a. What is Autism? b. Prevalence of Autism c. Common Characteristics of Autism d. What Causes Autism? e. Diagnosing Autism f. Diagnostic Tools g. Consulting with Professionals h. Getting Past the Diagnosis i. Is it Autism? Diagnosing Autism, PDD, or Asperger's Disorder j. Autistic Disorder k. Rett's Disorder l. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder m. Asperger's Disorder n. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Including Atypical Autism) o. Asperger Syndrome Asperger's Disorder A. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following: - Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, - facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction - Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level - A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with - other people (e.g. , by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to - other people ) - Lack of social or emotional reciprocity B . Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following: - Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of - interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus - Apparently inflexible adherence to specific, non-functional routines or rituals - Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or - complex whole-body movements)Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects C. The disturbance causes clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. D. 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) E. 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. F. Criteria are not met for another specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder or Schizophrenia. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Including Atypical Autism) This category should be used when there is a severe and pervasive impairment in the development of reciprocal social interaction or verbal and nonverbal communication skills, or when stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities are present, but the criteria are not met for a specific Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizotypical Personality Disorder, or Avoidant Personality Disorder. For example, this category includes "atypical autism"-- presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because of late age of onset, atypical symptomatology , or subthreshold symptomatology , or all of these. Asperger Syndrome Asperger's Disorder is one of five Pervasive Development Disorders (PDDs), which also includes Autism, Rett's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). PDDs are a category of neurologically-based disorders that have a range of delays in different developmental stages. Asperger's Disorder as first described in the 1940s by Viennese pediatrician Hans Asperger who observed autistic-like behaviors and difficulties with social and communication skills in boys who had normal intelligence and language development. Many professionals felt Asperger's Disorder was simply a milder form of autism and used the term "high-functioning autism" to describe these individuals. Professor Uta Frith, with the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience of University College London and author of Autism and Asperger Syndrome, describes individuals with Asperger's Disorder as "having a dash of Autism." Asperger's Disorder was added to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) in 1994 as a separate disorder from autism. However, there are still many professionals who consider Asperger's Disorder a less severe form of autism. What distinguishes Asperger's Disorder from autism is the severity of the symptoms and the absence of language delays. Children with Asperger's Disorder may be only mildly affected and frequently have good language and cognitive skills. To the untrained observer, a child with Asperger's Disorder may just seem different. Children with autism are frequently seen as aloof and uninterested in others. This is not the case with Asperger's Disorder. Individuals with Asperger's Disorder usually want to fit in and have interaction with others; they simply don't know how to do it. They may be socially awkward, not understanding conventional social rules, or may show a lack of empathy. They may have limited eye contact, seem to be unengaged in a conversation, and not understand the use of gestures. Interests in a particular subject may border on the obsessive. Children with Asperger's Disorder frequently like to collect categories of things, such as rocks or bottle caps. They may be proficient in knowing categories of information, such as baseball statistics or Latin names of flowers. While they may have good rote memory skills, they have difficulty with abstract concepts. One of the major differences between Asperger's Disorder and autism is that, by definition, there is no speech delay in Asperger's. In fact, children with Asperger's Disorder frequently have good language skills; they simply use language in different ways. Speech patterns may be unusual, lacking inflection or having a rhythmic nature. Speech may be formal and too loud or high pitched. Children with Asperger's Disorder may not understand the subtleties of language, such as irony and humor, or may not understand the give and take nature of a conversation. Another distinction between Asperger's Disorder and autism concerns cognitive ability. While some individuals with Autism experience mental retardation, by definition a person with Asperger's Disorder cannot possess a "clinically significant" cognitive delay. This does not imply that all individuals with autism have mental retardation. Some do and some do not, but a person with Asperger's Disorder possesses average to above average intelligence. While motor difficulties are not a specific criteria for Asperger's, children with Asperger's Disorder frequently have motor skill delays and may appear clumsy or awkward. Diagnosis Diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder is on the increase although it is unclear whether it is more prevalent or whether more professionals are detecting it. The symptoms for Asperger's Disorder are the same at those listed for autism in the DSM-IV. However, children with AS do not have delays in the area of communication and language. In fact, to be diagnosed with Asperger, a child must have had normal language development as well as normal intelligence. The DSM-IV criteria for AS specifies that the individual must have "severe and sustained impairment in social interaction, and the development of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests and activities," that must "cause clinically significant impairment in social occupational or other important areas of functioning." The first step to diagnosis is an assessment, including a developmental history and observation. This should be done by medical professionals experienced with Autism and PDDs. If Asperger's Disorder or high functioning autism is suspected, the diagnosis of autism will generally be ruled out first. Early diagnosis is important; children with Asperger's Disorder who are diagnosed and treated early in life have an increased chance of being successful in school and eventually living independently. To learn more, see Consulting with Professionals page <1> <2> <3> ADHD - Mental Retardation - Learning Disabilities - Global Developmental Delay   Source: Autism Society of America COPYRIGHT © 2004 - 2010 TRAILS CENTER FOR CHILDREN INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.