This slide share highlights information about autism spectrum disorder. Types, Early signs, characteristics, therapies are explained .

2. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental
disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn,
and behave. It is a developmental disability caused by differences in the
brain. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a
“developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first 2
years of life.

3. •Kanner's Syndrome. ...
•Asperger's Syndrome. ...
•Rett Syndrome. ...
•Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) ...
•Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise
Specified (PDD-NOS)

4. Asperger’s syndrome
It is a term sometimes used to
describe a developmental
disorder that’s part of the
autism spectrum disorder
(ASD). People who have this
type of ASD tend to have a
hard time relating to others
socially. They usually stick to a
very specific routine, have a
narrow set of interests, and act
in repetitive ways such as
flapping their hands.

5. People with Asperger’s syndrome may:
•Have trouble in making eye contact
•Social difficulties like feeling and acting awkward in social settings
•Have trouble responding to people in conversation
•Miss social cues that other people find obvious
•Struggle to read body language
•Don’t understand what facial expressions mean
•Show few emotions
•Speak in a flat, robotic tone
•Obsession with a topic like
•Repeat words, phrases, or movements
•Dislike change
•Keep the same schedule and habits, such as eating the same meals
•Clumsiness
•Strong verbal skills
•Hypersensitivity

7. Childhood disintegrative disorder.
This was the rarest and most severe part of the spectrum. It described children who develop
normally and then quickly lose many social, language, and mental skills, usually between ages 2
and 4. Symptoms may begin with unexplained changes in behaviour, e.g. anxiety, agitation, or
unprovoked anger. The loss of previously acquired skills may be before age 10 in two or more of
the following areas:
• expressive or receptive language
• social skills or adaptive behavior
• bladder or bowel control
• play
• motor skills
Behavioural changes are normally followed by a loss in motor, social and communication skills.
Often, these children also developed a seizure disorder It can cause changes in behavior,
movements, feelings and levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours
apart that don't have a known cause is considered to be epilepsy.

8. Pervasive Development Disorder
Repetitive body movements
Difficulty in change in routine or
surroundings
Different mode of playing with toys
Difficulty in relating people, objects and
events
Problems with understanding and using
language
limited social skills
responding unusually to sensory input, such
as loud noises or bright lights
Speech and behavior may vary between
each child. Some may have limited speech,
and others may not speak at all. Others may
have language development similar to same-
age peers.

9. Rett Syndrome
Rett Syndrome
Children with Rett syndrome often have
behaviors similar to autism, and experts
used to group it among spectrum
disorders. Rett syndrome is a rare
genetic neurological disorder that
occurs almost exclusively in girls, more
rarely in boys, and leads to severe
impairments, affecting nearly every
aspect of the child's life: their ability to
speak, walk, eat, and even breathe
easily.

10. Autism Spectrum Disorder begins before the age of 3 years and can last
throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time.
Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life.
In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later.
Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental
milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop
gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.

12. 1. Autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in 36 children in U.S.A. According to Mehndi, S. (2022) In India, every 1
in 100 children below the age of 10 has autism.
2. Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to be diagnosed with ASD.
3. Autism spectrum disorder is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the United
States.
4. Autism spectrum disorder affects all nationalities, all creeds, all religions, all races and both sexes.
It doesn’t differentiate or affect only one group.
5. Early identification, treatment, and support matters. Many important outcomes for children's lives are
significantly improved with early intervention and treatment.
6. Early behavior-based interventions have positive effects on some children with autism spectrum
disorder.
7. There is currently no medical detection blood test or cure for autism spectrum disorder.
8. Parents do not and cannot cause autism spectrum disorder. Although the multiple causes of ASD are not
known, it is known that parental behavior before, during, and after pregnancy does not cause ASD.

13. 9. Many individuals with autism spectrum disorder have difficulties with communication.
10.Autism spectrum disorder does not get worse with age.
11.Being nonverbal at age 4 does not mean that a child with autism will never speak. Research shows
that most will learn to use words and nearly half will learn to speak fluently.
12. Children and adults with autism spectrum disorder often care deeply but struggle to spontaneously
develop empathic and socially connected typical behavior.
13. Co-occurring medical conditions in autism spectrum disorder are common and may include allergies,
asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, feeding disorders, sleep disorders, sensory integration dysfunction,
cognitive impairments, and other medical disorders.
14. Children and teens with autism often have lower bone density than their peers.
15. Up to a third of people with autism spectrum disorder also develop seizure disorders—the rate
of seizures in people with ASD is 10 times higher than in the general population.
16. About 10% of people with autism spectrum disorder also have another genetic, neurological, or
metabolic disorder.

