What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental and neurological disorder. Common characteristics of ASD, often simply called autism, include:

• Difficulty communicating and interacting with others
• Intensely focused or repetitive behaviors
• Traits that can make functioning at school, work, or other activities difficult
  

This article discusses autism spectrum disorder traits, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options, as well as considerations that go into living with autism or caring for someone who does.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Traits

Autism is a condition that exists on a spectrum, and the types and intensity of traits will vary. In other words, there is no single set of characteristics that defines ASD but there are common traits. For example, about 1 in 3 people with an ASD diagnosis experience an intellectual disability. 

Generally, these traits can be grouped into three areas:

• Communication and interaction skills
• Repetitive or intensely focused behaviors
• Other characteristics

Communication and interaction characteristics may include:

• Avoiding eye contact or making little eye contact
• Not responding, or being slow to respond, to your name
• Infrequently sharing interest in, enjoyment of, or emotions with activities or objects (such as not showing things to others)
• Having trouble with back-and-forth conversations
• Having a sing-song or robotic tone of voice

Repetitive or intensely focused behaviors may include:

• Being upset by small changes in routine
• Repeating certain behaviors, including repetition of words or phrases
• Having a lasting and intense interest in certain topics, like numbers or facts

Other autism traits may include:

• Delayed movement or language skills
• Delayed learning or cognitive skills
• Impulsive, inattentive, or hyperactive behavior

There are some common strengths among some autistic people, though they are not necessarily autism traits. These include being strong visual and auditory learners, being able to retain information for a long time, and learning things in detail.

What Causes Autism Spectrum Disorder?

The primary cause of ASD is unknown. However, research suggests that genetics, biology, and the environment someone lives in all play a role.

For example, a person’s genetic makeup may combine with environmental factors to affect their development and lead to an autism diagnosis. While certain environmental factors like nutritional deficiencies have been studied for how they may increase the autism risk, such studies have significant limitations and require further investigation.

Autism can affect people from all backgrounds, but some are more at risk. These risk factors include:

• Being assigned male at birth (males are 4 times more likely than assigned females to develop ASD)
• Having certain genetic conditions (e.g., fragile X syndrome or Down syndrome)
• Having older parents

Is Autism Spectrum Disorder Genetic?

Genes are considered an important factor when discussing autism causes. People with a family history of ASD are more likely to have autism or have an autistic child. Having an autistic sibling is also a risk factor for developing autism and being diagnosed with an ASD. 

Advances in genetic research have allowed scientists to better understand the genetic background of autism and how certain genetic mutations are associated with certain subtypes of ASD. The more that is known about the possible genetic origins of autism, the more accurate the diagnosis and counseling or treatment can be.

What Tests Diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Healthcare providers can diagnose autism by assessing a person’s development and behavior. There are many tools to help diagnose ASD, and no single tool by itself should serve as the basis for a diagnosis. Examples of diagnostic tools include:

• Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)
• Autism Diagnosis Interview–Revised (ADI-R)
• Gilliam Autism Rating Scale–Second Edition (GARS-2)
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule–Generic (ADOS-G)
• American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)

These tools rely on the following two sources of information:

• A healthcare provider’s observation of the child’s behavior
• The parent or caregiver’s description of their child’s development and behavior

Sometimes, a parent/caregiver will be referred to a specialist to help reach a diagnosis.

There are also screening tools to help identify developmental delays. A screening tool is often not specific to a developmental disorder, and the screening does not lead to a diagnosis. The screening simply provides information for follow-up assessment.

Examples of screening tools that may be used to evaluate whether a child is experiencing developmental delays related to ASD include: 

• Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS)
• Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT)
• Parents’ Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS)

Delayed Diagnosis in Boys vs. Girls

Children who are assigned female are significantly more likely to have a delayed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder than their male counterparts.

One study found that not only were girls at a significantly higher age at diagnosis than boys, but they also experienced a longer delay in getting referred to mental health services.

Most of the research has been conducted on male populations, and recent research has suggested that males and females may experience their autism traits differently. This can lead to girls being insufficiently diagnosed. Underdiagnosis among girls means that the significantly higher rates of ASD among boys may not be entirely accurate.

More research is needed on ASD traits and sex differences to ensure that girls are adequately diagnosed and receive the support they need.

Is There Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Treatment for an autism spectrum disorder may involve multiple medical and behavioral professionals in various settings, like education or at home.

As autism impacts people differently, treatment for autism traits is tailored to the individual. The goal of treatment is to improve function in everyday life and improve quality of life.

Types of treatments can be broken down into the following categories:

• Developmental, such as speech and language therapy
• Social-relational, such as social skills groups
• Behavioral, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA)
• Educational, such as the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication-Handicapped Children (TEACCH) approach
• Psychological, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Pharmacological, such as medications to treat the inability to focus, though there are no medications to treat core autism traits
• Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as art therapy or animal therapy

What Kind of Providers Specialize in Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autistic people may be referred to healthcare providers specializing in behavioral, educational, psychological, and skill-building interventions.

The type of specialist needed to build treatment plans will depend on the individual type and intensity of autism traits. Even when specialists are involved, programs to help autistic people often also require the cooperation of caregivers and other family members.

A pediatric neurologist can be a good first specialist to see.

Complications of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autistic people may experience a range of other conditions that can impact their daily life and overall quality of life. In addition to their autism traits, these complications can include:

• Epilepsy or seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal (GI) issues (such as constipation)
• Unusual eating or sleeping habits
• Excessive anxiety, stress, or worry
• Unusual emotional reactions or moods
• More fear than expected or lack of fear

Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder

For autistic people and their families, daily life can be challenging. Accessing resources and setting expectations can help.

Tips for Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Everyday life isn’t always easy for autistic people and their families. Support comes in a variety of ways, from a variety of people. Even for autistic people with low support needs, life is still challenging.  

Below are some tips that may make life for autistic people just a little easier each day:

• Try to maintain basic healthy behaviors, such as exercising and getting plenty of rest, to give yourself a solid foundation in everyday life.
• Regular checkups with your healthcare providers are important. Find providers who are comfortable working with autistic people.
• Changes can be really difficult to face. Plan ahead to give yourself plenty of time to process the transition and what to expect.
• Remember, there are many people who understand autism. Finding a support group can open doors to meeting more people like you and learning from their personal experiences to help you with your own.

Autism Stigma

The stigma around ASD stems from people’s misunderstanding of the condition and the interpretation of visible traits. For example, a person may notice an autistic child having trouble maintaining a back-and-forth conversation and judge them unfairly.

Stigma affects both the autistic person and their families, who may experience ignorance, discrimination, and prejudice about the ASD diagnosis.

Autism stigma hurts well-being, including physical and mental health, and can lead to fewer social connections. It may also cause autistic people to try to hide their autistic traits.

Reducing stigma and ensuring there are autism-friendly spaces to go to is important for reducing the negative effects on the mental, physical, and social health of autistic people and their families.

Caring for Someone With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Taking care of an autistic person and meeting their needs can put caregivers and families under a lot of stress mentally, physically, and financially. Learning to communicate with an autistic person is crucial and may be an ongoing process.

Remembering that the person may not find the words to express their feelings is also important. For example, head banging may be an autism trait, or it could be that they have a headache but don’t know how to communicate that. Patience is key.

Because transitions and change can be distressing for autistic people, it can help to make a schedule and keep a routine. When changing schools or other transitions are inevitable, making a plan ahead of time can help make the change easier to handle.

Outlook for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Living with autism spectrum disorder or caring for someone who does isn’t easy and can make daily life more difficult.

While it can be very structured and intense, treatment can greatly improve everyday quality of life. The earlier the diagnosis, the better for being able to start treatment and experience its benefits.

Resources for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Besides healthcare providers and the specialized care they can give to an autistic person, some resources can help individuals and families live a little easier. Support groups may be beneficial for finding autistic communities. Autistic people and their families may also be eligible to receive government disability benefits. 

There are also many programs for people with disabilities to access resources like employment, housing, community life, and other benefits. Check with your healthcare provider to locate resources and programs specific to autistic people in your area. Also, thanks to technology, you may be able to connect with resources and people outside your immediate area as well.