What are autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)?
ASDs are developmental disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary—from gifted to severely challenged. An ASD begins before the age of 3 and lasts throughout a person’s life.
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is actually not one single disorder with a well-defined set of symptoms, but rather, a group of disorders that affect an individual’s behavior, social interactions, and communication skills. The most common ASDs include Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett’s Syndrome are severe, but rare disorders included within the Autism Spectrum Disorders. These five conditions have many overlapping symptoms but differ with respect to onset, severity and exact nature of the symptoms. Because of the significant variability in how ASDs present themselves, any two individuals diagnosed with an ASD may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills and deficits. Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders are evident before the age of three (typically earlier), wi
