NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Autism spectrum disorders

The autistic spectrum (sometimes referred to as the autism spectrum) is a developmental and behavioral syndrome that results from certain combinations of characteristically autistic traits. Although these traits may be normally distributed in the population, some individuals inherit or otherwise manifest more autistic traits. At the severe end of the spectrum is low-functioning autism which has profound impairments in many areas, to Asperger's syndrome and high-functioning autism, to "normal" behaviour and perhaps hypersocialization on the high end of the spectrum. Asperger described his patients as little professors. Aspergers syndrome (AS, or the more common shorthand Aspergers), is characterized as one of the five pervasive developmental disorders, and is commonly referred to as a form of high functioning autism. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are classified as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), as opposed to specific developmental disorders like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or dyspraxia. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual published by the American Psychiatric Association The poopDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States. ... The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (commonly known by the abbreviation ICD) provides codes to classify diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or disease. ... Specific developmental disorders categorizes specific learning disabilities and developmental disorders affecting coordination. ... Developmental dyslexia is a condition or learning disability which causes difficulty with reading and writing. ... Dysgraphia (or agraphia) is a difficulty writing coherently, if at all, regardless of ability to read. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Dyspraxia is the generic term used to cover a heterogeneous range of disorders affecting the initiation, organization and performance of action[1]. It is an immaturity of the way the brain processes information, resulting in messages not being fully transmitted to the body and is a learning difficulty that can...

Autistic spectrum and pervasive development disorders

In practice, autistic spectrum disorder and pervasive developmental disorder are synonymous, but making a distinction is valuable. PDD refers to those psychological and behavioral developmental disorders encompassing many areas of functioning: language and communication, self-help skills, motor coordination, executive function, and scholastic achievement. The nosological category of pervasive developmental disorders includes syndromes that may be etiologically unrelated to autism, with autistic-like behavior being only one part of the disorder: Rett's syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. Behavior (U.S.) or behaviour (U.K.) refers to the actions or reactions of an object or organism, usually in relation to the environment. ... The executive system is a theorised cognitive system in psychology that controls and manages other cognitive processes. ... Nosology (in Greek Nosos = Disease) is a branch of medicine that deals with classification of diseases. ... Etiology (alternately aetiology, aitiology) is the study of causation. ... Autism is classified by the World Health Organization and American Psychological Association as a developmental disability that results from a disorder of the human central nervous system. ... Added to User:reverie98/Desk 71. ... Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), also known as Hellers syndrome and disintegrative psychosis, is a rare condition characterized by late onset (>3 years of age) of developmental delays in language, social function, and motor skills. ...

Autistic traits

Behaviorally, certain characteristics identify the autism spectrum. The number of autistic traits present determines the severity of autism in the individual. These autistic traits may be beneficial for some disciplines like science, mathematics, engineering, and software. Some autistic individuals might show a marked proficiency in rote memorization which may help learn the foundation of these subjects; however, the exceptionally good aptitude (in these subjects) of high functioning autistic spectrum persons may be due to their ability to readily identify patterns and apply them consistently to new situations outside of established knowledge or teaching. Autism is classified by the World Health Organization and American Psychological Association as a developmental disability that results from a disorder of the human central nervous system. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Euclid, Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, known today as the father of geometry; shown here in a detail of The School of Athens by Raphael. ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... Computer software (or simply software) refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. ...

Social impairment

Language impairment

In linguistics, prosody refers to intonation, rhythm, and vocal stress in speech. ... Echolalia is the repetition or echoing of verbal utterances made by another person. ... A language abnormality common in the speech of autistic children is pronoun reversal. ... Picture Thinking, Visual Thinking or Visual/Spatial Learner is the phenomenon of thinking through visual processing, where most people would think with linguistic or verbal processing. ...

Imaginative impairment and repetitive adherence

Routine may be a reference to one of the following: Patterns of living among people are studied in Ethnomethodology. ...

Sensory integration disfunction

ADHD and autism

Some research has indicated a possible genetic and behavioral connection between ADHD and autism. As a result, some clinicians have suggested that ADHD be included under the category of autism-spectrum disorders. [1] DISCLAIMER Please remember that Wikipedia is offered for informational use only. ...

Diagnoses of ADHD together with autism spectrum disorder are becoming increasingly common in children. In young children, the two conditions can appear similar. However, as children age, differences emerge between the two conditions. Children with typical autism become more withdrawn, while with a suitable environment hyperactivity reduces. In either event, problems with social skills can develop. Hyperactivity can be described as a state in which a person is abnormally easily excitable and exuberant. ...

