Autism Spectrum Disorder
Health Lav89 - Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism spectrum disorder is a serious neurodevelopment disorder that interferes with a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. It also includes limited repetitive behavior, interests and activities. These problems lead to significant reductions in the social, occupational and other functions.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is now defined by the American Psychiatric Association Diagnosis and Manual of Mental Disorder Statistics as a single disorder that includes disorders previously thought to be separate - autism, Asperger syndrome, disintegrative disabilities of childhood and pervasive developmental disorders can not be determined.
The term "spectrum" in autism spectrum disorders refers to a variety of symptoms and severity. Although the term "Asperger syndrome" is no longer in DSM, some people still use the term, which is generally considered the mild end of the autism spectrum disorder.
The number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders increased. It is unclear whether this is due to better detection and reporting or a marked increase in the number of cases, or both.
Although there is no cure for autism spectrum disorders, intensive early treatment can make a big difference in the lives of many children.
Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorders are not the least known cause. Given the complexity of the disturbance, and the fact that symptoms and severity vary, there may be many causes. Genetic and environmental factors may play a role.
1. Genetic problems.
Several different genes appear to be involved in autism spectrum disorders. For some children, autism spectrum disorders may be associated with genetic abnormalities, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For others, genetic changes can make children more susceptible to autism spectrum disorders or create environmental risk factors.
Other genes may still affect brain development or the way brain cells communicate, or they can determine the severity of symptoms. Some genetic problems seem to be inherited, while others occur spontaneously.
2. Environmental factor.
Researchers are investigating whether factors such as viral infections, complications during pregnancy or air pollutants play a role in triggering autism spectrum disorders.
