| What is Autism Anyway? |
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| Quick Facts on Autism: § Studies done internationally, show that one in every 150-160 children has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. § Latest statistics show that one in 165 Canadians are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s), an increase of over 600% in the past ten years!! § Autism spectrum disorders are now more common than Down’s Syndrome, childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, blindness and deafness |
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| There are 3 common terms Clinicians, Caregivers, and Educators alike use…when describing “Autism”. They can be quite confusing and daunting! Some terms you’ll hear are:
Autism, Classic autism, High functioning autism. OR:
§ Autistic Disorder § Asperger Syndrome or Asperger's Disorder § Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) All of these terms can and may be, interpreted differently in various settings. The term "Autism" is often to refer specifically to Autistic Disorder and it is also used more generally to refer to all ASDs. No one child or adult with Autism (ASD’s) are the same. Each person brings with them unique abilities, developmental difficulties, as well as talents. Factors that differeniate one person with Autism, to the next are: § Number and particular kinds of symptoms § Severity – (mild to severe) § Age of onset § Levels of functioning § Challenges with social interactions There are five Autism Spectrum Disorders described under the diagnostic category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) that appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association. When speaking of ASD’s, most people are referring to 3 of the Pervasive Development Disorders that are most common are: § Autistic Disorder (also known as Autism, Classic autism and AD) § PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified) § Asperger's Disorder (also called AS, Asperger's Syndrome and Asperger Syndrome) People with ASD’s have varying degrees of difficulty in social interaction and communication and may exhibit repetitive behaviors and have unusual attachments to objects or routines. Autism is the most common neurological disorder affecting children and one of the most common developmental disabilities affecting Canadians. ASD’s change the way the brain processes information and can affect all aspects of a person's development. Classic autism usually appears during the first three years of life. Autism is four times more common in boys than girls. Each individual is unique - no one person with an ASD responds or behaves exactly like another with the same diagnosis. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) § Rare: ~0.2 in 10,000 = ~500 Canadians § Significant losses in social behavior, language, play and adaptive behavior after period of normal development of 3 or more years § Severe deficits in cognitive ability Rett's Syndrome § Rare: ~1 in 10,000 = ~3,150 Canadians § Found almost exclusively in girls § Significant regression after a period of normal development § Severely impaired language and psycho-motor skills § Severe deficits in cognitive ability Autistic Disorder (AD) § Most common: ~20 in 10,000 = ~73,000 Canadians § Cognitive impairments § Deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication § Deficits in social understanding § Unusual behaviors, restricted activities Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) § Common: ~15 in 10,000 = ~47,000 Canadians § Also called atypical autism § Severe and pervasive impairment in some areas such as reciprocal social interaction, or restricted activities and interests but the strict criteria for autistic disorder are not met Asperger Disorder (also called Asperger's Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, and AS) § Common: ~5 in 10,000 = ~15,000 Canadians § Mild to severe impairments in social interaction and understanding § Restricted and repetitive activities and interests § Language and cognitive development not delayed § Deficits in communication Reference for prevalence: Fombonne, E., 2003: Modern Views of Autism, Can. J. Psychiatry, 48:503-505. Fombonne, E., 2003: Epidemiology of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders: an update. J. Autism.Dev. Disord. 33:365-381 |
