Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: Signs, Diagnosis, and Support
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Autism is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate, express themselves, socialize and learn. It is a spectrum disorder, and individuals may be classed as high functioning, or less so, depending on where they come on the spectrum.
In recent years increased research into autism (and in particular a 2013 study of 2500 children), how it is diagnosed, and how it presents in different individuals has revealed that girls are more likely to be misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for autism than their male counterparts.
Mild autism in itself is not an official diagnosis term. There is no specific form of autism known as mild autism. In 2015 the diagnostic criteria for autism underwent a significant change with the publication of the DSM-5. These criteria created one universal diagnosis – autism spectrum disorder – and included within that diagnosis a level of support for each individual found to be on the spectrum. These criteria replaced the labels of Asperger’s, mild autism, and high functioning autism that had come to characterize the different ways in which autism presents in other individuals.
It is a lifelong, spectrum disorder that affects an individual’s social, behavioral, and communication skills. While it has yet no exact cause, the signs and symptoms of autism are increasingly identifiable as awareness of the disorder develops amongst medical professionals, parents, caregivers, and educators.
Autism is a complex, lifelong disorder that affects an individual’s social, communication, and behavioral skills. It is a spectrum disorder and cases range from mild to severe depending on how it presents in an individual. This also means that the symptoms and signs vary widely among individuals.
Also known as an autism spectrum disorder, autism is a variety of conditions that affect the social skills, behaviors, and communication of affected individuals. As a spectrum disorder, it presents very differently, in terms of its symptoms and severity, in different individuals. The level of support an individual needs when living with autism depends on the severity of and the specific symptoms involved.