Autism is a severe developmental disorder that affects communication and social interaction. Symptoms vary widely but can include difficulty communicating, socializing, repetitive behaviors, and obsessive interests. While there is no cure, early treatment including behavioral and educational therapies can help reduce symptoms and support development. The rate of autism diagnoses has increased dramatically in recent decades, with current estimates of 1 in 88 children in the US being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Parents play an important role in tracking their child's development and advocating for early evaluation and intervention.

1. Autism

2. Autism is a severe developmental
disorder that begins within the
first three years after conception.
Most autistic children look like
other kids, but do puzzling and
disturbing things which are
markedly different behaviors from
those of typical children.
What is Autism?

3. In less severe cases on the spectrum
(Pervasive Developmental Disorder
(PDD) or Asperger's Syndrome),
children usually have speech and
might even be intellectually gifted, but
they have one or more "autistic" social
and behavioral problems. People used
to think that autism was irreversible.
The good news is that there are now a
range of treatments that can be really
helpful.
What is Autism?
(Cont.)

4. • Also called Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD)
• A serious developmental disorder
that impairs the ability to
communicate and interact.
• Very Common: More than
200,000 US cases per year
• Can't be cured, but treatment
may help
• Chronic: can last for years or be
lifelong
• Autism spectrum disorder
impacts the nervous system.

5. • The range and severity of
symptoms can vary widely.
Common symptoms include
difficulty with communication,
difficulty with social interactions,
obsessive interests, and
repetitive behaviors.
• Early recognition, as well as
behavioral, educational, and
family therapies may reduce
symptoms and support
development and learning.

6. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

7. • Behavioral: inappropriate social interaction,
poor eye contact, compulsive behavior,
impulsivity, repetitive movements, self-harm,
or persistent repetition of words or actions
• Cognitive: intense interest in a limited
number of things or problem paying attention
• Developmental: learning disability or
speech delay in a child
• Psychological: unaware of others' emotions
or depression
• Also common: anxiety, change in voice,
sensitivity to sound, or tic
People May
Experience:

8. For many years autism was rare -
occurring in just five children out
of 10,000. However, since the
early 1990s, the rate of autism
has increased dramatically
around the world, with figures as
high as 60 per 10,000. In March,
2012, the US Federal Centers for
Disease Control that 1 in 88
children in the US is diagnosed
with an ASD.
How common is
it?

9. Too few pediatricians screen for
autism. A 2006 study from Johns
Hopkins found that only 8% of primary
care pediatricians routinely screened
for autism. Lack of familiarity with the
screening tools was the primary
reason. If your pediatrician isn’t seeing
what you see, don’t wait for him/her to
come around. If your child is under
three, contact your state’s early
childhood intervention program and
ask for an evaluation.
Pediatricians'
Part

10. The parents of autistic children
represent a vast and important
reservoir of information on the
benefits-and adverse effects- of the
large variety of drugs and other
interventions that have been tried with
their children. Since 1967 the Autism
Research Institute has been collecting
parent ratings of the usefulness of the
many interventions tried on their
autistic children.
The Parents

11. • www.autismspeaks.org
• www.researchautism.net
• www.nichd.nih.gov
• www.iancommunity.org
• www.hhs.gov
• www.cdc.gov
• www.med.umich.edu
• www.centerforautismresearch.com
• www.researchautism.org
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