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What Is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how people with the disorder behave and interact with the world.
An autistic person will often experience social, behavioral, and communication challenges.
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Causes of Autism
The exact cause of autism is still unknown.
However, researchers have made groundbreaking strides in understanding the disorder.
Certain risk factors also make some people more susceptible to developing the condition.
They include:
Symptoms of Autism
Everyone experiences autism differently.
Symptoms of the condition dont always look the same in two people.
In that regard, boys and girls also exhibit varying symptoms of the disorder.
Autism consists of a wide range of social, communication, and behavioral symptoms.
Heres a breakdown of some of them.
Theres no particular test used to diagnose autism.
TheDiagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)provides specific criteria for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders.
It includes:
Its crucial for autism to be diagnosed as early as possible for efficient treatment.
Unfortunately, theres currently no cure for the condition.
Treatment typically consists of a combination of medication andpsychotherapy.
Medication
In treating autism, a doctor will typically prescribe different medications to treat various symptoms.
One of the peskiest symptoms of autism is severe irritability.
CBT focuses on equipping autistic people with tools to improve how they communicate and express themselves.
It also helps autistic people live fuller functioning lives.
Is Autism Different in Girls?
Autism affects girls in the same way it affects boys.
However, they exhibit signs of the condition in different ways.
This often leads to the condition being underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in girls.
There is not a medical test for autism.
It is classified by and diagnosed by observable behaviors.
However, there still must be actual deficits in social functioning given these attempts to qualify for the diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Theres currently no cure for autism.
Your doctor will be the one to make the call on what is the most effective treatment for you.
Researchers recognize that autism tends to run in families but remain unsure of the inheritance pattern.
Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
However, studies reveal a gender bias in diagnosing autism in girls.
Girls typically exhibit symptoms of autism in vastly different ways from boys.
This causes the condition to go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in girls.
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