Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

By now, everyone has heard of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and many of us know at least one person who has been diagnosed with it whether they are a child or an adult. In fact, more children than ever are being diagnosed as being on the “spectrum” because doctors and therapists today have a deeper understanding of ASD than in past decades. ASD was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V (also known as the DSM-V) in 2013, and replaces past terms such as “Asperger Syndrome,” “autistic disorder,” “pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS),” and “childhood disintegrative disorder.”

What Causes ASD?

Medical and Psychology professionals are still studying and come to understand ASD better each year. While the causes of ASD are not fully understood, we do know that it is not caused by children or adults receiving vaccinations. Rather, the causes can be one or more of the following:

  • Genetic predisposition where certain familial genes can result in a child being born autistic, while others are associated with autism (but are not known to cause it)

  • Difficulties during pregnancy and delivery

  • Low Folic Acid during pregnancy

  • Women having children after the age of 37

The presence of these and other factors does not mean that a child will with 100% certainty be diagnosed with ASD. These factors are only potential indicators that a child might be once the mother gives birth, or at some point in their childhood. Here are a few important points about ASD that we should remember:

  • ASD affects people regardless of factors such as race, ethnicity, or socio-economic background and status.

  • ASD is not caused by any single factor; it is always the result of a number of factors.

  • Every person with ASD is a unique individual; no two should be treated exactly the same way.

Can an Adult be Diagnosed with ASD?

Absolutely! Just as with children, the number of adults being diagnosed with ASD is on the rise. As with children, this is a result of medical and psychology professionals understanding ASD and the factors that cause it more completely. But even though more people are being diagnosed as adults, many more who are likely on the ASD spectrum are living and working without knowing or understanding why they feel, think, and have emotions in the ways they do. These ways can be different than their peers, which can cause the ASD adult to experience social isolation or even rejection and abandonment by friends and family members.

What Is The ASD “Spectrum”?”

You have probably heard that Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder is just that: A spectrum. What this means is that one person diagnosed with ASD will show certain behaviors consistent with ASD, and those behaviors can be more or less numerous, and more or less intense, than other people diagnosed with ASD. An individual does not have to have a certain number of behaviors, experience certain emotions the same way, or face the same challenges as everyone else with ASD. It is also the case that someone on the spectrum will not show only one ASD-linked behavior.

What Are Some Signs Of Autism/ASD In An Individual?

Some behaviors may be clear indicators of someone being on the ASD spectrum while others may be less obvious. Some well-known positive indicators are:

  • Delayed speech - a child not vocalizing or speaking until they are several years old (or more)

  • Repetitive behaviors (non-OCD)

  • Echolalia - repeating certain words, phrases, or sounds over and over

  • Not making eye contact with or looking at the person they are responding to

  • Being seen by others as “quiet” and a “loner”

  • Extreme pickiness with eating

  • Being seen as a “troublemaker” at school

  • Sensory issues (sound, touch, smell, etc.)

  • An affinity for things and animals over people

  • Difficulty holding conversation and/or engaging in “small talk”

  • Rigidly performing certain actions the same way, every time

  • Self-injurious behaviors

  • Working for years in the same job but never advancing, or an inability to hold a job

  • Inability to understand how a certain action or response could hurt or offend someone

  • A person’s spouse finding them cold, uncaring, or non-affectionate

These indicators, as well as many more not listed here, can be signs that someone is on the spectrum. Someone on the spectrum who deals with any mixture of the above can experience social, intellectual, developmental, and other problems both as children and as adults. For example, a boy being perfectly happy spending lots of time playing and thinking alone as a child may grow into an adult who cannot relate to their peers, does not know or understand how to converse with men or women, doesn’t interview for jobs well, and will have few if any close friends. But one thing to keep in mind is, it is never too late to help someone who is diagnosed ASD later in life, or who may be undiagnosed. Medical and psychology professionals have developed ways to help ASD adults improve their day-to-day lives, their marriages, and their careers.

How Is Someone Diagnosed As Being on The ASD Spectrum?

Psychology professionals use a range of tools to determine whether ASD is an appropriate diagnosis for a patient. The tools a professional uses can depend on factors such as a patient’s age. The following are common tools used when arriving at a positive diagnosis for ASD:

  • Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2)

  • Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)

  • Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, 2nd Edition (GARS-2)

  • Autism Diagnosis Interview (ADI)

Capstone Mental Health is committed to helping individuals of any age who are already diagnosed with ASD, or who may be on the spectrum.