Autism: The Basics

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder caused by differences in the brain.  People with autism have difficulty with social communication and have a rigid style of thinking.  Social communication impairments could mean that someone with autism has a limited vocabulary, uses language in an unusual way, and has an impaired ability to read body language and facial expressions.  Rigid thinking may make autistic people resistant to change and insist on “sameness” in their surroundings.  

Autistic people are born autistic.  That means that certain experiences cannot make someone autistic and that children with autism are likely to show symptoms while they are still very young.  The degree to autism effects a person’s lifestyle can vary quite broadly.  Some individuals with autism need life-long care, while others are able to experience the same lifetime milestones as their peers (going to college, getting married, etc…).  The signs and symptoms of autism can be managed with behavioral therapy and medications, but there is not a cure for autism.     

Symptoms of Autism

How can you know if you or your child shows signs of autism?  As part of the diagnostic criteria for autism, autistic people must show social communication impairments and rigid thinking.  

Some examples of social communication impairment include:

• Gaze avoidance (unwillingness to make eye contact)
• Inability to read body language
• Limited facial expressions
• Not responding to their name
• Not engaging in play or conversations with others
• Not speaking or using very short sentences
• Limited vocabulary

Some examples of rigid thinking:

• Repeating certain words and phrases over and over again (echolalia)
• Intense interest in specific topics or objects (special or restricted interests)
• Repeating certain gestures or body movements (such as rocking or hand flapping)
• Strictly following routines
• Arranging items in a specific way and getting upset if the arrangement is disturbed
• Insisting that certain tasks are performed the same way every time

Autistic people might also show:

• Sensory sensitivities (autistic people might be hypersensitive to sounds, smells, and textures and may react very strongly to them)
• Gastrointestinal issues (usually constipation)
• Picky eating
• Intellectual impairment (present in approximately 31% of people with autism)
• Delays in motor development
• Disrupted sleep (inability to sleep through the night)
• Mood disturbances (could be unusually anxious or aggressive)
• Meltdowns (panic-attack-like tantrums that are triggered anxiety and/or sensory overload)

How is Autism Diagnosed?

Autism is diagnosed based on certain behaviors that children show.  Therefore, ideally, caregivers and doctors would monitor a child’s developmental progress in order to detect developmental delays and signs of autism.  Often, caregivers report knowing their child is different than other children very early in the child’s development.  

If a child is suspected of having autism, a doctor (or caregiver) will send the child to a specialist who can do more in-depth testing.  Specialists may also ask caregivers to fill out questionnaires and may suggest genetic testing for the child.  If a child is diagnosed with autism, there are a variety of early intervention therapies available that can help your child learn skills that will help them thrive.