What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurological disability that typically appears during the first three years of life.

Autism Spectrum Disorder
3 Affected Areas – Each can have a range of mild to significant deficits in the following areas:

1. Communication
2. Socialization
3. Behavior, i.e, repetitive, inflexible rituals, isolated interests.

     ****socialization is also an area that is affected by ASD

The term “Spectrum” is used to demonstrate the wide and multiple ability levels and/or areas that are affected by the disorder.

Statistical Facts about ASD

• 1 in 150 births  or 1 in 100 boys
• 4:1   boys: girls
• In Alabama, a 947% increase between 1992-2003 school years.
• In the U.S., 805% increase between 1992-2003 school years
• ASD has been found throughout the world in families of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds.

Increase of the incidence in ASD

• Each day 67 children are diagnosed with ASD
• A new case is diagnosed every 20 minutes
• More children will be diagnosed with ASD this year than AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined.

Other Health Issues that People with ASD can have:

• Mental Retardation  75%
• Seizure Disorder  25%
• Chronic Constipation and/or Diarrhea  50-60%
• Sleep Problems  50-60%
• Low Muscle Tone  30%
• Pica  30%
• Sensory Sensitivities
• Ear Infections
• Allergies

Basic Facts of ASD

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability.

• Autism begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person's life.
• Parents who have a child with Autism have a 2%–8% chance of having a second child with the same disorder.

Causes of ASD

• Currently, research has not found one thing that causes Autism.
• Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children.
• Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics, environmental causes, and medical problems.
• Genetics
• Vaccines
• Abnormal brain development
• Immune deficiencies
• Allergies to foods, etc.

However, early and intensive treatment can help children with the disorder reach their maximum potential.

Acting early can make a big difference!

Classifications of ASD

• Autism Disorder
• Rhett’s Disorder
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder 
• Asperger’s Disorder
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Common Characteristics of ASD regarding Communication

• No verbal speech at all
• Minimal or abnormal speech
• Echolalia (repeating what someone else says)
• Difficulty comprehending spoken language
• Tendency to understand language literally
• Use of words without attaching meaning to those words
• Communication with gestures instead of words
• Difficulty in expressing needs; use of gestures or pointing instead of words
• Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language

Common Characteristics of ASD regarding Behavior and/or Socialization

• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
• Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
• Preferring to be alone; displaying aloof manner
• Throwing tantrums
• Struggling to interact with others
• May not want to cuddle or be cuddled
• Using little or no eye contact
• Remains unresponsive to normal teaching methods
• Sustains odd play
• Spins objects 
• Forms inappropriate attachments to objects
• Shows apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
• Has no real fears of danger
• Displays noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
• Has uneven gross/fine motor skills
• Does not respond to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests in normal range.

Basic Information about Communication

There are two types of communication:

1. Receptive – what we take in during communication with others
2. Expressive – how we communicate with others

Children with Autism may have deficits in expressive language, receptive language or both with a wide range of severity across children.

Approximately 40% of people with ASD are non-verbal.

Approximately 80% of language is non-verbal (i.e., language involves reading non-verbal cues, social cues, and reading body language, etc.). In order to be an effective communicator a person must understand social nuisances. For people with ASD, language is further complicated by deficits in socialization.