emotionally distant mothers who were wrongly believed to cause autism.

Clinically significant impairments

Symptoms of ASD cause clinically significant impairments in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.

Early developmental period

Symptoms of ASD must be present in the early developmental period, although they may not become fully manifest until social demands exceed limited capacities or may be masked by learned strategies in later life.

DSM-5 Definition of Autism

The DSM-5 definition of autism includes impairments in socialization, communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior.

Changes with age

The behavior of children with ASD changes with age.

Core deficits of ASD

The core deficits of ASD likely affect the child's social-emotional development, language development, and cognitive development.

Diagnostic Criteria for ASD

The diagnostic criteria for ASD include persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, as well as restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

Explaining increases in ASD

The increases in ASD may be explained by changes in diagnostic criteria, increased awareness, advances in diagnostic tools, and actual increases in cases of ASD.

Mean age at regression

The mean age at regression in individuals with ASD is between 18 and 24 months, although regression can occur up to 41 months.

Old Definition of Autism

The old definition of autism included impairments in socialization and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behavior.