Pervasive Developmental Disorders, now referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), include:
- Autistic Disorder
- Asperger Syndrome
- Atypical Autism Disorder
According to recent studies and clinical observations, the overall prevalence of ASD is approximately 1 in 150 children.
Causes
The exact causes of ASD remain a subject of research. Clinical studies suggest that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to neurobiological changes in brain development, which are associated with the disorder.
However, what is certain is that ASD is not caused by parenting style, socioeconomic status, or any fault of the individual or their family.
ASD is a lifelong condition that affects how a person perceives the world, processes information, and interacts with others. These disorders impact individuals in varied ways and to different degrees.
Characteristics
Autism Spectrum Disorders primarily affect three areas of development:
- Social interaction
- Social communication
- Repetitive and obsessive behaviors
More specifically, individuals on the autism spectrum may:
- Be socially withdrawn
- Exhibit socially inappropriate behavior
- Want to make friends but lack the necessary social skills to form and maintain friendships
- Find the behavior of others, especially peers, unpredictable and stressful
- Struggle to understand non-verbal communication, such as gestures, facial expressions, and body language
- Interpret language literally, making it difficult to understand jokes, metaphors, and sarcasm
- Have difficulty recognizing and empathizing with the emotions of others
- Display highly focused and repetitive interests
- Insist on strict routines and experience anxiety or distress when they are disrupted
Symptoms vary depending on the type of disorder, the severity of symptoms, and the individual’s intellectual and developmental level.