Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave (NIMH. n.d.).
Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person which is why autism is referred to as a “spectrum.”
Some may engage in self-injurious behaviors. Self-injurious behaviors are any behaviors that cause physical harm to the individual such as biting, head-banging, scratching, etc. (Causes and interventions for self-injury in autism, 2022).
Individuals with ASD also have different learning styles, different ways of paying attention, and moving.
Important notes to remember
CDC. (2022, December 9). What is autism spectrum disorder? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
Autism Spectrum Disorder & Asperger’s Disorder
Many may be familiar with the term Asperger’s disorder which can cause some confusion on what it is and if it’s different from autism. Though Asperger’s disorder was a label that was commonly used; “in 2013, the American Psychiatric Association removed Asperger's Disorder from the DSM, offering instead the new DSM-5 diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder” (Gamlin, 2017). What used to be referred to as Asperger's disorder now falls under the category of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
What causes ASD?
There is no single known cause of what causes ASD, genetics, biological, and environmental factors may play a role. According to the CDC, some evidence suggests that: having a sibling with ASD, experiencing complications at birth, being born to older parents, and having certain genetic or chromosomal conditions may be at a greater risk for developing ASD (CDC, 2022). Yet, more research needs to be done.
ASD is not curable, it is imperative to always have access to resources and support catered to each individual's needs.
Diagnosing Process
Autism spectrum disorder can be detected at 18 months of age or younger. A diagnosis done by an experienced professional can be considered reliable at the age of 2. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until they are much older (CDC, 2022). Unfortunately, some people are not diagnosed until they are adolescents or adults, being diagnosed at an older age delays early intervention.
ASD is 4 times more commonly diagnosed among boys than girls. Studies show that ASD is more commonly diagnosed among identical twins. If one identical twin has ASD there is a 76% chance that the other twin will be diagnosed with autism as well, numbers for fraternal twins are lower. “The percentage of fraternal twins who each share an ASD diagnosis is 34% for same-sex twins and 18% for boy-girl pairs” (Twins Study Finds Large Genetic Influence in Autism, n.d.).
Treatment Options
The purpose of current treatments is to help reduce or regulate symptoms that may interfere with daily functioning and quality of life. There are various types of treatments available such as: behavioral, developmental, educational, social-relational, pharmacological, psychological, complementary and alternative. The most common are behavioral therapies, like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
ABA Therapy
ABA is a notable therapy that “encourages desired behaviors and discourages undesired behaviors to improve a variety of skills” (CDC, 2022). The patient's progress is tracked and measured. Therapies can be implemented in treatment clinics, home settings, education, health, community or a combination of settings. Professionals, such as, Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA)- independent practitioners who provide behavior-analytic services, and Registered Behavioral Technicians (RBT)- professionals who implement behavior-analytic interventions (BCBA, n.d.). Help children with ASD improve and develop skill sets.
How did COVID-19 impact the Autistic Community?
Children and adults with ASD are at higher risk for suicidal behavior (Mayes et al., 2015); evidence has demonstrated that there was an increase of suicide behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic” (Ammerman et al., 2020). As a result of the significant disruptions in daily routines due to the COVID-19 pandemic some behavioral health services were interrupted. This may have created some limitations in accessing support and could have impacted stressful situations. Due to new adaptations children, adolescents, and adults with ASD may be exposed to a higher risk of mental health crises.
References
Causes and interventions for self-injury in autism. Autism Research Institute. (2022, February 23). https://www.autism.org/causes-and-interventions-for-self-injury-in-autism/
CDC. (2022, December 9). What is autism spectrum disorder? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
Baweja, R., Brown, S. L., Edwards, E. E., & Murray, M. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic and Impact on Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(1), 473–482. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04950-9
Board certified behavior analysts BCBA. (n.d.). https://www.bacb.com/bcba/