How does autism affect those who have it

People with less severe ASD are able to talk and learn. But they may have trouble: expressing feelings. They may seem cold and distant. They may ignore or misunderstand how other people might feel or behave in a situation.

They might not understand body language or facial expression; they stand too close; they ignore signs of boredom or frustration. Loud noises, bright lights, or crowds may bother them. It might be hard for them to sit in a different seat or having a substitute teacher. What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorder? Vaccines do not cause autism. How Is Autism Diagnosed? A treatment program might include: speech therapy to help with talking and language skills occupational therapy to help with everyday tasks, like dressing and playing behavioral therapy to help improve behavior social skills training to help with relating to others special education to help learning medicine to help with things like sleep, paying attention, and hyperactivity How Can I Help a Friend With Autism?

Some children with autism experience development and milestones that are within normal ranges until around eighteen months to two years of age. At that point, new skills are no longer gained when they should be, and skills that have been developed may suddenly no longer be present.

Regular visits to a pediatrician can help identify any areas of concern with regard to typical developmental milestones. According to information provided by the CDC Centers for Disease Control in , approximately one in every 68 children have been diagnosed or identified as having a disorder on the autism spectrum.

This is an increase from statistics released in that pegged the incidence of autism at one in every 88 children. The scientific community has determined that the increase in cases of autism is not fully explained by increased awareness and more accurate diagnosis. However, the exact cause has not yet been determined. Boys have a risk of developing ASD that is five times greater than girls, with one in every 48 boys and one in every girls diagnosed. The reason for this disparity is not currently understood.

In fact, scientists are still searching for the answers as to why autism occurs in the first place. Genetics may prove to be the most powerful factor. They may become preoccupied with parts of objects like the wheels on a toy truck. Children may also become obsessively interested in a particular topic such as airplanes or memorizing train schedules. Many people with ASD seem to thrive so much on routine that changes to the daily patterns of life — like an unexpected stop on the way home from school — can be very challenging.

Some children may even get angry or have emotional outbursts, especially when placed in a new or overly stimulating environment. Certain known genetic disorders are associated with an increased risk for autism, including Fragile X syndrome which causes intellectual disability and tuberous sclerosis which causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and other vital organs — each of which results from a mutation in a single, but different, gene.

Recently, researchers have discovered other genetic mutations in children diagnosed with autism, including some that have not yet been designated as named syndromes. While each of these disorders is rare, in aggregate, they may account for 20 percent or more of all autism cases.

People with ASD also have a higher than average risk of having epilepsy. Children whose language skills regress early in life — before age 3 — appear to have a risk of developing epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. About 20 to 30 percent of children with ASD develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood.

Additionally, people with both ASD and intellectual disability have the greatest risk of developing seizure disorder. ASD symptoms can vary greatly from person to person depending on the severity of the disorder.

Symptoms may even go unrecognized for young children who have mild ASD or less debilitating handicaps. Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed by clinicians based on symptoms, signs, and testing according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V, a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association used to diagnose mental disorders.

Children should be screened for developmental delays during periodic checkups and specifically for autism at and month well-child visits. If screening instruments indicate the possibility of ASD, a more comprehensive evaluation is usually indicated. A comprehensive evaluation requires a multidisciplinary team, including a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and other professionals who diagnose and treat children with ASD.

The team members will conduct a thorough neurological assessment and in-depth cognitive and language testing. Because hearing problems can cause behaviors that could be mistaken for ASD, children with delayed speech development should also have their hearing tested.

Scientists believe that both genetics and environment likely play a role in ASD. There is great concern that rates of autism have been increasing in recent decades without full explanation as to why. Researchers have identified a number of genes associated with the disorder. Imaging studies of people with ASD have found differences in the development of several regions of the brain. Studies suggest that ASD could be a result of disruptions in normal brain growth very early in development.

These disruptions may be the result of defects in genes that control brain development and regulate how brain cells communicate with each other. Autism is more common in children born prematurely. Environmental factors may also play a role in gene function and development, but no specific environmental causes have yet been identified.

For many people with an ASD and their families, daily life is not easy. However, finding resources and planning for the future can help families improve their quality of life. Living with a person with an ASD affects the entire family—parents, siblings, and in some families, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Meeting the complex needs of a person with an ASD can put families under a great deal of stress—emotional, financial, and sometimes even physical. Respite care can give parents and other family caregivers a needed break and help maintain family well-being.

Family issues related to ASD external icon , including siblings, extended family, religion, family stress, and safety from the Autism Society of America. Top of Page. To stay healthy, people with disabilities need the same basic health care as everyone else.

They need to eat well, exercise, get enough rest, drink plenty of water, and have complete access to health care, including regular physical and dental check-ups. It is important to find health care providers who are comfortable with persons who have an ASD.

Sometimes when people with disabilities have a behavioral change or behavioral issue, it may be because they have a medical problem they cannot describe.