What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder. It affects a person's behavior. And it makes communication and social interactions hard.

ASD can range from mild to severe. The type of symptoms a person has and how severe they are varies. Some adults who have ASD may not be able to function without a lot of help from parents and other caregivers. Others may learn social and verbal skills and be able to care for themselves.

Most people who have ASD will always have some trouble when they communicate or interact with others. But treatment for ASD has helped many people who have it to lead full lives.

ASD now includes conditions that used to be diagnosed separately. These include:

• Autism.
• Asperger's syndrome.
• Pervasive developmental disorder.
• Childhood disintegrative disorder.

You or your doctor might use any of these terms to describe the condition.

People with ASD have some symptoms in these areas:

Communication and social interactions.

Symptoms may include:

• A delay in learning to talk. Or the person may not talk at all.
• Problems using or responding to gestures or pointing, facial expressions, and body posture.
• Problems making eye contact.
• A lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests, or achievements with others.

Repetitive behaviors and limited interests in activities or play.

Symptoms may include:

• Body rocking and hand flapping.
• Getting attached to objects or topics.
• A need for sameness and routines.

How severe the symptoms are varies.

In most cases, symptoms are noticed by the time a child is 2 years old. But if symptoms are severe, they may be seen as early as age 12 months.

Doctors use screening questions, exams, and tests to see how your child behaves and interacts with others. Talk with the doctor about what you've seen. The doctor will use all this information, along with his or her judgment, to assess how your child is developing and look for signs of ASD.

The doctor will ask questions about your child's development. If your doctor thinks your child may have ASD, he or she may send you to a specialist.

A specialist will:

• Ask about your child's health history.
• Do a physical exam.

He or she will also:

• Ask about how your child behaves and interacts with others.
• Watch how your child interacts with others and behaves when playing or doing a task.

This can help you know if your child has ASD. Or you can find out if your child has a different problem. This could be a language delay or ASD and another condition.

Treatment for ASD may involve behavioral training. There are different programs that can help your child. Some start early in your child's development. Many are based on applied behavior analysis (ABA). This method rewards appropriate behavior to teach children social and other skills. Some examples include the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and Pivotal Response Training (PRT).

Treatment may also include structured teaching. This involves organizing a child's day and school setting to help a child learn new skills.

Certain methods, like modeling behavior, may be used. With modeling, a child with ASD learns a skill or desired behavior by watching others.

Some children may need speech or physical therapy. This can help improve communication and motor skills. They may also need medicine. These might be used to treat symptoms of ASD, including being cranky or hyperactive. Medicine also is used to treat other problems, like anxiety or depression.

• Build your child's confidence and skills. Use rules, daily routines, and visual aids such as written schedules. And try role-playing to practice social situations. Children with ASD like specific rules and consistent expectations. Help your child take things they learn and apply them in different settings. For example, if your child learned how to count money in school, have him or her use that skill to pay for something at the grocery store.
• Focus on your child's strengths. Encourage your child to explore interests at home and at school. And stay informed about what happens in your child's classroom.
• Encourage your child to learn how to interact with people. Explain why this is important. Give lots of praise, especially when he or she uses a social skill without prompting.
• Contact your school district to find out what special services your child can be a part of. Federal law requires public schools to have programs for people ages 3 through 21 with special needs.
• Learn as much as you can about ASD. Talk to others about it. The more that teachers, your child's peers, and other people learn, the better they can help and support your child.
• Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Some children with ASD also have other conditions. They may have anxiety, depression, ADHD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. So they may need medicine. Call the doctor if you have any problems with your child's medicine. You will get more details on the specific medicines the doctor prescribes.
• Plan for your child's future. As your child gets older, think about where your adult child will live or go to college. Think about what training and job resources he or she may need. When a child with ASD becomes an adult, he or she is still eligible for certain services, but will have to request or apply for them. As an adult, he or she will have to ask for what they need themselves. But you can take steps now to help make sure that your child will have proper care and resources throughout life.