What Are Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), often commonly referred to as “Autism,” include five neurobiological disorders: Autistic Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (not otherwise specified), Rett’s Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Autism is a brain disorder that affects an individual’s ability to: communicate, relate to people and the environment in typical ways, understand and respond to sensory input (e.g. pain, touch, sound, taste), control movement, and learn and think in typical ways. The effects on learning and functioning can range from mild to severe.  Even in its milder forms, functioning in sociali­zation and communication can be very impaired. Nevertheless, children with autism can learn and grow and lead quality lives.

Characteristics of Autism

There is great diversity among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  They vary in the extent to which they display the char­acteris­tics of ASD.  Characteristics include:

• difficulty relating to people, ob­jects, and events
• repetitive movements such as rocking or spinning, head banging, and hand twisting
• atypical reactions to sensory stimuli (e.g. touch, sound, taste, pain)
• insistence on certain routines
• difficulty with change and transitions
• limited or poor eye contact
• impaired communication skills
• use of toys and objects in an unconventional manner; little imaginative play
• may have typical or exceptional abilities in specific areas (e.g. putting puzzles to­gether), but lack other basic skills (e.g. can’t follow directions)

More About Autism

Autism occurs in as many as 1 in 150 individuals -- more than 1.5 million people in the United States, and as many as 4,800 in western Mass­achusetts. Autism is found throughout the world in families of all racial, social, econo­mic, and ethnic backgrounds.  Autism affects four times as many boys as girls.

Although the causes of autism are still unknown, research suggests that there is a strong genetic component with a variety of external and environmental triggers.  No factors in the psychol­ogical environment of the child cause autism.

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