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What is autism?
Autism or Autistic
Disorder is the most common condition in a
group of
developmental disorders known as Pervasive
Developmental
Disorders (PDD) or Autism Spectrum
Disorders (ASD). Autism is
characterized by impaired
social interaction, problems with verbal and
nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or
severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger’s Disorder, Rhett’s Disorder,
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive
Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Autism varies widely in its severity and may go
unrecognized, especially in mildly affected
individuals
or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps
(e.g., Mental Retardation). Doctors rely on specific
behaviors to alert them to the possibility of a
diagnosis of autism.
What are common
characteristics of autism spectrum disorders?
- Difficulty
understanding language.
- Poorly developed
social skills and unusual play with toys.
- Over or under
sensitivity to sound, sight, taste, touch, or
smell.
- Repetitive
behaviors such as spinning objects or rocking.
- Certain
behaviors exhibited to stimulate the senses,
such as switching a light on and off repeatedly
or humming loudly.
- Difficulty with
changes to surroundings or routines.
- Very high levels
of activity for long periods of time.
- Uneven skill
development. Some skills are normal or superior
for their age while others show significant
delay.
- Challenging
behaviors such as aggression, self injury, or
withdrawal.
–
From CARD FactSheet
How is autism
diagnosed?
A comprehensive
evaluation is required to diagnoses autism spectrum
disorders, including in-depth measures of cognitive
functioning, adaptive behavior, autism diagnostic
tools (i.e., ADI-R and ADOS), behavioral
observations, and sometimes neuropsychological and
speech and language evaluations. Diagnosis is based
on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria and
deficits in the areas of communication, social
interaction, and stereotypical,
repetitive/restricted repertoire of behaviors and
interests.
What causes
autism?
Scientists are not
certain what causes autism, but it is likely that
both genetics and environment play a role.
Researchers have identified a number of genes
associated with the disorder. Studies of people with
autism have found irregularities in several regions
of the brain. Other studies suggest that people with
autism have abnormal levels of serotonin or other
neurotransmitters in the brain. These abnormalities
suggest that autism could result from the disruption
of normal brain development early in fetal
development caused by defects in genes that control
brain growth and that regulate how neurons
communicate with each other. While these findings
are intriguing, they are preliminary and require
further study. The theory that parental practices
are responsible for autism has now been disproved.
–
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke
How is autism treated?
There is no cure for autism. Therapies and
behavioral interventions are designed to treat
specific symptoms and can bring about substantial
improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates
therapies and interventions that target the core
symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction,
problems with verbal and nonverbal communication,
and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests.
Most professionals agree that the earlier the
intervention, the better.
Who should be
referred to ASAC?
- A person who
needs diagnostic clarification to investigate
the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder
- A person
previously diagnosed with an autism spectrum
disorder, in need of re-evaluation and/or
updated treatment recommendations
- Individuals
exhibiting impairments in social interaction,
communication, and/or restricted repertoire of
activity and interests
- Children
with behavioral or other difficulties in need of
diagnostic information
What is a typical
schedule for an ASAC evaluation?
ASAC offers testing
at the University of Miami, Coral Gables Campus. Because of the team approach
utilized in ASAC, the evaluation is typically
completed in three to six hours and may take place
over one or two days. While parents/caregivers are
interviewed, the client completes testing.
Additionally, ASAC provides the opportunity for
parents/caregivers to complete questionnaires before
the day of the evaluation.
Feedback sessions are typically scheduled within two
to four weeks of the evaluation.
How do I schedule
my child for an evaluation?
Call 305-284-6140 to schedule an appointment. A clinical member
of our team will then conduct an intake interview
over the telephone to gather developmental and
behavioral information about your child and discuss
an appropriate assessment schedule.
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