Medication works best when paired with therapy that develops socialization and other life skills. There are medications to help children with symptoms. That way, you can line up resources to help your child reach their full potential. The key is to find out as soon possible if a child is on the spectrum. The diagnosis may be suspected by developmental screens done at 9 months, 18 months and 24 months of age. There is no lab test for an autism spectrum disorder. To make the diagnosis, doctors observe the child and ask questions of the parents or guardians about the child’s behaviors. Many things, in addition to genes, may be involved. There’s not one “ autism gene” that’s at work. But they don’t have all of the answers yet. Scientists know that genetics are one of the risk factors. Causesįinding all the causes of ASDs is a big topic of research. And many are somewhere between those two ends of the spectrum. You might not know that they have a condition. Some people with an ASD live on their own, go to school, and hold a job. Keep in mind that the spectrum has a wide range. They need strict schedules and don’t like changes to their routines.

Perform repetitive behaviors like hand-flapping, rocking, jumping, or twirlingĬhildren on the spectrum may repeat certain types of play, have trouble with “make believe,” and be more interested in parts of a toy, rather than the toy itself.Not be able to express what they’re thinking through language.SymptomsĬhildren on the autism spectrum have problems with social communication and interactions, and they often repeat certain behaviors. Why the change? The spectrum concept is a more medically accurate way of diagnosing children with these disorders. The name change came in 2013, when the American Psychiatric Association reclassified autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) as autism spectrum disorders. PDDs are now called autism spectrum disorder. But it’s actually not a term that doctors use anymore.

Pervasive developmentally delayed