The Autism Society of America, or ASA, defines autism as “a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communications skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Autism is one of the five disorders that falls under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by sever and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.”
If you’re a medical professional, that definition is probably crystal clear. If you’re a parent who just received news that your child is autistic, that definition might be clear as mud. As parents, we expect our children to be born healthy and ready for a long, productive life. When the child is born and something turns out not to be quite right, the last thing a parent wants to hear is a lot of fancy medical jargon.
So what is the best definition for autism for parents? Parents and even the child’s caregiver or teachers need to truly understand the characteristics of autism and it affects the child’s life. Knowing what truly defines and characterizes the disorder helps the adults in the child’s life care for him or her and help the child adjust with the disorder as he or she grows.
Autism is diagnosed by observing the child’s behavior, not by performing a battery of medical tests. No two children will display the same symptoms. It is not known what causes autism – it can be the result of improper brain function, the environment or even heredity. It is known, however, that it is not brought on, or prevented for that matter, by any particular parenting style. Studies have shown that autism likely develops as the result of changes in brain development during pregnancy.
Just as no two children will present the same symptoms for autism, the same is true for the characteristics they display. The characteristics will depend on the level of the severity of the disorder. While, yes, each child will display a different level of severity, autism is characterized by the same three core areas: social interaction, communication and behavior/interest patterns.
Autism is not rare. It is a lifelong disability and there is no cure. With treatment, some affected with the disorder may find that their condition improves but problems with social interaction and communication will remain.
The best definition of autism is the one that describes the needs of the child in your life who has just been diagnosed. Just as no two children can share the same symptoms of this disorder, there should be no “one” definition that describes it. It is a disorder with many different components that need to be considered before deciding on a form of treatment or intervention.
References and Additional Resources:
Visit the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development website here. Also read Autism Speaks’What is Autism?