Autism Spectrum Disorder: Signs, Diagnosis and Treatment

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder. It begins early in childhood and lasts for life, affecting how a person behaves, interacts with others, communicates and learns.

ASD now includes conditions that used to go by other names — Asperger syndrome and the pervasive developmental disorders. It's called a spectrum because people with ASD can have a wide range of symptoms.

What it can look like

A person with ASD may:

• have trouble talking with you, or not look you in the eye while you talk to them;
• have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors — for example, spending a lot of time putting things in order, or saying the same sentence over and over;
• often seem to be in their "own world."

Getting a diagnosis

• A child's development should be checked by their health care provider at well-child checkups.
• If there are signs of ASD, the child will get a comprehensive evaluation, which may involve a team of specialists doing several kinds of tests and assessments before making a diagnosis.

What causes it

The causes of ASD aren't known. Research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles.

Treatment

There's no single standard treatment for ASD, but there are many ways to help a child grow and learn new skills — and starting early can lead to better results. Options include:

Sources

Based on "Autism Spectrum Disorder," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine; summary text from the NIH's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. A work of the United States government in the public domain.