According to the Centers of Disease Control, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.
A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.
A trained ABA therapist provides positive strategies for changing the child’s responses and behaviors, rewarding and reinforcing desirable behaviors and decreasing undesirable ones.
Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD.
Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include:
. Avoids or does not keep eye contact
. Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
. Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
. Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
. Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)
. Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like)
. Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age
. Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age
. Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age
. Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months of age
. Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months of age
People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.
Examples of restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests related to ASD can include:
. Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
. Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)
. Plays with toys the same way every time
Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)
. Gets upset by minor changes
. Has obsessive interests
. Must follow certain routines
. Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
. Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
Most people with ASD have other related characteristics. These might include
. Delayed language skills
. Delayed movement skills
. Delayed cognitive or learning skills
. Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior
. Epilepsy or seizure disorder
. Unusual eating and sleeping habits
. Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
. Unusual mood or emotional reactions
. Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
. Lack of fear or more fear than expected
It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here.
Learn more about screening and diagnosis of ASD
Learn more about treating the symptoms of ASD
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