Autism is a lifelong neuro-developmental disorder that manifests during early childhood, irrespective of gender, race or socio- economic status

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3. Autism is a lifelong neuro-
developmental disorder
that manifests during early
childhood, irrespective of
gender, race or socio-
economic status.
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The term ‘Autism’ was changed to
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
in 2013.
ASD is now an umbrella term that
covers the following conditions:
 Asperger syndrome.
 Pervasive developmental disorder — not otherwise
specified (PDD-NOS).
 Autistic disorder.

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What happens in ASD ??
 Delayed or absence of speech/ language development.
 Difficulties in social communication.
 Deficits in social interactions.
 Intellectual disabilities.
 Poor motor coordination.
 Attention weaknesses.
 Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities.
 Sensory problems.
 Difficulty with transitions.

6. ASD is a condition in
which people have
difficulty developing
normal social
relationships, use
language abnormally or
not at all, and behave in
compulsive and
ritualistic ways
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What causes autism?
 The exact cause of ASD is unknown.The most current
research demonstrates there’s no single cause.
 Some suspected risk factors for ASD include:
 having an immediate family member who’s autistic.
 genetic disorders.
 being born to older parents.
 low birth weight.
 metabolic imbalances.
 exposure to heavy metals and environmental toxins.
 a maternal history of viral infections.

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Types of Autism
 There is not one autism but many
subtypes, most influenced by a
combination of genetic and
environmental factors. Because
autism is a spectrum disorder, each
person with autism has a distinct
set of strengths and challenges.

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Autism Core Symptoms
1. Social Communication challenges and
2. Restricted, repetitive behaviors.
In autism, these symptoms
• begin in early childhood (though they may go unrecognized)
• persist and
• interfere with daily living.

10. 1 – Social Communication Challenges
Children and adults with autism have difficulty with verbal and
non-verbal communication.
For example, they may not understand or appropriately use:
Spoken language (around a third of people with autism are nonverbal)
Gestures
Eye contact
Facial expressions
Tone of voice
Expressions not meant to be taken literally
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11. 1 – Additional Social Challenges
• Recognizing emotions and intentions in
others
• Recognizing one’s own emotions
• Expressing emotions
• Seeking emotional comfort from others
• Feeling overwhelmed in social situations
• Taking turns in conversation
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12. 2 – Restricted and repetitive behaviors
• Repetitive body movements (e.g. rocking,
flapping, spinning, running back and
forth)
• Repetitive motions with objects (e.g.
spinning wheels, shaking sticks, flipping
levers)
• Narrow or extreme interests in specific
topics
• Need for unvarying routine/resistance to
change (e.g. same daily schedule, meal
menu)
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13. 2 – Restricted and repetitive behaviors
• Staring at lights or spinning objects
• Ritualistic behaviors (e.g. lining up objects,
repeatedly touching objects in a set order)
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14. What are the signs of autism?
 Some infants show hints in their first months. In others, behaviors
become obvious as late as age 2 or 3.
Not all children with autism show all the signs. Many children who
don’t have autism show a few. That’s why professional evaluation is
crucial.
If your child exhibits any of the following, ask your pediatrician or
family doctor for an evaluation right away:
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15. • Few or no big smiles or other warm,
joyful and engaging expressions
• Limited or no eye contact
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16. •Little or no
back-and-forth sharing
of sounds, smiles or
other facial expressions
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17. •Little or no babbling
•Little or no back-and-forth
gestures such as pointing,
showing, reaching or
waving
•Little or no response to
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18. • Very few or no meaningful, two-word
phrases (not including imitating or
repeating)
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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Signs of Autism

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Treatment / Cure
 No cure exists for autism spectrum disorder, and
there is no one-size-fits-all treatment.
 Indicators of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some
associated development delays can appear even earlier,
and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.
 Research shows that early intervention leads to
positive outcomes later in life for people with autism.

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Treatment / Cure
The goal of treatment is to maximize child's
ability to function by reducing autism spectrum
disorder symptoms and supporting
development and learning.
Learning the signs, examining child’s
developmental milestones, and getting an
evaluation and treatment as early as possible
can make a lifetime of difference.

30. Early interventions
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How to Screen Your Child
 Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised (M-CHAT-R)
 https://www.autismspeaks.org/screen-your-child
 http://www.autism-india.org/
 http://www.rehabcouncil.nic.in/writereaddata/autism.pdf

32. In 2008, The United
Nations General
Assembly
unanimously declared
2 April as
World Autism
Awareness Day
On this WorldAutism Awareness Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to an inclusive,
equitable and sustainable world for persons with autism.
- Secretary-General António Guterre