Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Children
What is ASD?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised by persistent challenges in social communication, reciprocal social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours that impact daily life.
ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning the brain is wired differently compared with other children due to impaired or immature neural development, which typically appears in infancy or early childhood.
It is estimated that 1.1% of population in Australia have Autism. ASD is four to five times more common in boys than girls.
Symptoms of ASD in Children
ASD Symptoms begin in early childhood and continue across the lifespan. The term ‘spectrum’ is used because the range of ASD symptoms can vary for each individual and range from mild to severe. No two people on the spectrum are alike. The symptoms may change as the child grows older.
Children with ASD typically demonstrate a number of behaviours across two areas of functioning as listed below:
Impaired social communication and interaction
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Difficulty starting and maintaining conversations.
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Difficulty having back-and-forth conversations.
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Avoid eye contact.
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Limited range of facial expressions.
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Not respond to their name.
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Little to no interest in children the same age.
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Prefer to be alone or engage in parallel play.
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Difficulty making and maintaining friendships.
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Difficulty picking up social cues such as other people’s facial expression and tone of voice.
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Say odd or inappropriate comments.
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Speak in a robotic or monotone way.
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Display little to no imagination or pretend play.
Restricted or repetitive behaviour or interests
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Repetitive body movements such as rocking, spinning, bouncing, swaying.
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Repetitively twist/flick/flap their fingers or hands.
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Repeat or echo others’ words or phrases.
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Repetitively line up objects.
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Extreme distress to minor changes in routine.
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Strong attachment to an unusual object.
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Restricted or very narrow range of interests.
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Intense or unusual interest in a topic.
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Intense sensory interest or aversion (e.g. noise, oral/taste, touch/texture, light, smell).
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Focus on part of objects.
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Must perform a specific ritual or sequence, or will get upset.
There are three levels of ASD: Level 1 ‘Requiring support’, Level 2 ‘Requiring substantial support’, and Level 3 ‘Requiring very substantial support. Severity of 'social communication and interaction' and 'restricted or repetitive behaviour or interests' are rated separately.
Causes of ASD
There is no single cause of ASD, rather it is believed to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Factors that can increase the risk of a child having ASD include:
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Genetics: Family history of ASD, particularly a sibling with ASD. Born with a certain genetic condition, such as fragile X syndrome, down syndrome, rett syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis.
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Environment: Complications during pregnancy, medicine taken during pregnancy (e.g. valproci acid and thalidomide), born to older parents, viral infection.
Science has confirmed that vaccines do not cause ASD.
Diagnosing ASD in Children
For a child to be diagnosed with ASD, an assessment needs to be conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of allied health professionals. This team usually includes a paediatrician or child psychiatrist, psychologist, and speech pathologist or occupational therapist. The assessment involves multiple methods of gathering information needed to form a diagnosis. This includes psychological tests, direct observation of the child, and information from parents/carers, teachers, and others about the child’s behaviour in various situations. The child may also need to be assessed by a GP or paediatrician to ensure there are no underlying medical condition/s impacting the child and their emotional and behavioural responses.
If you would like enquire about an assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), please call 0475 585 073.
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0475 585 073