Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a spectrum disorder, which means there are no particular symptoms for this condition. People suffering from ASD can exhibit a number of symptoms, and each person with the condition will behave differently from the other. Just as the causes of ASD are debatable, there's no definite explanation of the symptoms either. That is the reason it becomes important to 'classify' people with ASD on the basis of a spectrum, which is nothing but a measure of the symptoms that they suffer.

This spectrum runs from a low end to a high end. Sufferers of ASD who exhibit numerous symptoms, which take them quite far away in behavior from a normal person, are placed on the lower end of the autism spectrum. The people who are placed on the higher end are the people who show fewer symptoms of ASD. They are almost like other children as far as their behavior is concerned.

Thus, this spectrum is a way to understand how mild or serious the patient's condition is. ASD is generally identified in childhood, at around 3 years of age. When identified, some analytical tests are carried out by the medical personnel attending to the child. The first tests are an indication of whether the child is suffering from ASD or not. These results are not conclusive. If there's an indication, further tests are carried out, with a view to finding out exactly what symptoms of autism the child displays. This is when the child is placed on the spectrum, based on the kinds of symptoms he or she displays.

There are a host of symptoms that children with autism might display. There are some early warning signs as well. These will differ from one child to another, and need to be confirmed medically before the child can be called as an autistic child. Most of the children with autism will be slow in understanding and reciprocating language (won't be able to master one word by 16 months of age and two words by 24 months of age). The child will not like to be cuddled or held and will not cry or ask to be lifted. The child will not play 'normally' with toys, or might be obsessed in arranging them in a particular manner. The child will not recognize people and will not understand what they are telling him or her. There may be times when it will appear that the child has a hearing disability.

It is based on the presence of these symptoms that children are placed on the autism spectrum, which decides their further course of treatment. However, children who display one or more symptoms on this spectrum might become quite keen in other areas, which might actually make them prodigies. For instance, a child who cannot understand language might develop a keen understanding of music and become a child genius.

What needs to be understood is that autism isn't the end of the road. The spectrum is just a measure of how different the child's behavior is from that of other children around him. However, the child may be above normal in other areas, which need to be identified.

Kelly Hunter owns and operates http://www.accelerated-nursing-programs.com and also writes about Accelerated Nursing Programs.