Many times, parents will see normal development in the first year of life, then begin seeing less normal development as the child ages. Parents often see the symptoms in their children but believe the child will catch up developmentally to peers. OnsetĪutism Spectrum Disorder is a complex disorder that may not be accurately diagnosed until the child has exhibited some of the symptoms of the disorder for quite These symptoms may not fully show themselves until demands on the person from social interactions are greater than the person’s limited abilities. Level 3, “requiring very substantial support”, indicates the person’s communication and behavioral difficulties make functioning very limited across all spheres of life.įurther requirements in the DSM-5 include the symptoms to be present in early developmental periods. Behavioral difficulties at this level are apparent to everyone and interfere with functioning in many life areas. Level 2, “requiring substantial support”, indicates the person’s deficits in communication leads to very apparent impairments even with support in place. In addition, functioning across at least one life area is brought on by the person’s difficulty switching from one behavior to another or difficulty in planning and organization. Communication problems create obvious limitations in this The lowest level, Level 1, is“requiring support”.

Three levels of severity of these symptoms are also given. Over or under reactions to input from various senses. Strong preoccupation with objects may be seen. Rigidity in routines is also seen, along with displays of frustration, anger, and possibly aggression if routines are changed. Or understanding of meaning of the words. Relationship difficulties including changing behavior to meet social context, problems engaging in imaginative play, or an absence of interest in peers.īehavioral deficits may be shown as repetitive patterns of behavior, such as stereotyped motor movements or echoing the speech of others with no indication of meaning There may also be significant differences from the norm in eye contact and body language, use or understanding of gestures, and a complete lack of facial expression and nonverbal communication. For example, inability to follow the course of normal back-and-forth conversation, limited sharing of interests, and failure to start or continue interactions with others.

Social communication and interaction must occur across The DSM-5 has specific symptoms listed in both of these areas (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These are social impairment, especially communication, and behavior. There are two general areas in which symptoms are found. There is disagreement among professionals as to whether this indicates more children actually having the diagnosis, whether the change in diagnostic guidelines has made a difference in reporting, or whether parents and professionals are more aware of the disorder. Four to five times more boys than girls qualify for theĭiagnosis. Some researchers suggest as many as 1 in 68 children in the United States may qualify for this diagnosis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Autism Spectrum Disorder is currently being diagnosed more frequently than ever. (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). People suffering from this class of disorders may show a wide range of symptoms, deficits in skills, and levels of impairment DSM-5 Category: Autism Spectrum Disorder IntroductionĪutism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder in which the person affected exhibits impaired development in communication, interaction with others, and inīehavior (Dryden-Edwards, 2014).

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