Autism Spectrum Disorder Impairs Social Skills, Behavior, and Communication

Autism is the main form of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Autism is a developmental disorder that is manifested in problems with communication, impairment of social functioning, and repetitive behaviours. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), ASD diagnoses must meet four different areas of criteria. There are three symptoms of "deficits in social communication and interaction across contexts," four symptoms of "restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities," "symptoms must be present in early childhood," and the symptoms must "together limit and impair everyday functioning" (Carpenter, 2013). There are many theoretical positions on the causes of autism spectrum disorders. Some of which have been discounted by empirical studies that have been researched and performed.

Every year one in 68 Americans is diagnosed with autism. There are more than 3.5 million Americans living with an autism spectrum disorder (Autism Society), which makes it the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States, hence the significant amount of studies being done to explore its characteristics and find solutions. Autism, also known as ASD, is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is categorized by dysfunctions in social situations, communications, constrained interests, and repetitive stereotypic behaviors (Siniscalco et al). These behaviors can range from mild to very severe, and may be accompanied with other disorders. Autism can be diagnosed during early childhood, while symptoms begin to show during the first

Autism spectrum disorder is a lengthy diagnostic category that includes those with impaired social interaction and communication, and those with repetitive stereo-typed behaviors (Persico & Merelli, 2014). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIH), defines the term ‘spectrum’ as a wide range of symptoms, skill, and levels of impairment or disability that kids with ASD possess. It is a disorder in where several parts of the brain have obstacles working together to complete complex tasks. It is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges (CDC, 2015).

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a “developmental disability that cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges” (Autism, 2015a). The word “spectrum” refers to “a wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment or disability that children with ASD can have” (Autism, 2015b). ASD is “not a single disorder, but a spectrum of closely related disorders with shared core of symptoms”. These disorders include: Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome (Smith, 2015). One in sixty-eight children in the United States are affected by this disorder (Autism, 2015c). ASD is a little different from the many other mental disorders. It does not affect all children exactly the

Amazingly, one percent of new births will have some type of autism (Autism Society of America, 2010). Asperger’s disorder is one type of Autism, and is at the high end of these disorders. This “disorder, which is also called Asperger's syndrome (AS) or autistic psychopathy, belongs to a group of childhood disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs) or autistic spectrum disorders”(Exkorn, 2006). A characteristic of this disorder is harsh and strict disruption of a certain type of brain development. The most affected areas of Asperger's disorder is difficulty in social understanding and in behavior or activities that are limited or recurring (Frey, 2003). Students with Asperser’s have different levels of seriousness,

The course of a person’s development over the lifespan is influenced by several factors including genetics, environment, culture, nutrition, among countless other things. Developmental disorders also greatly influence a person’s development starting from a very young age. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is considered a pervasive developmental disorder that can range from mild to severe. People who have ASD often have problems during social interactions, difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication, and experience repetitive behaviors (Santrock, 2012, p. 536). Those diagnosed with mild ASD, previously known as Asperger’s syndrome, have less communication problems, but are still impacted by restricted interests, difficulty engaging in relationships,

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long developmental disorder with a neuro-biological basis that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that formerly were diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, and Asperger syndrome. ASD varies significantly in character and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group. Males are four times more likely to have an ASD than females (NINDS, 2014).

According to CDC, autism spectrum disorder is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social communication and behavioral challenges (2015). Needless to say, while people diagnosed of ASD may carry these developmental incapacities, it typically does not distinguish them from other people. For this purpose, this disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder also known as ASD is a Neurological Disorder affecting about 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls in the United States. The Government has said that the Autism rate has increased a 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. ASD is a Disease that has such a big effect on a kid’s life, the family, and everyone around them. A Child diagnosed with autism will have to everyday struggle to deal with normal life situations like communication and social skills that normal toddlers are able to pick up naturally. There are three main types of ASD’s: Autistic disorder which is also called “Classic” Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Persuasive Developmental Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified short for PDD-NOS also called

Autism spectrum disorder first became a diagnosed disorder when it was described by a psychiatrist named, Leo Kanner in 1943. As a result of a study he conducted involving 11 children, he developed a diagnostic criteria based on observations of repetitive, stereotyped behavior with consistent impairment in social interactions (Volden, 2017). Over time however, autism became synonymous with Asperger’s disorder and pervasive developmental disorder that included similar, but widely different diagnostic criteria in social interactions. Not until 1994 did the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders 4th edition recognize autism as a distinct disorder, being classified today in the 5th edition of DSM as autism spectrum

Numerous studies have been conducted on the diagnostic features and potential definitions of autism, and the accompanying developmental, social and behavioral deficits found in individuals diagnosed with autism. The various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) have changed in their definitions and diagnostic criteria of autism over time. In past editions, Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder were listed as separate disorders. However, in the DSM-5, which is the current edition of the DSM, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the name of the disorder that encompasses the diagnostic features and definitions of those three neurodevelopmental disorders. Individuals previously diagnosed with any of those three disorders are now to be given the diagnosis of ASD. The definition and diagnostic criteria of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders have changed so much over time because screening and diagnosing autism is very difficult for a number of reasons, which will be more thoroughly discussed in this paper. This paper will examine the diagnostic criteria, prevalence and risk factors, most effective forms of treatment and intervention, and life impacts on individuals and families of Autism Spectrum Disorder through the review of the DSM-5 and several peer-reviewed journal articles.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) comprises of a group of conditions including autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (DSM-5, 2014). ASD are a type of neurodevelopmental conditions diagnosed on the basis of three core behavioural domains: 1) Persistent deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication; 2) Impairments in social interaction; 3) Restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of activities, interests, and behaviours (DSM-5, 2014). The variation in the severity of behavioural traits between, and within these three disorders is extensive. It should be emphasised that due to this high phenotypic heterogeneity, and clinical variability, caution in the

Revisions have been made to the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) between DSM- IV and DSM- V. Many of those who met the different benchmarks for the DSM IV didn’t meet it when the DSM-V was published. In the DSM-IV there were three different areas that can be diagnosed within the ASD spectrum; Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (Gibbs et al., 2012). Certain symptoms were to be diagnosed the minimum features were at least 6 in the 3 distinct areas two being from social interaction, one in communication area, the other being abnormality (Gibbs et al., 2012)

ASD is a group of neurodevelopment disorders that include what used to be called early infantile autism, childhood autism, Kanner’s autism, high-functioning autism, atypical autism, pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified, and Asperger’s disorder (American Psychological Association (APA), 2013). ASD is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple settings, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities that can significantly impairs a young child’s ability to communicate and interact with others (APA, 2013).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “about 1 in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ASD is almost 5 times more common among boys (1 in 42) than among girls (1 in 189)” (CDC, 2010). Autism spectrum disorder is a mental illness that is defined as deficits in social communication and interaction and limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. The signs and symptoms of Autism usually are visible in the early developmental period (before age three). Nevertheless, lack of social skills and typical behavioral patterns may not be recognized until the child is unable to encounter social,