What does it mean to be on “the spectrum?”
The condition is lifelong, and symptoms can vary considerably from one person to the next.
Symptoms involve challenges or differences in intellectual, language, social, and motor abilities.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Symptoms of autism include repetitive behaviors, limited interests, and problems with interaction.
People who have milder autism symptoms are often able to function in their daily lives.
Autism is usually diagnosed in childhood, but sometimes it isn’t identified until later in life.
It can occur in people of all economic backgrounds, genders, races, and ethnicities.
Early screening and evaluation are important.
The sooner a diagnosis is made, the sooner interventions can begin.
There is no specific blood test or brain scan for determining whether someone has autism.
Doctors can diagnose it by examining behaviors and asking questions about development.
When children don’t meet certain milestones, they may receive further evaluation.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to autism, talk to your doctor to learn more.
However, they found thatautism is four times more common in boysthan ingirls.
Prevalence statistics also indicate that autism diagnosis is more common now than in the past.
However, research has also found that only around 20% can be directly attributable to genetic causes.
Research has repeatedly demonstrated that vaccines do not cause autism.
Types
When a person is diagnosed with autism, they will also have their functional level identified.
Level 1 - Requiring Support
Level 1 is considered a mild form of autism.
People who have this throw in may have problems with social relationships and restrictive behaviors.
They usually only need minimal support to function in their everyday daily life.
Level 2 - Requiring Substantial Support
Those with Level 2 autism spectrum disorder need more support.
Their social difficulties are apparent; they may have problems communicating and may need assistance to manage problematic behaviors.
Until the publication of the DSM-5, experts referred to different types of autism.
These included:
Today, these conditions are simply known as autism spectrum disorder.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, treatment should begin as quickly as possible following a diagnosis.
There is no single treatment that is best.
People with autism have a wide range of symptoms, so that means that each person is different.
Some of the treatment options that might be used include medications and therapy.
People with autism do best with routines and structure.
Keep things consistent each day, including meals, school, appointments, therapy, and bedtime.
Join a Support Group
Look for local support groups in your area or join a group online.
Look at things such as facial expressions,body language, and other nonverbal signals.
When you notice that they are using a new skill or doing something good, praise them for it.
Early intervention is important, and many types of treatment and resources are available to help.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Screening for autism spectrum disorder.
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National Institute of Mental Health.Autism spectrum disorder.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About autism spectrum disorder.
201417;32(29):3623-3629. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.04.085
