What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism is a developmental disability that can affect many different areas of a person’s life from childhood to adulthood.

Some of those areas include social skills, repetitive behavior, speech, sensory difficulties, unusual abilities, and nonverbal communication.

In the early 1990s, psychiatrists began recognizing that autism presented in many different forms ranging from mild to severe. They started categorizing autistic traits on a spectrum, rather than a finite set of symptoms.

That’s why today you’ll hear the words “on the spectrum” and why it’s called autism spectrum disorder, or ASD for short.

Some people describe autism as having a brain that works with a different operating system than other people. It would be similar to comparing an Apple computer to a Microsoft computer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Autism

1. How many people have autism?

According to the CDC, today 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a number which has increased steadily over recent decades. This number may be underreported as girls are often diagnosed late or never at all.

2. What is neurodiversity or neurodivergent?

Being neurodivergent means having a brain that functions differently than the dominant societal standards of “normal.”

● Autism falls under the term “neurodiverse” which also includes people with ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome.

3. What is neurotypical?

Neurotypical describes people who are not autistic who developed intellectually and cognitively in a “typical” way.

4. Are all autistic people the same?

No, autism has a wide range of symptoms and does not present the same in every person. No two people on the spectrum are exactly alike in symptoms or personalities.

5. What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Asperger’s Syndrome previously referred to people with autism who might be considered “high functioning.”

● As of 2013, Asperger’s is no longer considered a distinct diagnosis. It’s now under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorder. Some people still use this term to refer to people with “mild” autism, but it’s largely not used in the mental health field today.

6. What are the causes of ASD?

There are some potentially unknown causes of ASD, but environment, genetics, and biological factors can all play a role. Some risk factors include being born to older parents, low birth weight, or having immediate family members with autism.

7. What are the signs and symptoms of ASD?

People on the autism spectrum exhibit signs and symptoms differently. Some experience very severe symptoms while others may only have mild symptoms.

Some may have both mild and severe symptoms. Most people on the spectrum share these traits of autism:

● Social communication challenges
● Restricted, repetitive behaviors

8. What does ASD look like in adulthood?

Adults with ASD range from mild to severe with symptoms, but most have communication and behavior challenges.

Some symptoms include:

● Trouble interpreting facial expressions

● Difficulty understanding sarcasm or idioms -- taking language very literally

● Anxiety about social situations

● Struggle to make and maintain friendships

● May come across blunt or rude

● Prefer to have a routine and may become anxious when routines change

● Avoid eye contact

● Difficulty expressing feelings

● Strong special interest in one or two areas

● Unusual interests

● Clumsiness

● Prefer to work alone towards a goal as opposed to working in a group

● Involuntary noises such as throat clearing

● Engage in repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping, fidgeting, body rocking, repeating certain phrases

● Sensory issues and sensitivity to things like light, sound, or smells

9. Does ASD look the same in men and women?

No, women are often diagnosed later in life than men or not at all because their symptoms can be different.

These are some ways that women may show autism differently than men:

● May have less severe symptoms than men

● May have an interest in things that may be typical for girls such as fashion or appearance, but with much more intensity

● Camouflaging or “hiding” their autism. Some neurodivergent women will force themselves to make eye contact, prepare conversations ahead of time, and mimic social behaviors, expressions, or gestures.

Related Reading: What is Autism? Online Health Guide