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Summary
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person's life. It affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates, and learns. It includes what used to be known as Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorders.
It is called a "spectrum" disorder because people with ASD can have a range of symptoms. People with ASD might have problems talking with you, or they might not look you in the eye when you talk to them. They may also have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. They may spend a lot of time putting things in order, or they may say the same sentence again and again. They may often seem to be in their "own world."
At well-child checkups, the health care provider should check your child's development. If there are signs of ASD, your child will have a comprehensive evaluation. It may include a team of specialists, doing various tests and evaluations to make a diagnosis.
The causes of ASD are not known. Research suggests that both genes and environment play important roles.
There is currently no one standard treatment for ASD. There are many ways to increase your child's ability to grow and learn new skills. Starting them early can lead to better results. Treatments include behavior and communication therapies, skills training, and medicines to control symptoms.
NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Symptoms
- Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- PTEN Genetic Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Beware of Potentially Dangerous Products and Therapies that Claim to Treat Autism (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
- Therapies for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) Also in Spanish
- Treatment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- What Are the Treatments for Autism? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Living With
- 100 Day Kit for School Age Children (Autism Speaks) - PDF
- Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Nutrition for Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
Related Issues
- Communication Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders) Also in Spanish
- Frequently Asked Questions about Autism Spectrum Disorder (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Is There a Connection Between Vaccines and Autism? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Genetics
- 16p11.2 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- About Autism (National Human Genome Research Institute)
- ADNP syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Autism spectrum disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- MBD5-associated neurodevelopmental disorder: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Timothy syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- White-Sutton syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Health Check Tools
- CDC's Developmental Milestones (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Statistics and Research
- Baby Teeth Link Autism and Heavy Metals, NIH Study Suggests (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
- Data and Statistics on Autism Spectrum Disorder (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Prenatal Inflammation Linked to Autism Risk (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Asperger Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Autism Spectrum Disorder (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Autistic Disorder (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Child Development Disorders, Pervasive (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: A clustering approach identifies an Autism Spectrum Disorder subtype more responsive...
- Article: Modulation of Gut Microbiome and Autism Symptoms of ASD Children Supplemented...
- Article: 2023 clinical practice guidelines on autism spectrum disorder in children and...
- Autism Spectrum Disorder -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Also in Spanish
- National Institute of Mental Health Also in Spanish
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Also in Spanish
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association)
Teenagers
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Autism spectrum disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Autism spectrum disorder - Asperger syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Autism spectrum disorder - childhood disintegrative disorder (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish