Exploring Autism

Early Intervention. Delayed speech. Autism. Those were the thoughts I had after a day of shadowing a physician. We had come across a toddler who was exhibiting many of the symptoms of autism. In today's society, autism, also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a common developmental disability. As of 2016, nearly one in every 54 children was on the autism spectrum. But what is autism? How is it diagnosed? And what does it mean for the patient?

What is Autism?

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that the severity and type of symptoms vary greatly. Autistic levels were previously known by names such as autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and Asperger Syndrome. However, autism diagnoses are now generally classified into three levels:

ASD Level 1 - Requiring Support

Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the mildest form of the disorder. Those diagnosed with this can usually speak in full sentences, but they may miss social cues/body language or be unable to hold a conversation. Furthermore, they struggle to say the right thing at the right time, are adamant about deviating from their preferred routine, and have organizational and planning issues that prevent them from being self-sufficient.

ASD Level 2 - Requiring Substantial Support

A child with ASD Level 2 has more obvious communication difficulties than those with ASD Level 1, especially when it comes to social communication. They may also become agitated if they must shift their focus from one routine to another. They also have limited interests and partake in repetitive behaviors such as rocking, spinning, flapping, and so on.

ASD Level 3 - Requiring Very Substantial Support

Level 3 autism, as you might expect, is the most severe form of autism and includes little to no communication. Those with Level 3 autism usually only speak when they need or want something. They will also rarely initiate interactions, and if they do, it will most likely be done in an awkward fashion. Those in this category exhibit the same behaviors as those in Levels 1 and 2, but to a much greater extent.

Here is a table organizing the levels of autism:

Though the categories can assist in understanding some of the physical behaviors that may occur, they are not exhaustive. For example, a child may require assistance at school but is fine on their own at home, allowing the child to be classified as having ASD at Levels 1 and 2. As a result, there is no definitive level into which the diagnoses can be placed.

Symptoms of Autism

Though some of the symptoms of autism are discussed above there are generally a variety of symptoms that could occur in an autistic patient including the following:

Will not point at an object that is generally interesting (ex. will not point at a plane flying in the sky)
Avoids making eye contact
May appear interested in people but doesn't interact with them and is usually found alone
Does not play pretend games (ex. pretending to feed a doll)
When talked to they appear to be unaware
Does not like to be cuddled or hugged
Has unusual reactions to how an object tastes, smells, looks, feels, or sounds
Lose skills that they once had
Doesn't look at objects when pointed out to them
Repeat actions
Has difficulty in understanding other people's feelings and emotions
Has trouble saying or moving in typical ways
Echo words or phrases said to them instead of having a normal conversation
Gets upset when their routine is disrupted
Likes to play with electronics, books, puzzles, educational DVD's, and other items
Has delayed speech

However, these symptoms are subjective and they may or may not appear in a child depending on the severity and type of autism.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Notice that I've used the word "child" rather than "adult" or "person." This is because autistic patients are typically detected around the age of 18 months and can be reliably diagnosed by a medical expert by the age of two. However, a final diagnosis may not be made until much later, reducing the child's chances of receiving early help that could improve their social abilities.

It can be difficult to diagnose a child with autism because there are no physical characteristics, as there are in other developmental disorders such as Down syndrome. A physician must observe the behavior and development of a child in order to make their diagnosis.

Though there is no known cure for autism, early intervention can be extremely beneficial. Early intervention services generally assist children from birth to three years old in learning important skills such as speech and interaction. Furthermore, speech therapy for language delays can benefit an autistic child.

Causes

We have covered the levels of autism, the symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments but what actually causes autism? There is no single cause of autism, but scientists have identified several causes based on environmental, biological, and genetic factors. Some of the causes are listed below:

Genes are a risk factor that increases a person's chances of developing ASD
Children who have siblings with ASD are at a higher risk of developing the developmental disease
Those with chromosomal conditions, like fragile X chromosomes or tuberous sclerosis, usually have a greater chance of acquiring autism
Prescription drugs that contain valproic acid and thalidomide can increase the chances of ASD if taken during pregnancy
Children born to parents that are older have a greater risk of falling into the Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Many pieces of evidence have also shown that autism is acquired before, during, or shortly after birth, but the evidence is still insufficient to make accurate assumptions.

The Pros of Autism

Autism may appear to be a very dangerous disease, but it does not always have to be viewed in this light. For one thing, autistic children have greater abilities and strengths than the average human being, including:

Learning to read at a young age (known as hyperlexia)
Quickly memorizes and learns information
Visual and logical thinking and learning
Excels in subjects that don't require much interaction, such as science, engineering, and mathematics
Has exceptionally good memories and can retain information for an extended period of time
Extremely accurate and detail-oriented
Are trustworthy, dependable, and punctual people
When motivated, can concentrate for extended periods of time
Are consistent in terms of schedule and routine

Even though it is critical to raise awareness about the symptoms and issues that autistic children may face, this does not mean that autistic children will never make friends, have relationships, or get a job. In fact, many of the world's most influential and famous people have been known to be autistic, including Albert Einstein (uncertain), Elon Musk, Temple Gradin, Anthony Hopkins, and many others. Thinking about the positive aspects of autism can change people's perceptions, make the community more inclusive, and aid in the support of people with autism.

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