This document provides an overview of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and compares it to developmental language disorder (DLD). It defines ASD as a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges with social communication and restrictive/repetitive behaviors. While individuals with ASD and DLD both experience social communication difficulties, those with ASD have more extensive issues understanding nonverbal cues and facial expressions. Repetitive behaviors are specific to ASD. ASD is also associated with other medical issues and is more commonly diagnosed than DLD. The document outlines screening criteria for infantile autism and describes the three levels and five categories of ASD.

1. Autism Spectrum
Disorder
Neurodevelopmental conditions is a name
doctors and scientists give to differences from
the expected brain and behavior
development during childhood.
There are many ways that brain development
can be different. One of the most well known
neurodevelopmental conditions is autism.
Autism has some similarities with
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), but
also some important differences.

2. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Overview
• Autism is a broad term that includes a wide variety of
challenges, but people with this neurodevelopmental
condition all share the following two traits:
• Challenges with Social Communication can range
from being unable to speak and/or understand
language, to difficulty reading body language and
facial expressions and understanding what others are
thinking and feeling.
• Repetitive Behaviors and Restricted Interests can
range from self-harm such as banging one’s head or
biting one’s hands to less severe behaviors like hand
flapping or rocking back and forth. Restricted
interests in autism often look like obsessions or
fixations on certain kinds of objects or themes. It can
be difficult for individuals to change from one activity
to another.

3. Differences between ASD and DLD
• Individuals with DLD, like individuals with
autism, struggle with social
communication.
• In DLD, these challenges relate mostly to
expressing one’s thoughts and
comprehending what others are saying,
while in autism the problems tend to go
beyond just language and extend to
difficulty understanding the meaning behind
a person’s facial expression or body
language.
• https://dldandme.org

4. Differences between ASD and DLD
• Patterns of restricted interests and
repetitive behaviors, as described in the
previous slide, are specific to autism and
are not a characteristic of DLD.
• Children with autism often have other
serious medical conditions, such as seizures,
digestive system problems, or sleep
disorders. These additional medical
problems make it more likely for children
with ASD to see a medical provider, which in
turn makes diagnosis more likely.
• In contrast, children with DLD might not
have any other obvious medical conditions
that would make diagnosis by a professional
more likely, which is part of the reason that
DLD can often go unrecognized.

5. Differences between ASD and DLD
• Finally, although autism
receives more attention in
the public consciousness,
DLD is far more common
than autism. The latest
studies show that almost 2%
of children have autism,
while more than three times
as many (about 7%) have
DLD.
• https://dldandme.org

6. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Definition
• Autism is a group of
disorders involving a broad
range of conditions falling
within a certain spectrum.
These may include
challenges with social skills,
repetitive behaviors, speech,
or nonverbal
communication.

7. • Severe abnormality of reciprocal
social relatedness
• Severe abnormality of
communication development
• Restricted, repetitive behavior,
patterns of behavior, interests,
imagination
• Early onset (before 3-5 years)
• 80 % of the cases begin as Infantile
Autism

8. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Signs and Symptoms
• The signs for autism usually start to appear during early
childhood, and can affect the child’s ability to
communicate and interact with others. Unfortunately,
there is no known single cause of autism, but there are
solutions and treatments that can help improve
outcomes.
• Behaviors that are associated with autism include but
are not limited to:
• Delayed speech
• Little to no eye contact
• Trouble holding a conversation
• Poor motor skills
• Sensory sensitivities
• Repetitive routines or mannerisms

9. Screening for Infantile Autism
• Is child’s eye-to-eye contact normal?
• Is he/she comforted by proximity/body
contact?
• Does he/she often smile or laugh
unexpectedly?
• Does he/she prefer to be left alone? Little
reaction to strong, unexpected noise
• Passive, obvious lack of interest

10. Types of Autism: 3 Levels
Understanding the Different Types of ASD
• Since the publication of the DSM-V in 2013, autism spectrum disorder has been
categorized into three different levels. By identifying a person’s diagnosis of ASD as either
Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3, more clarity is placed on the severity of autism and the level of
supports that may be needed to help that person live a fulfilling and independent life.
• Level 1 ASD refers to mild autism which requires the least amount of support.
• Level 2 ASD is the middle level of ASD which typically requires substantial support in
certain areas.
• Level 3 ASD is the most severe type of ASD which requires very substantial support to help
the individual perform activities of daily living that are important to social or behavioral
skills.
• Kandola, A. 2019. Levels of Autism: Everything You Need to Know. Reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. Retrieved 11/15/2019 from:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325106.php

11. Types of Autism: 5 Categories- The Spectrum
The 5 different kinds of autism include:
• Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), previously called
Asperger’s Syndrome;
• Rhett Syndrome, although this has been removed from the
spectrum;
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD);
• Kanner’s Syndrome or Classic Autistic Disorder; and
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS).

12. Level 1: Asperger Syndrome
Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder
• The term Asperger’s Syndrome is no longer considered an official
diagnosis, but is still widely used in the autism community. Instead, the
correct term is Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder. Most people with this
disorder are of normal or above-normal intelligence and possess strong
verbal skills, but social communication is a challenge.
• Level 1 ASD is sometimes described as “high functioning” autism. People
with Level 1 ASD tend to struggle with social cues and often develop an
intense interest in one or two subject areas. A speech delay is not typically
associated with this type of autism, and in some cases, children may have
an advanced vocabulary for their age.

13. Rette’s Syndrome
• Rett’s Syndrome was disqualified as a part of the autism spectrum in
recent years.
• However, it primarily affects girls and begins to become evident
around 6 months old.
• Symptoms associated with Rett’s Syndrome include social
communication and an impaired ability to use one’s hands (such as
difficulty with gross and fine motor skills or repetitive hand and arm
flapping), symptoms that are also indicative of autism spectrum
disorders.
• https://www.integrityinc.org/what-are-the-5-different-types-of-
autism/

14. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)
• Perhaps, you have heard stories of children who are developing on pace
and hitting all of their developmental benchmarks when they suddenly hit
a wall and begin regressing around the age of two.
• This type of autism can seem especially crushing for parents as it often
spawns confusion and fear. Children who once seemed to be developing
well, were socially interactive, and talked and made eye contact suddenly
cease being themselves and shut down. Doctors postulate a correlation
between this type of autism and disorders resulting in seizures.
• https://www.integrityinc.org/what-are-the-5-different-types-of-autism/

15. Kanner’s Syndrome
• Kanner’s Syndrome is the type of autism most people think of
when picturing children on the autistic spectrum. This type of
autism is also known as Classic Autistic Disorder, and its
symptoms can include challenges communicating or
understanding others, engaging in virtually no eye contact, and
a hypersensitivity to stimuli (smell, light, noise, taste, or touch).
• Children who have been diagnosed with Kanner’s Syndrome
display a profound need for routine and often display no
interest in the world around them. These children turn their
attention inward and show little desire to interact with others.

16. Pervasive Developmental Disorder- Not
Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
• This form of autism is generally less severe than others. Children with this
type of autism may have experienced delays in benchmarks, such as
speaking or walking, and often lag behind other children who are on pace
to hit their developmental milestones. Children with PDD-NOS are able to
manage the symptoms of this milder form more easily than those who
have been diagnosed with the more pervasive forms of autism.
• https://www.integrityinc.org/what-are-the-5-different-types-of-autism/