Autism Basics

What does autism look like?

Autism is a term commonly used for a group of neuro-developmental disorders also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The core symptoms of autism are challenges related to:

  • communication
  • social interaction
  • restrictive or repetitive behaviors and interests

Individuals with autism can also experience other difficulties, including medical issues, differences in coordination and muscle tone, sleep disturbances, altered eating habits, anxiety or disordered sensory perceptions.  The features, abilities and severity of symptoms vary considerably among individuals with autism.

An individual with autism may display some or all of the following characteristics:

  • Difficulty understanding language, gestures and/or social cues
  • Limited or no speech, or verbalizations that repeat or maintain a particular topic
  • Limited or no eye contact
  • Difficulty relating or participating in a back-and-forth conversation or interaction
  • Social awkwardness
  • Repetitive behaviors, such as pacing or lining things up, spinning, hand flapping, or rocking
  • More or less sensitivity to light, sound, smell, taste or touch than usual
  • Abnormal fears and/or lack of appropriate fear of real dangers
  • Understanding and retention of concrete concepts, patterns, rules

Where does it come from?

There is no known cause of most cases of autism, though the best scientific evidence points toward a combination of genetic and environmental influences. Autism is a neurological/biological disorder, not a psychological/emotional condition.

Autism is found in all social, racial and ethnic groups, and is 3-4 times more prevalent in boys than in girls.  Autism occurs in 1 out of 150 children, up from 1 in 10,000 in 1980.

What do I need to keep in mind?

  • Communication challenges can encompass a broad range, both in terms of understanding and speaking (understanding gestures or spoken language, delays in processing, inability to form sounds or full sentences, word retrieval difficulties, misunderstanding idioms or sarcasm, timing of body movements or conversational exchanges, remaining on topic, etc.)
  • Most are concrete thinkers and literally interpret jokes, idioms or sarcasm
  • Social skills are underdeveloped, but interest in friendships and social interaction is often present
  • Anxiety and frustration are common