Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often colloquially referred to simply as autism. It is a common neurodevelopmental disorder which affects a person’s ability to communicate effectively with others and makes it hard to build relationships with them. A person with ASD will often have sensory-motor behaviors and interests that may be restricted or repetitive, and these may indicate the presence of ASD. ASD may lead a person to behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.

ASD makes it difficult for a person to understand the emotions of others, which can hamper communication and meaningful social interaction. ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder, which means that the symptoms start appearing early in life and can last throughout the rest of a person’s life. Some children have symptoms of ASD within 12 months, while in others those symptoms may not be experienced until they’re two years old. An experienced professional can diagnose your or your child to determine whether ASD is present.

Since it is a spectrum, ASD affects people in different ways, meaning that the levels of support they need will vary among individuals. The abilities of people with ASD will vary, with some having advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal. In other cases, one might need a great deal of help to function in their daily lives, while some can work and perform everyday tasks with little to no support.

As such, the list below may not apply equally and to all people with ASD. It’s vital to seek professional help for a proper diagnosis.

Some of the signs of ASD include the following:

• Having difficulty with social cues, such as understanding other’s emotions, jokes, the concept of personal space, or etiquette such as taking turns during a conversation
• Difficulties with expressing emotions or using facial expressions appropriately
• Struggling to make or keep friends
• Taking abstract ideas literally, struggling to understand figures of speech
• Not understanding how to use one’s tone of voice appropriately
• Hyperfocus on certain topics or activities
• Hypersensitivity to stimuli such as sound or textures
• Repeating words or phrases
• Difficulty coping with change, like a change to a schedule
• Obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as arranging items in a particular order
• Repetitive body movements, such as rocking back and forth, making noises, or flapping one’s hands

It can be difficult to diagnose ASD, as there is no medical test like a blood test or scan one can take to diagnose the disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder can sometimes be detected as early as 18 months of age or even younger. An experienced professional will look at the child’s behavior and development to make a reliable diagnosis using the criteria set out in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

The criteria used include the following: the individual should display persistent deficit in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts. This will include whether they can initiate or respond to social interactions, whether they can develop and maintain relationships, whether there’s an interest in peers and the ability to share in imaginative play, to how they use and understand gestures and non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and eye contact.

Though diagnosis can happen later in life, an early diagnosis of ASD is beneficial to the child as they can receive the care and support they need early on, and the parents or caregivers will have better access to community and school resources to support their child’s development and education. To get an official diagnosis, a neurodevelopmental evaluation is required. A teacher, parent, or child therapist can get a referral to a psychiatrist for children or adolescents, a developmental pediatrician, a pediatric psychologist, or a child neurologist for a formal evaluation.

Part of that evaluation will likely include interviewing the child’s parents or caregivers, and teachers where appropriate. The doctor will also observe and interact with the child in a controlled and structured environment. Sometimes additional tests are administered to rule out other conditions such as intellectual disabilities.

The counselors at California Christian Counseling believe that God created all people in His image and that God loves and sees them as unique, worthy, and valuable. While there is no cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder, there are several interventions and treatment options available that can provide meaningful support and can improve everyday functioning for you or your child.

Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help to strengthen healthy behaviors and develop skills to cope with the stress, depression, and anger that often accompanies ASD. Help can also be found through social skills training, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and medication in certain circumstances. If you want to find out more about these therapies and interventions, or to begin your journey to address ASD, don’t hesitate to reach out to the counselors at California Christian Counseling for an initial risk-free session.