Autism

Extracted Attributes

• Cure

  No known cure

• Type

  Neurodevelopmental condition/disorder

• Onset

  Early childhood (symptoms generally appear in the first two to three years of life)

• Duration

  Lifelong condition

• Frameworks

  Neurodiversity framework

• Medication

  No medication directly addresses core features, some manage co-occurring conditions

• Heritability

  Highly heritable, influenced by multiple genes

• Also known as

  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Treatment Goal

  Enhance self-care, social, and language skills; reduce environmental and social barriers

• Spectrum Nature

  Presentations vary widely, support needs range from minimal to 24-hour care

• Motor Coordination

  Difficulties are common but not a requirement for diagnosis

• Key Characteristics

  Differences in social communication and interaction, need for predictability and routine, sensory processing differences, focused interests, repetitive behaviors

• Environmental Factors

  Smaller, primarily prenatal role

• Gender Diagnosis Ratio

  Boys diagnosed more frequently than girls

• Diagnostic Criteria Evolution

  Broader since the 1990s; DSM-IV grouped Asperger's Syndrome and PDD-NOS with autism

• Estimated Diagnosis Rate (Adults, CDC)

  1 in 45 adults (Autism Speaks)

• Estimated Diagnosis Rate (Children, CDC)

  1 in 36 children (American Psychiatric Association); 1 in 31 children (Autism Speaks)

• Estimated Diagnosis Rate (Children, WHO 2012-2021)

  About 1 in 100 children

Timeline

• Diagnoses of autism began to increase due to broader diagnostic criteria, increased awareness, and better access to assessment. (Source: summary, Wikipedia)

  1990s

• The DSM-IV grouped Asperger's Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) with autism. (Source: web_search_results)

  1995-2011

• A fraudulent study linking vaccines to autism was published, which was later retracted. (Source: summary, Wikipedia)

  1998

• The World Health Organization estimated that about 1 in 100 children were diagnosed with autism. (Source: summary, Wikipedia)

  2012-2021

• Discussions occur regarding potential links between autism and factors like Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy. (Source: summary, related_documents)

  Ongoing

• The neurodiversity framework, framing autistic traits as a natural variation of the human condition, gains research attention and remains a subject of debate. (Source: summary, Wikipedia)

  Ongoing

Autism

Autism, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a condition characterized by differences or difficulties in social communication and interaction, a need or strong preference for predictability and routine, sensory processing differences, focused interests, and repetitive behaviors. Characteristics of autism are present from early childhood and the condition typically persists throughout life. Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder, and a formal diagnosis requires professional assessment that the characteristics lead to significant challenges in several areas of daily life to a greater extent than expected given a person's age and social environment. Motor coordination difficulties are common but not required. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, presentations vary and support needs range from minimal to being non-speaking or needing 24-hour care. Autism diagnoses have risen since the 1990s, largely because of broader diagnostic criteria, greater awareness, and wider access to assessment. Changing social demands may also play a role. The World Health Organization estimates that about 1 in 100 children were diagnosed between 2012 and 2021 and notes the increasing trend. Surveillance studies suggest a similar share of the adult population would meet diagnostic criteria if formally assessed. This rise has fueled anti-vaccine activists' disproven claim that vaccines cause autism, based on a fraudulent 1998 study that was later retracted. Autism is highly heritable and involves many genes, while environmental factors appear to have smaller, mainly prenatal role. Boys are diagnosed several times more often than girls, and conditions such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, and intellectual disability are more common among autistic people. There is no cure for autism. There are several autism therapies that aim to increase self-care, social, and language skills. Reducing environmental and social barriers helps autistic people participate more fully in education, employment, and other aspects of life. No medication addresses the core features of autism, but some are used to help manage commonly co-occurring conditions, such as anxiety, depression, irritability, ADHD, and epilepsy. Autistic people are found in every demographic group and, with appropriate supports that promote independence and self-determination, can participate fully in their communities and lead meaningful, productive lives. The idea of autism as a disorder has been challenged by the neurodiversity framework, which frames autistic traits as a healthy variation of the human condition. This perspective, promoted by the autism rights movement, has gained research attention, but remains a subject of debate and controversy among autistic people, advocacy groups, healthcare providers, and charities.

Web Search Results

• What is Autism?

  What is Autism? Autism is a developmental disorder with symptoms that appear within the first three years of life. Its formal diagnostic name is autism spectrum disorder. The word “spectrum” indicates that autism appears in different forms with varying levels of severity. That means that each individual with autism experiences their own unique strengths, symptoms, and challenges. Understanding more about ASD can help you better understand the individuals who are living with it. [...] Autism is a lifelong condition, and a wide variety of treatments can help support people with ASD. The symptoms and comorbidities—conditions occurring in the same individual—are treatable. Early intervention delivers the best results. Parents and caregivers should seek out the advice of a qualified medical professional before starting any autism treatment. [...] The definition of autism has been refined over the years. Between 1995 and 2011, the DSM-IV grouped Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) with autism. Asperger’s syndrome was an autism spectrum disorder marked by strong verbal language skills and, often, high intellectual ability. PDD-NOS was a more general diagnosis for people who did not fit clearly into the other two categories.

• Autism Spectrum Disorder - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life. [...] Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because people with autism have a range of characteristics, needs, strengths, and challenges.

• What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder? - American Psychiatric Association

  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong condition, the need for services and supports because of these challenges varies among individuals with autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder.

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

  Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 31 children and 1 in 45 adults in the United States today. ### We know that there is not one type of autism, but many. [...] Autism looks different for everyone, and each person with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges. Some autistic people can speak, while others are nonverbal or minimally verbal and communicate in other ways. Some have intellectual disabilities, while some do not. Some require significant support in their daily lives, while others need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently. [...] Autism is a lifelong condition, and an autistic person’s needs, strengths and challenges may change over time. As they transition through life stages, they may need different types of support and accommodations. Early intervention and therapies can make a big difference in a person’s skills and outcomes later in life. > There is no one type of autism, but many. > > - Stephen Shore ##### Related resources

• Autism spectrum disorder - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

  Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that affects how people see others and socialize with them. This causes problems in communication and getting along with others socially. The condition also includes limited and repeated patterns of behavior. The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of symptoms and the severity of these symptoms. [...] Autism spectrum disorder begins in early childhood. Over time, it can cause difficulty functioning in society. For example, people with autism spectrum disorder may have problems being social or when in school or at work. Often children show symptoms of autism within the first year of life. A small number of children with the condition appear to develop as expected in the first year. Then between 18 and 24 months of age, they may lose some skills and develop autism symptoms. [...] Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that were once thought to be separate — autism, Asperger's syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and a form of widespread developmental disorder that isn't specified.

• Instance Of

  Q5633421

• Inception Date

  1/1/1997