Misconceptions about Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autistic symptoms vary tremendously among individuals, both in severity and in the unique combination of traits. Some autistic children and adults do maintain eye contact; others show affection easily. It’s also important to note that autism spectrum disorder is a neurological condition, not a mental illness. New research also indicates that the intelligence of those with autistic disorders measures much higher than was previously thought, says Dr. Mottron.

The science is relatively new and there are still many unknowns. “The trend of research in the past 10 years indicates that most of the things that autistics were supposed to do the same way, appear to be different, and that most of the things that autistics were not supposed to do well, they do better than we thought,” says Dr. Mottron. Some autistic adults, for example, argue that their neurological differences shouldn’t necessarily be perceived as “abnormal”, just different, or sometimes even gifted. Indeed, talented director Stephen Spielberg and musician David Byrne are two successful individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Meeting adults with ASD and reading as many resources as you can helps develop a better understanding of the condition.

Signs and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Children with ASD can be diagnosed as early as 18 to 36 months, but as many as 50 per cent of children aren’t diagnosed until kindergarten or beyond. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), you may want to investigate the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder if your child:

• Doesn’t babble, point or gesture by one year of age
• Doesn’t speak one word by 16 months
• Doesn’t combine two words by two years
• Doesn’t respond to his name
• Loses language or social skills at any age

If you suspect that your child has autism, contact your local autism society or clinic to find a doctor who specializes in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The diagnostic process may include referrals to multiple specialists, such as a speech and language therapist, occupational therapist or a behavioral therapist, as well as a psychologist, neurologist or psychiatrist. According to the NIMH, diagnosis is made via observation, interviews with caregivers and a variety of screening tests, including:

• The Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (CHAT)
• The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT)
• The Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)
• The Australian Scale for Asperger's Syndrome
• The Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test (CAST) 
• Autism Diagnosis Interview-Revised (ADI-R)
• The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-G)
• Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS)