Autism Spectrum Disorder FAQs

FAQs on Autism 

💚 What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is an atypical neural development of the brain, and starts from early infancy. It is not a psychological condition. 

ASD is a lifelong developmental condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. It is also characterized by repetitive motor movements, inflexible adherence to routines, ritualized patterns of behavior, fixations, hyper-or hypo-reactivity to sensory input. People with autism may also experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colors. 

Since the rbain processes what is seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelled differently, the person with ASD perceives and reacts to his environment in a manner unique to neurotypical people. ASD may occur with other conditions such as attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), Down 

Syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, among others. 

ASD is a spectrum condition, which means that, while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their autism will affect them in different ways. Many people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying challenges that require a lifetime of specialist support. 

💚 How can we detect or prevent autism? 

The cause of autism is still unknown; but scientific research suggests it is a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 

Autism is not detected at birth and as yet, no physical test will detect ASD. A child can be diagnosed with autism before the age of 3 years, by observing their behavior. 

💚 How can people tell when a person has autism? 

Licensed developmental pediatricians, neurologists and clinical psychologists may be consulted to assess whether a person has autism. An individual with autism manifests the dyad of impairments -- impairment in social interaction and communication, and repetitive and stereotypic behavior. 

💚 What do persons with autism look like? 

Individuals with autism do not share any physical characteristics, inasmuch as they do not share the same developmental or behavioral patterns. The condition is also widely distributed across race and other demographic areas, making physical generalizations baseless. 

💚 How can individuals with autism be “cured”? 

Autism IS NOT A DISEASE. With the right intervention, many individuals with autism live rich, fulfilled lives.