The document discusses several types of autism spectrum disorders including Asperger's disorder, Kanner's syndrome, PDD-NOS, Rett's syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. It provides key details about each disorder such as common symptoms, differences from other types of autism, and how they were discovered. Additionally, it includes a chart showing that most children with autism experience a loss of skills between 13-18 months of age, with some regression occurring after 36 months.

1. Photo Courtesy of BubblesMakeHimSmile.com
By Carmen Chau

2. ASPERGER’S DISORDER
 Most common type of Autism .
 Usually misdiagnosed as Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD) and Attention-Deficit Disorder
(ADD).
 Children are unskilled in communication and any
type of social interaction.
 Carry repetitive motions and are fixated on
patterns of all types.
 Often clumsy due to their under developed motor
skills.
Photo Courtesy of helpingpsychology.com
 They carry a talent that they focus specifically on
and are thought to be very skilled at.
 It is claimed that Albert Einstein may have carried
this characteristic.

3. KANNER’S SYNDROME
 Known as the “Classic Autistic Disorder.”
 Named after Dr. Leo Kanner who described and
studied it in the 1930s – 40s.
 Carry very limited emotional connection with
anyone.
 Very routine-based – wants everything to be the
same including: clothing, food, music, and TV shows.
 Deeply affected by noise, bright lights and smells.
 Generally considered to be low-functioning, but how
well their mind works is unknown due to their poor
social and communication skills.
Dr. Leo Kanner
Photo Courtesy of www.autismuk.com

4. PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENT
DISORDER – NOT OTHERWISE
SPECIFICIED (PDD-NOS)
 Used to describe children who have
most of the same symptoms as classic
autism.
 They require the same interventions
and treatments.
 Differences between PDD-NOS and
autism are minor. Only doctors and
researchers are able to differentiate.
Photo Courtesy of Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders –
www.casd.binghamton.edu

5. RETT’S SYNDROME
 Rare type of autism and appears to only happen
to girls.
 First discovered by Dr. Rett.
 Patients often have muscle atrophy and carry
repetitive hand motions.
 Very low-functioning and will require care for
most of their lives.
 This type of autism has been diagnosed since
the 60s, but in the 1990s, the gene that was said to
have caused this condition was found.
Photo Courtesy of Civitan International Research Center –
www.circ-uab.information.com

6. CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE
DISORDER
 Very rare and strikes children who appear to
have normal development from birth.
 Changes usually take place between 2-4 years
of age.
 Do not potty train, will lose the ability to
interact with other children and will lose interest
in play.
 They will regress and eventually lose the
motor skills they had once mastered.
 Communication skills will disappear and will
even stop talking at one point.
Photo Courtesy of www.special-needs.families.com

7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: AGE
OF SKILL LOSS FROM ASD
This chart displays the regression of the age at their skill loss due to Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is evident that the
type of disorder was not a factor given that the majority of them had lost their skills between 13 and 18 months of age.
Some parents were even reporting loss of skills after their child reached 36 months of age. According to the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV), children with an autism diagnosis are
supposed to have shown symptoms before age 36 months. (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Furthermore,
regression was said to have taken place frequently during the toddler years.
Photo Courtesy of Interactive Autism Network (IAN Community) -
http://www.iancommunity.org/cs/ian_research_reports/ian_research_report_jun_2008