Autism Spectrum Disorders Guide for Parents

On Jan 23, 2012, in Autism Facts Study, Spectrum Autistic, by Paola Romeo

Autism Spectrum Disorders, meaning that a large degree of variation in how it affects people. All children on the autism spectrum has unique abilities, symptoms and challenges. Learn more about Autism Spectrum Disorders more will help you better understand your own child. Once you’ve mastered the vocabulary of autism, it is easier to communicate with doctors, teachers and therapists who are trying to help your child.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Understanding

Autism Spectrum Disorders but a spectrum of closely related disorders with a common core of symptoms. Each individual on the spectrum autistm problems to some extent with social skills, empathy, communication and flexible behavior. But the level of disability and the combination of symptoms varies greatly from person to person. If you are a parent with a child on the autism spectrum, you’ll hear a variety of terms, including high-functioning autism, atypical autism, autism spectrum disorders and pervasive developmental disorder. You do not need a diagnosis to start getting help for your child’s symptoms.

Autism Spectrum Disorders Types
Autism Spectrum Disorders are part of an “umbrella” category of the five childhood-onset disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). Some autism experts use the term pervasive developmental disorder and autism spectrum disorders combined. However, when most people talk about autism spectrum disorders, they are referring to the three most common PDDs:

Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
Childhood disintegrative disorder and Rett syndrome are the other pervasive developmental disorders. Because both are extremely rare genetic diseases, they are usually treated as medical conditions that are not really at home on the autism spectrum.

Where does your child fall into the Autism Spectrum Disorders?
The three of autism spectrum disorders share many symptoms, but they differ in their severity and impact. Classic autism or autistic disorder, the most serious of autism spectrum disorders. Variants milder Asperger’s syndrome, also called high-functioning autism and PDD-NOS or atypical autism. According to the Centers for Autism Spectrum Resources, only 20% of people on the autism spectrum have classic autism. The vast majority fall somewhere in the mildest of the spectrum.

If your child has developmental delay or slow down other autism-like behavior, you should visit a medical professional for a complete evaluation. Your doctor can help you figure out where or even if your child falls on the autism spectrum.

Signs and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders
In children and adults, the signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders have difficulties with social skills, speech and language, and limited activities and interests. Keep in mind that just because your child some symptoms of autism-like, but that does not mean he or she has an autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed based on the presence of multiple symptoms that your child’s ability to communicate, form relationships, explore, play and learn to break.