Autism spectrum disorder refers to a wide variety of development problems and disabilities. That is why it is extremely important to understand what type of autism your child is suffering from; that way, you can act accordingly to tend to their needs. There are five main types of autism spectrum disorder, and we’ll do our best to present each of them to you.
Remember, if your child has autism, they are going to have some special needs. Those needs depend greatly on the type of autism they’ve been diagnosed with.
Is Autism Spectrum Disorder Common?
Autism is surprisingly common, and it can affect up to one out of every 68 children. For example, if you live in a town of 7,000 inhabitants, statistically speaking, about 100 of them may suffer from some type of autism. Luckily, there are quite a few early intervention programs available; they will undoubtedly help your child outgrow most of the autism-related issues. Make sure, however, that your child gets diagnosed early on. An earlier diagnosis also means that the autism therapy will be far more successful.
Early Autism Symptoms
In some cases, the first symptoms of autism may appear when the child is only a few months old. In many cases, however, these early symptoms do not present themselves until the child’s first or even second birthday. These may include the child:
- Not responding to their name
- Making repetitive movements
- Not talking very much
- Avoiding eye contact
- Getting upset when asked to do something
Older children can develop a variety of new symptoms, such as:
- Constantly feeling the desire to be left alone
- Having an above-average interest in certain complicated subjects
- Having trouble forging new relationships
- Taking things too literally
Developmental screening tests need to be performed before the final diagnosis can be reached. General practitioners often perform them during the child’s routine checkup. If you have a history of autism (of any type) in your family, make sure to let the doctors know. They’ll be able to form the diagnosis much quicker knowing this. You can always count on ADHD Evaluations in Plantation, FL if you’re concerned about your child suffering from autism.
Five Types of Autism
There are five major types of autism, and we will go over them one by one to help you understand their differences and similarities.
- ASD, or the Asperger’s Syndrome
Level 1 autism spectrum disorder is also sometimes called Asperger’s syndrome, although it is necessary to admit that many doctors no longer consider it an official diagnosis. This is the basic form of autism, and many affected do not display many worrying symptoms. They are often extremely intelligent and possess strong verbal skills, but they do have certain problems and difficulties when it comes to actually interacting with people.
People diagnosed with ASD (or Asperger’s Syndrome) often struggle with basic social skills and instead prefer to focus their attention on a few selected topics. Speech delay is quite rare for this type of autism. On the contrary, many children do in fact have an advanced vocabulary for their age.
- Rett Syndrome
This type of autism is rather unusual, as it seems to mostly affect girls. Rett Syndrome typically demonstrates its first symptoms early on; by the time the child is six months old, the disability is evident in most cases. It is important to note that some children diagnosed with Rett syndrome are only mildly affected. Other children, however, may develop far more severe symptoms, and there seems to be no clear pattern.
Diagnosing Rett Syndrome may prove difficult, as many of the symptoms also appear in other autism spectrum disorders. The symptoms associated with Rett Syndrome typically include social communication skills. The child may also have difficulties using their hands properly, as well as with general motor skills
- CDD, or the Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
You may have already heard of this disorder, but it is very likely you’ve never associated the childhood disintegrative disorder with the autism spectrum. Have you ever heard the stories about children developing at an unusual pace (sometimes even surprisingly fast) before their development suddenly came to a stop, and then started regressing? Perhaps you personally know such children? It’s pretty safe to say they are suffering from the childhood disintegrative disorder.
This type of autism is always hard to deal with for the parents. After all, their child was developing rather well, and this sudden stop often spawns fear and confusion, especially as some children can shut down almost entirely. The doctors sometimes postulate that this type of autism may be related to other disorders, including some resulting in seizures.
- Keener’s Syndrome
Keener’s syndrome is probably what most people imagine typical autism looks like; and it is, actually, also known as the classic autistic disorder. Much like all types of autism, Keener’s syndrome may demonstrate a wide variety of symptoms. The most typical ones include challenges with communication and understanding of other people, avoiding eye contact, as well as hypersensitivity to certain stimuli, including, but not limited to smell, touch, noise, and light.
Children with the Keener’s syndrome often show absolutely no attention whatsoever to the world around them, and they do not really desire to interact with other people. They also do not accept changes in their routine and may become quite upset when any such change is imposed upon them. Children diagnosed with this type of autism turn their attention inward and have an obsession with handling objects, yet generally ignore those around them.
- PDD-NOS, or Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified
PDD-NOS is perhaps the mildest type of autism, although it can present a wide range of symptoms. Even though this form of autism is mild, it can still cause certain challenges, such as social interactions and language development problems. Children diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder often also suffer from limited motor skills.
Of course, much like the other types of autism, even pervasive developmental disorder can be troublesome. If you believe your child is suffering from this condition, do not hesitate to get your child evaluated as soon as possible.
No matter what type of autism your child may have been diagnosed with, you must know that this condition can be managed, and there is always hope. Of course, the management of autism depends on how severe the symptoms are. Sometimes, in milder cases, only behavioral correction therapy is required. Other times, the doctors will decide that changing your child’s diet will be effective; believe it or not, sometimes limiting gluten or protein intake can lead to amazing results. It is, however, crucial that you do not start any therapy on your own. Let the doctors diagnose your child and pick the right treatment plan. That said, you are welcome to reach out to Dr. Ileana Romero-Bolumen, an expert pediatrician with decades of experience in treating kids of all ages who are affected by various conditions as well as helping their parents cope.
