What is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that, in 2008, 1 in 88 American children aged 8 years had an autism spectrum disorder (CDC Study Data).  Comparison of 2008 findings with those for earlier surveillance years indicated an increase in estimated ASD prevalence among this data group of 23% when the 2008 data were compared with the 2006 data, and an estimated increase of 78% when the 2008 data were compared with the 2002 data. Further interpolation of the data revealed that ASDs are almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 54) than among girls (1 in 252).

The three most common forms of this neurobiological disorder (consistent with the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV, Text Revision [DSM-IV-TR] diagnostic criteria, and the above study results) are Autistic Disorder (commonly referred to as autism), Asperger Syndrome, and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). People with an ASD tend to have a variety of characteristics, but share symptoms in the areas of social interaction, sensory perception, speech/language/communication skills and restricted interests.

The following characteristics are commonly seen in individuals on the autism spectrum; however each trait is likely to be affected by the person’s unique personality, age, gender, and level of functioning:

Unusual Speech and Language:

People with autism may be non-verbal, or experience a significant delay or regression in speech and language abilities, usually in early childhood.  Individuals who are high-functioning and those with Asperger Syndrome may have excellent vocabularies, but have difficulty understanding and using language in impromptu, reciprocal conversations.

 

Restricted or Unusual Interests:

Children and adults with an autism spectrum disorder are likely to be preoccupied with unusual interests or topics. They may focus on specific objects, parts of objects, or unusual topics. They may focus on ordinary topics, but with an extraordinary focus, to the exclusion of other interests or activities.  In some cases, this intensity of interest leads to successful pursuits in adulthood.

 

Unusual reactions and inflexibility:

Children or adults with ASD may display sudden, unexpected reactions to sensory stimuli such as touch, lights, sounds, smells, tastes, groups of people or events. They may also respond to these sensory challenges by seeking the comfort of known schedules, scripts and routines, often leading to an inflexible resistance to change.

 

Unusual physical movements:

Some individuals with autism may display self-stimulating behaviors such as rocking, spinning, jumping, toe walking, hand flapping or head banging. Others may appear to be physically awkward or uncoordinated.

 

Unusual Social Interaction:  

A child or adult with autism may appear unresponsive to those around him. Those who display odd behaviors or an intense focus on narrow interests may feel isolated and/or experience rejection by peers. Most children and adults with autism spectrum disorders are interested in having friends and being social. However, their difficulty in reading social cues and understanding the perspectives of others often impairs social communication and the ability to start or maintain a friendship.

 

Hope for the future:

An autism diagnosis is sometimes difficult to accept and address, even for the most compassionate and caring of families. The AAACC is available for individuals and families who have recently received a diagnosis, and those who have been addressing autism for decades. 

 

There is hope.  Increased funding is providing more research into early identification, new therapeutic models, medical interventions, and educational services.  Though some do not, some children with autism graduate from college, get married, and are gainfully employed.

 

Where should I go if I suspect that a family member has an ASD?

There is no single medical test to diagnose autism.  Diagnosis is based on behavioral symptoms and requires the specialized training of a psychiatrist, neuropsychologist or developmental pediatrician who has expertise in autism spectrum disorders. Two major centers for the assessment of possible autism spectrum disorders in the Baltimore-Washington region are:

 

 

Children's National Medical Center   Center for Autism & Spectrum Disorders   Rockville, MD   301-738-8930

The Kennedy Krieger Institute      Center for Autism and Related Disorders   Baltimore, MD       443-923-9400