Just like everyone, autistic people can have good mental health. However, according to the autism research charity Autistica, seven out of ten autistic people have a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Overview. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.
There is no consensus on whether autism is a form of brain damage. Some researchers believe that autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, while others argue that it is a result of brain damage.
Long-term effects of autism can include: Social isolation. Familial discord. Difficulty forming and maintaining friendships.
Autism characteristics can change significantly from ages 3 to 11.
Untreated autism causes changes in brain function that make it more difficult for the person to control impulsive behavior or think rationally about their actions before they act on them. This can lead to situations where ASD adults are unable to live alone and take care of themselves without assistance.
Compared with their non-autistic peers, autistic children have significantly faster expansion of the surface area of their cortex from 6 to 12 months of age. In the second year of life, brain volume increases much faster in autistic children than in their non-autistic peers.
At the level of disrupted neurocircuitry, disruption of four social brain regions is hypothesized to largely drive ASD symptomatology, and these social brain regions are the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), temporoparietal cortex (TPC), and insula.
Abuse before pregnancy and abuse during pregnancy may both increase risk of ASD through stress, behavioral, or other pathways.
Abstract Some children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) exhibit low mental age (Low-MA), defined here as cognitive functioning below 12 months.
It's something you're born with. Signs of autism might be noticed when you're very young, or not until you're older. If you're autistic, you're autistic your whole life. Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a "cure".
Sensory overload, changes in routine, social isolation, co-occurring conditions, and lack of support can all exacerbate the symptoms of autism. However, with early intervention, therapy, and support, individuals with autism can manage these challenges and improve their quality of life.
Does The Father Or Mother Carry The Autism Gene? Autism was always thought to have a maternal inheritance component, however, research suggests that the rarer variants associated with the disorder are usually inherited from the father.
Main signs of autism
finding it hard to understand what others are thinking or feeling. getting very anxious about social situations. finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on your own. seeming blunt, rude or not interested in others without meaning to.
However, brain scans using MRI and other methods do indeed help to recognize targets for the treatment of autism and may even help to diagnose autism in the future.
Non-autistic people tend to assess concepts before details, also known as top-down thinking. Autistic people take the opposite approach with bottom-up thinking and use details to build concepts. It may take longer to filter out sensory details with this approach, but you're less likely to miss important information.
In the autistic brain, the brain reduced connectivity, known as hypoconnectivity, allows weakly connected regions to drift apart, with sulci forming between them.” Research has shown the deeper theses sulcal pits are, the more language production is affected.
Autism doesn't get worse with age, but certain symptoms can become more pronounced and problematic as the child grows older and is more challenged.
High functioning autism (HFA) is a subtype of autism that describes individuals with average or above-average intelligence and language skills, but who still struggle with social communication and behavior. Like other forms of autism, HFA symptoms can change over time, but it does not necessarily get worse with age.
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is a condition in which people have difficulty recognizing and remembering faces. This condition is often seen in people with autism spectrum disorder.
If the information from the M-CHAT suggests your child displays “red flags” for ASD, approach your healthcare provider with the information and determine if a full diagnostic evaluation is warranted. It's never too late – interventions can be effective at all ages.
Some, usually those with the least severe problems, eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have difficulty with language or social skills, and the teen years can bring worse behavioral and emotional problems.
Autism is a disability under the ADA. Some adults and children with autism can access Social Security benefits, including disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Continue reading to learn more about autism and available disability benefits.