Autism: Symptoms, Causes, Types, and Testing
What Is Autism?
Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental condition that affects how people interact, communicate, learn, and behave. People with ASD have differences in their brain function that can impact their behavior and social interactions.
Autism appears before age 3 and persists throughout a person’s life. It's a spectrum disorder, which means it affects people in different ways and in varying degrees.
People with autism may have trouble with:
What is low-functioning autism?
About 30% of people with autism also have an intellectual disability. This means they may need help with everyday tasks and sometimes aren't able to live alone. Many people call this "low-functioning autism."
What is high-functioning autism?
Other people may have autism with less obvious symptoms. They often do well in school and have fewer problems communicating. People usually call this "high-functioning autism" or the outdated term, Asperger syndrome.
Autism Symptoms
Symptoms of autism usually appear before a child turns 3. Some people show signs from birth.
Signs of autism
A lack of eye contact
A narrow range of interests or intense interest in certain topics
Doing something over and over, like repeating words or phrases, rocking back and forth, or fidgeting with objects (such as flipping a light switch)
High sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells, or sights that seem ordinary to other people
Not looking at or listening to other people
Not looking at things when another person points them out to you
Not wanting to be held or cuddled
Problems understanding or using speech, gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice
Talking in a sing-song, flat, or robotic voice
Trouble adapting to changes in routine
Some people with autism may also have seizures. These might not start until adolescence.
Autism symptoms in adults
In adults, autism may show up in specific ways. Common symptoms can include:
Trouble understanding what other people are thinking or feeling
Choosing to be on your own or having a hard time making friends
Anxiety about social activities
Keeping a daily routine and getting upset if it changes
Having a hard time expressing how you feel
Taking things literally or not understanding sarcasm
Coming off as blunt, uninterested, or rude to others without meaning to
Avoiding eye contact
Not understanding social cues or "rules"
Getting too close to others or getting upset if someone gets too close or touches you
Being very interested in specific things
Picking up on small details, smells, sounds, or patterns that other people don't
Wanting to plan things very carefully before doing them
Autism symptoms in children
Children may show different signs of autism. They may include:
Not responding to their name by 9 months old
Not showing facial expressions by 9 months old
Not wanting to play simple games (like pat-a-cake) by 12 months old
Doesn't use gestures (like waving hello) by 12 months old
Doesn't understand when other people are sad or mad by 24 month old
Doesn't notice or want to join other children to play by 36 months old
Doesn't sing, act, or dance for you by 60 months old
Lines up toys in a specific order and gets upset if the order is changed
Shows obsessive interests
Rocks their body, flaps their hands, or spins in circles
Delayed language, movement, learning, or cognitive skills
Odd sleeping or eating habits
Less or more fear toward things than would ordinarily be expected
Stimming
Stimming is a self-stimulating behavior, such as hand and arm flapping, rocking, spinning, twirling, jumping, head-banging, or other similar body movements. It can also include using an object over and over again, like flicking a rubber band, twirling a string, touching something with a certain texture, and more.
People with autism may stim for fun, to ease boredom, or to cope with stress or anxiety. It can also help them adjust the level of sensory input. For example, they may twirl a string so they can watch it or focus on one sound so they can tune out another loud or stressful noise.
Autism meltdowns
At times, a person with autism may become overwhelmed by a situation and can't find a way to respond. This can cause them to have a meltdown. A meltdown is more than a tantrum – it's a nervous system response that a person with autism can’t control. They may cry, scream, or act out physically by kicking, punching, or biting.
Learning. Autism can come with learning problems, including developing skills at an uneven rate. For example, someone with autism could have trouble communicating but be unusually good at art, music, math, or things that involve memory. Because of this, they might do especially well on tests of analysis or problem-solving.
Transitions. Those with autism may struggle with transitions and changes in their daily routine.#viralvideo #funny #health #healthy