Frequently Asked Questions About
Autism and Related Disorders
• HOW IS AUTISM CLASSIFIED?

Technically, Autism is classified as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.  According
to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
Pervasive Developmental Disorders are characterized by severe and pervasive
impairment in several areas of development, including reciprocal social interaction
activities.  The qualitative impairments that define these conditions are distinctly
atypical relative to the individual’s developmental level or mental age.  There are five
Pervasive Developmental Disorders, which include Autistic Disorder, Rett’s
Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth
Edition (DSM-IV) the diagnostic features of AUTISTIC DISORDER are as follows:

  • Qualitative impairment in social interaction
  • Qualitative impairments in communication
  • Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviors, interests, and
    activities
  • Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas with onset
    prior to age 3 years; (1) social interaction, (2) language as used in social
    communication, or (3) symbolic or imaginative play
  • Disturbance cannot be accounted for by another Developmental Disorder
• WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF THE OTHER PERVASIVE
DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS?

RETT’S DISORDER differs from Autism primarily in that it is associated with loss of
previously acquired hand skills between ages 5 months and 30 months and onset of
severe or profound mental retardation. Motor skills are replaced with repetitive
movements of the hands.

According to the DSM-IV the diagnostic features of RETT’S DISORDER  are as
follows:

  • Apparently normal prenatal and perinatal development
  • Apparently normal psychomotor development through the first 5 months after
    birth

CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER is diagnosed when a child shows a
clinically significant loss of previously acquired skills in verbal and nonverbal
communication, social relationships, play, and adaptive behavior, after the first 2
years of life (but before age 10 years.)  Both RETT’S DISORDER and CHILDHOOD
DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER appear to be very rare. Little behavioral research has
been conducted in persons who have these diagnoses.

According to the DSM-IV the diagnostic features of CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE
DISORDER are as follows:

  • Apparently normal development for at least the first 2 years after birth in verbal
    and nonverbal communication, social relationships, play, and adaptive
    behavior.
  • Clinically significant loss of at least two of the above previously acquired skills
    (before age 10 years in at least)

ASPERGER’S DISORDER differs from AUTISTIC DISORDER in that the impairment
is primarily in social interaction skills.  The presence of repetitive patterns of
behavior and ritualistic behaviors are usually present.  There are no clinically
significant delays in language or cognitive development, and self-help and adaptive
behaviors also develop normally.  Asperger’s Disorder appears to have a somewhat
later onset than Autistic Disorder, or is at least recognized somewhat later.  

According to the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ASPERGER’S DISORDER are as
follows:

  • Qualitative impairment in social interaction
  • Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and
    activities
  • The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social,
    occupational, or other important areas of functioning
  • There is no clinically significant general delay in language (e.g., single words
    used by age 2 years, communicative phrases used by age 3 years)
  • There is no clinically significant delay in cognitive development or in the
    development of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior (other than
    in social interaction), and curiosity about the environment in childhood
  • Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or
    Schizophrenia

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED (PDD-
NOS) has been referred to by many professionals in the field, as a “catch all”
diagnosis when it is unclear exactly what the child’s diagnosis should be.  This
disorder may have several of the symptoms of Autism, but is not diagnosed as such
due to the atypical display and variance of symptoms. Examples might include
behavioral presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because
of late age of onset, atypical symptomatology, or sub threshold symptomatology, or
all of these.
• HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS AUTISM?

Only a qualified professional, such as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or
developmental pediatrician should make the diagnosis of Autistic Disorder.
Diagnosis is based on a list of psychiatric criteria, and a series of standardized
clinical tests and/or screening questionnaires may also be used.  Once the
diagnosis has been confirmed, a variety of professionals may become involved in
the evaluation process to determine each child’s specific needs.  Such
professionals might include a neurologist, speech therapist, occupational therapist,
and various other specialties.

• WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF AUTISM?

This is a much debated question, for which there is no one, simple answer.  At this
time, scientists cannot agree on the specific cause(s) of Autism. Researchers have
offered several hypothesizes, including a genetic predisposition, environmental
factors, and neurological, metabolic, and immunological factors.  Continued
research is ongoing and necessary to gain a better understanding of the etiology of
Autism.
• WHAT IS AUTISM?

Autism is a developmental disorder, neurobiological in origin, which results in
individuals having difficulty communicating and socially relating to others. Many
individuals with Autism often prefer to isolate themselves, and become fixated on a
particular object, word, or activity. Although there is no cure for Autism, there is
effective treatment. Autism is not the result of poor parenting or other social
variables in the home. Autism is often referred to as a "spectrum disorder" in which
indviduals can fall along a continuum, ranging from severely challenged to gifted.
Autism occurs in all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups, and is four times
more likely to occur in boys than girls. For more specific diagnostic information,
please see "How is Autism Classified?" below.

• HOW COMMON IS AUTISM?

There is not a full population count of all individuals with an Autism Spectrum
Disorder (ASD) in the United States. According to two national studies conducted by
the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 2003 and 2004, the estimated prevalence of
parent-reported children diagnosed with autism was 5.6 per 1000, for children aged
4 to 17 years. It could be summarized that between 1 in 500 (2/1000) to 1 in 166
children (6/1000) have an ASD.   CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Monitoring Network released new data in 2007 that found about 1 in 150 8-year-old
children in multiple areas of the United States had an ASD.  Research focused on 8-
year-old children because previous research has shown that most children with an
ASD have been identified by this age.  Since behaviors related to the ASDs are
usually present before the age of 3 years, it is important to make sure the individuals
are being identified and receiving appropriate intervention services as early as
possible.  Please click on the following link to access the Center for Disease Control
for additional information on this topic: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/