Autism talk

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), sometimes referred to simply as autism, is a neurological disorder that affects the way the brain functions, resulting in difficulties with communication and social interaction as well as unusual patterns of behavioral activities and interests.

There are roughly 200,000 Canadians living with some form of ASD.

All those with the disorder share certain communication, social and behavioral traits. But in this group, there is great variation in the number, kind and severity of symptoms as well as age of onset, levels of functioning and social skills.

The three most common forms of the disorder are Autistic Disorder (AD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger’s Syndrome.

AD is the most common. These individuals have cognitive impairments, deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication, deficits in social understanding and unusual behaviors and restricted activities.

After Autistic Disorder, the most prevalent form of Autism Spectrum Disorder is PDD-NOS, which is also called atypical autism. People with this condition have severe and pervasive impairment in some areas but don’t meet the strict criteria for AD.

Asperger’s is the least common, with mild to severe impairments in social interaction and understanding as well as restricted and repetitive activities and interests. Language and cognitive development is not delayed in these individuals, but they do have some problems communicating.

Symptoms of autism start to appear in early childhood when individuals start to have problems with social interaction.

Many autistic people repeat simple motions like spinning, rocking back and forth or scratching themselves.Some like to be touched with deep pressure while others don’t like to be touched at all. In some cases, small changes in the environment or daily routines sometimes greatly distress those with autism.

The cause of autism is unknown but most researchers believe genetics are a factor. Some researchers have suggested environmental factors play a role. There has been some speculation that vaccines cause autism, but most researchers have dismissed that possibility.

The symptoms of autism overlap with those of other diseases so many tests are administered to ensure a correct diagnosis.

In the past, an autistic person had almost no chance of leading a normal life. Medical professionals encouraged parents to place their children in special institutions. However, recent research shows that children make significant progress when provided with services and support.

Autistic children are often treated by a team of caregivers, including a pediatrician, a psychologist or psychiatrist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist a speech therapist and a social worker.

Medications have proven helpful, especially those used to treat depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

For those patients who become aggressive, doctors sometimes prescribe anti-psychotic drugs.