There are 5 different types of autism disorders

There are 5 different types of autism disorders

Autism is a complex developmental disorder with many different levels of severity. Technically there is a diagnosis that is autism. However, people refer to Pervasive Developmental Disorders as Autism Spectrum Disorders or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Autism spectrum disorders are developmental brain disorders that cause impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Autism is just one of five different types of autism disorders.

Below you will find definitions and characteristics of the five different autism disorders.

Classic autism:

Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in children and is considered the most severe of the different types of autism disorders. People with classic autism develop language late or not at all. People affected by classic autism have difficulty speaking with other people, or a profound lack of affection or emotional contact with others, an intense desire for sameness in routines, muteness or abnormality of language, a high level of visuospatial ability, but great difficulty learning in other areas. Symptoms of autism usually appear in the first three years of childhood and last throughout life. Autism is a spectrum disorder because the severity of impairment in each of these areas varies from person to person.

Asperger syndrome:

A person with Asperger's syndrome can have a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Children demonstrate a lack of social skills and have difficulty with transitions or changes. They obsessively follow rituals and any change in their routine can upset them. They have great difficulty reading body language and determining the correct body space. Some children with Asperger's syndrome have reduced sensitivity to pain and increased sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises. With this type of autism disorder, they also have average or above average intelligence.

Disintegrative Disorder of Childhood:

Disintegration disorder in childhood includes a severe regression of communication skills, social behavior and all developmental motor skills. At first these children seem completely normal. They begin to withdraw between the ages of 2 and 4. At this time, these children stop socializing, lose their potty training skills, stop playing, lose their motor skills, and stop making friends.

Rett syndrome:

Rett syndrome is a neurological and developmental disorder that occurs primarily in women and is characterized by poor head growth. Loss of muscle tone is usually the first symptom. Other early symptoms may include problems crawling or walking and reduced eye contact. They stop using their hands to do things and often develop stereotypical hand movements, such as: B. Wringing, clapping, or tapping their hands. The inability to perform motor functions is perhaps the most serious feature of Rett syndrome, disrupting all body movement, including gaze and speech. Infants with Rett syndrome initially appear to grow and develop normally, but then stop developing and even lose skills and abilities.

Pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified:

This tends to describe people with many or all different types of autism disorders. Children with PDDNOS either do not fully meet the criteria for symptoms used to diagnose any of the four specific types listed above and/or do not have the level of impairment described in any of the four specific types listed above.

Inspired by Shawn Johnson