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Autistic Spectrum Disorders (including Asperger’s)
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Often diagnosed in early childhood (but also in older children) after parents notice and tell the pediatrician about the child not doing things other children their age are doing. These children may also have odd behaviors in addition to delays in meeting milestones such as speech, play, ability to hold and handle objects, bowel and bladder control, and interactions with others. There are five types of spectrum disorders:
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Autism: The child avoids eye contact and does not use body language or facial expressions correctly or at all when others are present. There is a lack of play, make believe, interest in others or the world around him or her, and age appropriate speech. There is presence of odd and repetitive speech and repetitive actions such as hand or finger flapping or twisting. These are noticed before age 3.
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Rett's: This disorder only occurs in girls. There are no delays in mile stones until 5 months of age, between age 5 months and 48 months, her head stops growing, she loses ability to hold & handle objects, starts hand wringing or washing movements, has poorly coordinated body movements, and has limited speech for her age.
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Childhood Disintegrative Disorder: This disorder occurs mostly in boys. The child appears normal until age 2, when he loses abilities he had before: speech, social interactions, bowel or bladder control, play, body movements.
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Asperger's: The child has trouble with social interactions, primarily avoiding eye contact, incorrect or lack of facial expressions and body language, lack of interest and pleasure in social interactions. Asperger's is different from Autism in that the child does not have speech delays, does not have delays in intelligence, and does have curiosity about the world around him or her.
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Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD): This diagnosis is used for children with severe delays in milestones across various ages in childhood: speech, interactions with others, body language, facial expressions. There are also severe presentations of repetitive speech, body movements, and odd interests and behaviors. The behaviors present do not fit any of the other spectrum disorders.
Tipsheets
Author: Ai Ton, MSW, LCSW |
