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Autism Spectrum Disorder

	What is ASD?
	How do I know if my child has an ASD?
	ASD & Communication
	ASD & Relationships
	ASD & Repetitive Behaviour

What is ASD?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) describes a group of pervasive developmental disorders including:

• Autism
• High Functioning Autism
• Asperger Syndrome and
• Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Stated (Atypical Autism)

These disorders have three common features which can range from very mild to very severe. Importantly, the commonality of all children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder is problems with:

• Social interaction
• Verbal and non-verbal communication
• Repetitive behaviours or interests

In addition, many children with an ASD are abnormally sensitive to sounds, textures, tastes and smells. For some, the feeling of clothes touching their skin can be unbearable and a loud noise caused by a vacuum cleaner, a plane, or lightning may cause them to cover their ears and scream.

In some children hints of future problems may be apparent from birth. Others begin life well enough but between 12 and 36 months the differences in the way they react to people become apparent.

Current research shows that approximately 1 in 160 children present with an ASD. The consensus is that ASD is caused by a biological or organic dysfunction in the brain. To date there is no known cure.

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How do I know if my child has an ASD?

There are many developmental disorders which have one or more symptoms in common with ASD. It is recommended that professional advice regarding your child should be sought as soon as possible. If you think your child is not developing typically, seek advice and assistance as soon as possible. ASD diagnosis has improved exponentially in recent years and children with an ASD can be diagnosed as early as two years of age.

Here are a few of the things which may lead you to suspect that your child has an ASD:

• Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by one year of age
• Does not speak a single word by 16 months of age
• Does not combine two words together by two years of age
• Does not respond to his/her name
• Poor eye contact
• Does not seem to know how to play with toys
• Endlessly lines up toys or other objects
• Becomes attached to one particular toy or object
• Does not smile
• Seems not to hear at times

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ASD & Communication

By the age of three most children have passed predictable milestones on the path to learning language. By their first birthday a typical toddler can say a few words, will respond when they hear their name being called, can point to a toy they desire, and can communicate 'yes' or 'no' without difficulty.

Some infants - who later show signs of ASD - will coo and babble during the first few months of life and then stop. Some may be delayed, developing language skills as late as the ages of five and nine whilst others remain mute throughout their lifetime, using pictures or sign language to communicate.

Those who do speak will often use language in an unusual way. For example, some may only speak single words, while others will repeat the same phrase over and over, or parrot what they hear (a condition called echolalia).

For most children with an ASD the 'give and take' of a normal conversation is difficult. However, it is not unusual to hear an older ASD child deliver a monologue on a favourite subject without giving anyone else a chance to comment.

For the ASD child body language is also difficult. Facial expressions, movements, and gestures don't always match what they are saying, and tone of voice might not reflect their actual feelings.

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ASD & Relationships

Early in life we gaze at faces, turn our attention to listen when we hear voices, and smile when we feel joy or happiness.

For the child with an ASD these so called normal interactions are difficult to understand and grasp. Even in the first few months of life the ASD child may avoid eye contact with others. They may seem indifferent to the people around them and may prefer being alone. Often they resist attention and show disinterest in being cuddled. Later, they don't turn to their parents for comfort, or respond to parental anger or affection in the way other children do.

Research has shown that this does not indicate a lack of affection for their parents; children with ASD just lack the ability to show how they feel. For many parents this is difficult to cope with. After looking forward to the joy of cuddling and playing with their child, they feel devasted by their child's lack of warmth.

Children with an ASD are also slower in learning to interpret what other people are thinking and feeling. Non-verbal signals such as smiling, winking, or pointing seem to have no meaning to them. Without the ability to interpret gestures and facial expressions, life becomes confusing. People with an ASD have great difficulty in putting themselves "in someone else's shoes".

While the typical five-year-old can understand that different people have information, feelings and goals differing from their own, the ASD child lacks this level of perception. This makes him/her vulnerable and prone to misinterpreting other people's behaviour.

Sometimes they may also have difficulty regulating their own emotions. This can result in immature behaviour such as crying in class, or inappropriate verbal outbursts often in public places. In frustration, some ASD children will bang their head, pull their hair, or bite their arm.

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ASD & Repetitive Behaviour

One characteristic behaviour of children with ASD is the tendency to repeat odd movements such as flapping their arms or walking on their toes.

This kind of repetitive behaviour may also take the form of a persistent, intense preoccupation. They might spend hours lining up their cars and trains in a certain way rather than playing with them in the way other children do. If someone accidentally moves one of the toys, they may also become extremely upset.

Later, the child might become obsessed with learning all about vacuum cleaners, train schedules, or lighthouses. Often there is a great interest in numbers and statistics.

Children with ASD also have difficulties in coping with change. A different daily routine or an alteration in their physical environment can seem very disturbing.

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