14. 17. Each person with autism spectrum disorder is a unique individual; people with ASD differ as much from one
another as do all people. Children and adults with ASD may speak or interact with others. They may have
good eye contact. They may be verbal or non-verbal. They may be very bright, of average intelligence or
have cognitive deficits.
18. Hyperlexia, the ability to read above one’s age or grade level in school, commonly accompanies autism
spectrum disorder.
19. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder may be very creative and find a passion and talent for
music, theater, art, dance, and singing quite easily.
20. Children with autism are 160 times more likely to drown than typical children. Therefore, it is very important
to teach them to swim and to keep an eye on children around water.
21.Many people with autism spectrum disorder have been found successfully living and working and
contributing to the well-being of others in their local communities in advanced countries. This is most likely to
happen when appropriate services are delivered during the child's educational years.
22. There has been a 178 per cent rise in the prevalence of autism in the past 20 years.

15. STATUS OF PREVALENCE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN INDIA
According to a report by Economic Times HealthWorld, about 18
million people in India are diagnosed with autism. About 1 to 1.5
per cent of children aged two to nine years are diagnosed with ASD.
(Source: Economic Times , Apr 02, 2023)

19. Examples of social communication and social
interaction characteristics related to ASD can
include
•Does not play simple interactive
games like pat-a-cake by one year of
age

20. •Does not sing, dance, or act for you
by five of age

21. •Does not point to show you
something interesting by 18
months of age

22. •Difficulties in adjusting behaviors to
social situations
People with ASD may also experience
sleep problems and irritability.

24. People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual.

25. •Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles

26. •Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)

27. •Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

30. Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
Plays with toys the same way every time

33. People on the autism spectrum also may have
many strengths, including:
•Being able to learn things in detail and
remember information for long periods of time
•Being strong visual and auditory learners
•Excelling in math, science, music, or art

34. TREATMENTS AND THERAPIES
Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder should begin as soon as possible
after diagnosis.
Early treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder is important as proper care
and services can reduce individuals’ difficulties while helping them build on
their strengths and learn new skills.
People with Autism Spectrum Disorder may face a wide range of issues,
which means that there is no single best treatment for ASD. Working closely
with a health care provider is an important part of finding the right
combination of treatment and services.

35. MEDICATION
A health care provider may prescribe medication to
treat specific symptoms. With medication, a person
with ASD may have fewer problems with:
•Irritability
•Aggression
•Repetitive behavior
•Hyperactivity
•Attention problems
•Anxiety and depression

37. Behavioral Management Therapy for Autism
Behavior management therapy tries to reinforce wanted behaviors and reduce unwanted
behaviors. It also suggests what caregivers can do before, during, after, and between
episodes of problem behaviors. Behavioral therapy is often based on applied behavior
analysis (ABA), a widely accepted approach that tracks a child's progress in improving his or
her skills.

38. •Positive Behavioral and Support (PBS) PBS aims to figure out why a child does a
particular problem behavior. It works to change the environment, teach skills, and make
other changes that make a correct behavior more positive for the child. This encourages
the child to behave more appropriately.
•Pivotal Response Training (PRT) PRT takes place in the child's everyday environment. Its
goal is to improve a few "pivotal" skills, such as motivation and taking initiative to
communicate. These help the child to learn many other skills and deal with many
situations.
•Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) EIBI provides individualized, behavioral
instruction to very young children with ASD. It requires a large time commitment and
provides one-on-one or small-group instruction.
•Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT) DTT teaches skills in a controlled, step-by-step way. The
teacher uses positive feedback to encourage the child to use new skills.

