Facts

• There is nothing that sets apart people with ASD based on the way they look but they communicate, interact, learn and behave differently than other people ("Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)," 2018).
• Some people with ASD need a lot of support, while others need less depending on the severity ("Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)," 2018).

Signs and Symptoms

According to the CDC, the following list includes signs to look for when concerned that your child or student may have autism. The child might:

• not point at objects to show interest (for example, not point at an airplane flying over)
• not look at objects when another person points at them
• have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all
• avoid eye contact and want to be alone
• have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
• prefer not to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only when they want to
• appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds
• be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play, or relate to them
• repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language
• have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions
• not play “pretend” games (for example, not pretend to “feed” a doll)
• repeat actions over and over again
• have trouble adapting when a routine changes
• have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound
• lose skills they once had (for example, stop saying words they were using)

("Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)", 2018)

Diagnosis

ASD can be difficult to diagnose because there is not one specific medical test that will give you a clear answer. Doctors will observe a child's behavior to form a diagnosis. Autism can be diagnosed at 18 months but is more reliable when diagnosed at 2 years. The older the child is diagnosed, the less time for treatment. So, the earlier the diagnosis, the better chance the child can live a more independent lifestyle ("Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)", 2018). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says that children under the age of 3 years who are at risk of having developmental delays may be eligible for therapy and interventions ("Statute and Regulations"). Check out the webpage if you are interested!

Treatment

There is no cure for ASD but there is behavioral therapy treatment. Check out this page of my website to learn more about behavioral therapy.

Causes

The CDC lists the following risk factors for ASD:

• Children who have a sibling with ASD are at a higher risk of also having ASD.
• Most scientists agree that genes are one of the risk factors that can make a person more likely to develop ASD.
• ASD tends to occur more often in people who have certain genetic or chromosomal conditions.
• Children born to older parents are at greater risk for having ASD.

("Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)," 2018)

What organizations are out there for support?

There are many organizations in support of studying autism, autism research and spreading knowledge. Check out the following:

Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT)

Address: PO Box 1447 Hoboken, NJ 07030

• A non-profit organization committed to improving the education and care of people with autism.

Autism Speaks

Phone: (888) 288-4762

• Mission statement: "Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions."

Autism Research Institute

Address: Autism Research Institute, 4182 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116

• Founded in 1967 by Dr. Bernard Rimland, ARI conducts research designed to improve the methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing autism.

The Color of Autism Foundation

E-mail: info@thecolorofautism.org

• A non-profit organization committed to educating and assisting African American families with autistic children.