What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), hereafter referred to as Autism (which includes Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified [PDD-NOS]), is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation.
Autism is prevalent across the world, although tracking rates can vary due to differences in reporting. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Prevalence Data & Statistics for Autism.
For additional facts & statistics about autism, click here, or visit the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence (VCU-ACE).
The autism experience is different for everyone. It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is often referred to as a “spectrum disorder” that affects people differently and to varying degrees.
While there is currently no single cause for autism, early diagnosis helps a person receive resources that can support the choices and opportunities to live fully.
Screening and Diagnosis
Autism is characterized in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), which is used by clinicians to diagnose Autism.
Some examples can include:
- Persistent differences in communication, interpersonal relationships, and social interaction across different environments.
- What this can look like: Being nonverbal, nonspeaking, or having atypical speech patterns, having trouble understanding nonverbal communication, difficulty making and keeping friends, difficulty maintaining typical back-and-forth conversational style.
- Restricted and repetitive behavior, patterns, activities and interests.
- What this can look like: Repeating sounds or phrases (echolalia), repetitive movements, preference for sameness and difficulty with transition or routine, rigid or highly restricted and intense interests, extreme sensitivity to, or significantly lower sensitivity to, sensory stimuli.
Signs and Characteristics
Autism impacts an individual throughout the lifespan. However, research shows that early diagnosis can lead to improved quality of life. The behaviors of Autism may be apparent in infancy, but they usually become clearer during early childhood. As part of a regular health visit, your child’s doctor should perform developmental screenings focused on Autism. This screening is recommended at ages 18 and 24 months for all children.
Your doctor will encourage you to ask specific questions about your child’s developmental progress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Milestones Checklist can be used as a guide to track your child’s development from 2 months to 5 years. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a list of Signs and Symptoms, which can be found here.
Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD. Characteristics can include:
- Avoids or does not keep eye contact
- Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
- Does not show facial expressions such as happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
- Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
- Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)
- Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like)
- Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age
- Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months (2 years) of age
- Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months (3 years) of age
- Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months (4 years) of age
- Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months (5 years) of age
Contact your child’s doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s development.
People with ASD have behaviors of interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.
Examples of restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests related to ASD can include:
- Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
- Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)
- Plays with toys the same way every time
- Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)
- Gets upset by minor changes
- Has obsessive interests
- Must follow certain routines
- Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
- Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
Contact your child’s doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s development.
Most people with ASD have other related characteristics. These might include:
- Delayed language skills
- Delayed movement skills
- Delayed cognitive or learning skills
- Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior
- Epilepsy or seizure disorder
- Unusual eating and sleeping habits
- Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
- Unusual mood or emotional reactions
- Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
- Lack of fear or more fear than expected
It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as examples here. Contact your child’s doctor if you have any concerns about your child’s development.
The Autism Society of Central Virginia (ASCV) is here to support you.
We can answer your questions and connect you to resources and service providers in your community.
Our Resource Directory connects individuals and families with local providers and resources tailored to their needs, featuring recommendations from those who have used these services.
Our Information and Referral Program can help by educating you about resources that may be available and how service systems operate. We can assist with navigating various issues, and how to effectively obtaining needed services. Complete this online Request form or give us a call at: 1-804- 259-3188.