What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?


Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability  that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how individuals with ASD look that sets them apart from other people. However, individuals with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of individuals with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some individuals with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.

A diagnosis of ASD now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger syndrome, Rett Syndrome,  and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. These conditions are now all called autism spectrum disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Individuals with ASD often have problems with social, emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and they may experience difficulty when changes are made in their daily activities. Many individuals with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. Signs of ASD begin during early childhood and typically last throughout an individual’s life.

Children or adults with ASD might:

  • not point at objects to show interest (for example, not point at an airplane flying over);
  • not look at objects when another person points at them;
  • have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at all;
  • avoid eye contact and/or want to be alone;
  • have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings;
  • prefer not to be held or cuddled;
  • appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds;
  • be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play, or relate to them;
  • repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language;
  • have trouble expressing their needs using typical words;
  • not play “pretend” games (for example, not pretend to “feed” a doll);
  • repeat actions over and over again;
  • have trouble adapting when a routine changes;
  • have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound;
  • lose skills they once had (for example, stop saying words they were using).

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Yours in Health,

New Horizons Wellness Services
13333 SW 68th Pkwy,
Tigard, OR 97223

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New Horizons Wellness Services provides a true multidisciplinary approach to mental & physical health treatments for children, adults and families.