39. Cognitive behavior therapy focuses on the
connection between thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors.
Together, the therapist, the person with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or the parents
come up with specific goals for the course of
therapy. Cognitive behavior therapy is
structured into specific phases of treatment.
However, it is also individualized to patients'
strengths and weaknesses. Research shows
that this therapy helps people with some types
of ASD deal with anxiety. It can also help some
people with autism cope with social situations
and better recognize emotions.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Autism

40. Research shows that early
diagnosis of and interventions for
autism are more likely to have
major long-term positive effects
on symptoms and later skills.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
can sometimes be diagnosed in
children before they are 2 years of
age or sometime during age
2 years.
Early Intervention for Autism

41. Research shows that many people with
autism have difficulty with joint
attention, which is the ability to share
focus on an object or area with another
person. Joint attention is important to
communication and language learning.
Joint attention therapy focuses on
improving specific skills related to shared
attention, such as:
•Pointing
•Showing
•Coordinating looks between a person
and an object.
Improvements from such treatments can
last for years.
Joint Attention Therapy for Autism

42. For different reasons, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may not get the
nutrition they need for healthy growth and development. Some children with autism
will only eat certain foods because of how the foods feel in their mouths. Other times,
they might avoid eating foods because they associate them with stomach pain or
discomfort. Some children are put on limited diets in hopes of reducing autism
symptoms.

43. Nutritional Therapy for Autism
It is important that parents and caregivers work with a nutrition specialist—such as a registered dietitian—or health
care provider to design a meal plan for a person with autism, especially if they want to try a limited diet. Such
providers can help to make sure the child is still getting all the nutrients he or she needs to grow into a healthy adult,
even while on the special diet.
For example, many children with ASD are on gluten-free or casein-free diets. (Gluten and casein are types of proteins
found in wheat and milk products, respectively.)
Good Nutrition Is Important
Research shows that children with autism tend to have thinner bones than children without autism. Restricting
access to bone-building foods, such as dairy products, can make it even harder for their bones to grow strong.
Working with a health care provider can help ensure that children who are on special diets still get the bone-building
and other nutrients they need.
Digestive Problems in ASD
Some people with autism also have digestive problems, such as constipation, abdominal (belly) pain, or vomiting.
Some research suggests that digestive problems occur more often in people with autism than in people without
autism, but research is still being done on this topic. Working with a health care provider can help ensure that a diet
does not make digestive problems worse.

44. Occupational Therapy for Autism
Occupational therapy helps
people with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) do everyday tasks
by finding ways to work within
and make the most of their
needs, abilities, and interests.
An occupational therapist might:
•Find a specially designed
computer mouse and keyboard to
ease communication
•Teach personal care skills such as
getting dressed and eating
•Do many of the same types of
activities that physical therapists
do.

45. Parent-Mediated Therapy in Autism
In parent-mediated therapy, parents learn therapy
techniques from professionals and provide specific
therapies to their own child. This approach gives
children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
consistent reinforcement and training throughout the
day. Parents can also conduct some therapies with
children who are at risk of autism but are too young to
be diagnosed.
Several types of therapies can be parent-mediated
activities, including:
•Joint attention therapy
•Social communication therapy
•Behavioral therapy
Studies suggest that parent-mediated therapies might
be able to improve the child's communication skills
and interactions with others.

46. Physical Therapy for Autism
Physical therapy includes activities and
exercises that build motor skills and improve
strength, posture, and balance.
For example, this type of therapy aims to help
a child build muscle control and strength so
that he or she can play more easily with other
children.

47. Social skills training teaches
children the skills they need
to interact with others. It
includes repeating and
reinforcing certain desired
behaviors.
The Children's Friendship
Training intervention, for
instance, helps elementary
school-age children improve
several social skills:
•Conversation
•Handling teasing
•Being a good sport
•Showing good host behavior
during play dates
Social Skills Training for Autism

48. Speech-Language Therapy for Autism
Speech-language therapy can help people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
improve their abilities to communicate and interact with others. It can also include
ways to improve social skills and social behaviors. For example, a child might learn how
to make eye contact or to stand at a comfortable distance from another person. These
skills make it a little easier to interact with others.

49. Speech-Language Therapy for Autism
• VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• This type of therapy can help
some people improve their
spoken or verbal skills, such
as:
• Correctly naming people and
things
• Better explaining feelings
and emotions
• Using words and sentences
better
• Improving the rate and
rhythm of speech
• NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
• Speech-language therapy can
also teach nonverbal
communication skills, such as:
• Using hand signals or sign
language
• Using picture symbols to
communicate (Picture Exchange
Communication System)

50. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html
https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/autism/conditioninfo/treatments
https://www.massgeneral.org/children/autism/lurie-center/30-facts-to-know-about-autism-spectrum-disorder
https://theprint.in/opinion/every-1-in-100-children-below-10-yrs-has-autism-in-india-the-epidemic-needs-better-
care/898999/
https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/mental-health-aspergers-syndrome
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/childhood-disintegrative-disorder#symptoms