By contrast, children with ADHD rarely calm down with age but often develop social and communication skills to a normal level. Any issues with social skills experienced by children with ADHD may have other causes. Examples include low self-esteem or difficulty with quiet, constructive social interaction.

See also

External links

References

v • d • e

Pervasive developmental disorders / Autistic spectrum

Diagnoses

Autism | Asperger syndrome | Semantic Pragmatic Disorder | Hyperlexia | Autistic enterocolitis | Childhood disintegrative disorder | Conditions comorbid to autism | Fragile X syndrome
Rett syndrome | PDD-NOS | Sensory Integration Dysfunction | Multiple-complex Developmental Disorder Autism is classified by the World Health Organization and American Psychological Association as a developmental disability that results from a disorder of the human central nervous system. ... Asperger syndrome â€” also referred to as Aspergers syndrome, Aspergers, or just AS â€” is a pervasive developmental condition related to autism. ... Semantic-Pragmatic Disorder was originally defined in the literature on Language Disorder in 1983, by Rapin and Allen, although at that time it was classified as a syndrome. ... Hyperlexia is a syndrome in which the main characteristics are an above normal ability to read coupled with a below normal ability to understand spoken language. ... Autistic enterocolitis is a controversial condition first reported by British gastroenterologist Dr. Andrew Wakefield to describe a number of common clinical symptoms and signs which he contends is distinctive to autism. ... Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), also known as Hellers syndrome and disintegrative psychosis, is a rare condition characterized by late onset (>3 years of age) of developmental delays in language, social function, and motor skills. ... There are many comorbid disorders associated with autism spectrum disorders and Aspergers Syndrome. ... Fragile X syndrome, also known as the Martin-Bell syndrome, is a syndrome of X-linked mental retardation. ... Added to User:reverie98/Desk 71. ... PDD not otherwise specified or PDD-NOS is a pervasive developmental disorder. ... Sensory Integration Dysfunction is a neurological disorder causing difficulties with processing information from the five classic senses (vision, auditory, touch, olfaction, and taste), the sense of movement (vestibular system), and/or the positional sense (proprioception)[1]. Sensory information is sensed normally, but perceived abnormally. ... Multiple-complex Developmental Disorder (McDD) represents a distinct group within the autistic spectrum based on symptomatology. ...

Controversy There is considerable disagreement over the exact nature of autism, however it is generally considered to be a neurodevelopmental condition which manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, patterns of interests, and patterns of behavior. ...

Andrew Wakefield | Incidence | An epidemic? | Autism rights movement | Biomedical intervention | Causes | Chelation
Generation Rescue | Heritability | Neurodiversity | Refrigerator mother | Therapies Andrew Wakefield (born 1956 in the United Kingdom) is a Canadian trained surgeon, best known as the lead author of a controversial 1998 research study, published in the Lancet, which reported bowel symptoms in a selected sample of twelve children with autistic spectrum disorders and other disabilities, and alleged a... It has been suggested that Autism epidemic be merged into this article or section. ... The number of reported cases of autism has increased dramatically over the past decade. ... The autism rights movement (which has also been called autistic self-advocacy movement [2] and autistic liberation movement [3]) was started by adult autistic individuals in order to advocate and demand tolerance for what they refer to as neurodiversity. ... Biomedical intervention for autism consists of a wide range of therapeutic approaches for treating - and some say curing - autism in children, adolescents, and possibly adults. ... Chelation therapy is a process involving the use of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. ... Generation Rescue is a nonprofit organization which was founded by parents united by their belief that many childhood neurological disorders, such as autism, Aspergers syndrome, ADHD, speech delay, sensory integration disorder and other developmental delays, are the effects of a primary diagnosis of mercury poisoning and related complications. ... The heritability of autism is debated by psychology researchers, parents of children diagnosed with autism, and members of the autistic community. ... Neurodiversity is a concept that atypical (neurodivergent) neurological wiring is a normal human difference that is to be tolerated and respected as any other human difference[citation needed]. The concept of neurodiversity was created by some autistic individuals and people with related conditions, who believe that autism is not a... The term refrigerator mother was coined in the 1940s as a label for mothers of autistic children. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Biomedical intervention for autism. ...

List of autism-related topics This is a list of autism-related topics. ...

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