Autism, more accurately known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that

does not have one specific cause, but rather is believed to be caused by a number of potential factors.
The term “spectrum” in ASD helps explain the wide-ranging symptoms that are experienced with the
disability and often present behavioral, communication, and social challenges that begin early in
childhood.
Genetics: Research has shown that several different genes might be involved in ASD and that genetic
disorders like Rett syndrome and fragile X syndrome may be associated with ASD as well. Other ASD risks
include genetic mutations that can impact the development of the brain or how brain cells communicate.
Certain genetic mutations appear to be inherited, which means that autism can run in families. However,
other genetic mutations show up spontaneously. These mutations do not cause ASD on their own but
increase the risk for the disorder.
 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or
repetitive behaviors or interests, they have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
These characteristics can make life very challenging.

Environmental: Environmental risk factors for ASD include things like advanced parent age, complications
during pregnancy and/or birth (including low birth weight, extreme prematurity, and multiple pregnancies
like twins, triplets, etc.), and pregnancies spaced less than one year apart. More research is being done
to figure out how these factors, along with things like air pollutants and viral infections, affect the likelihood
of children being diagnosed with ASD.
 

Both genetic and environmental risk factors appear to affect critical areas of early brain development, thus
their relation to the potential risk of developing ASD.

Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include

 Avoids or does not keep eye contact

 Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
 Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
 Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
 Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)
 Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object
that they like)
 Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age
 Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age
 Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age
 Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48
months of age
 Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months of age

Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors or Interests

People with ASD have behaviors or interests that can seem unusual. These behaviors or interests set
ASD apart from conditions defined by problems with social communication and interaction only.
Examples of restricted or repetitive behaviors and interests related to ASD can include

 Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when order is changed
  Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia)
 Plays with toys the same way every time
 Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels)
 Gets upset by minor changes
 Has obsessive interests
 Must follow certain routines
 Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles
 Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Other Characteristics
Most people with ASD have other related characteristics. These might include

 Delayed language skills

 Delayed movement skills
 Delayed cognitive or learning skills
 Hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behavior
 Epilepsy or seizure disorder
 Unusual eating and sleeping habits
 Gastrointestinal issues (for example, constipation)
 Unusual mood or emotional reactions
 Anxiety, stress, or excessive worry
 Lack of fear or more fear than expected
It is important to note that children with ASD may not have all or any of the behaviors listed as
examples here.
Know the Symptoms to Lookout For
Autism is a developmental disorder that's common in the United States today. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 44 children have autism. It's also four times more common in boys than in
girls.1

With adults, the symptoms of autism are a little more recognizable. Also, because the condition develops in
childhood, autistic adults will most likely already have been equipped with the tools to take better care of
themselves. Autistic children, on the other hand, need a lot of care.

The condition can be diagnosed as early as three years old in children. Autism is characterized by behavioral,
communication, and social challenges. However, each person with the condition will exhibit a unique set of
symptoms. This is why it's essential to know and recognize the symptoms your autistic child exhibits to learn how to
take care of them. The most common signs of autism to look out for include:2 

 Difficulty communicating 
 Little or no social skills 
 Shows no interest in playing with other children 
 Avoids eye contact when they are being spoken to 
 Likes to stick to routines and get upset when they are disrupted 
 Makes repetitive movements 
 Prefers to be alone
 Has difficulty showing emotions
 Sensitive to sensory stimulations

 What to Know About Autism in Kids

Getting Treatment  As soon as a diagnosis has been made, getting treatment for your child with autism is
essential. The sooner a diagnosis has been made, and you start treatment for your child, the better they'll be equipped
to handle their condition as they grow older.
Research shows that early intervention, which can begin as soon as the child is three years old, will help with the
child's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development.3 

Treatment for autism typically involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Your child will be taught
tools to help them cope with their symptoms better in therapy. This education shouldn't end after the therapy session.
You can ask your therapist to show you ways to continue supporting your child outside of a therapy room. 

Tips for Caring for Someone With Autism Here are some tips you should know to help care for someone with
autism:4

 Learn how to communicate with them: For many autistic people, communication can be challenging.
Some autistic children are even non-verbal, so you have to develop creative ways to communicate with
them. Many autistic children do well with visual communication. 
 Be patient: Patience is vital when caring for a person with autism. Their social and communication skills
are often underdeveloped, and it can be hard to get through to them. 
 Create a schedule and stick to it: Autistic children benefit significantly from a structured schedule. Any
deviation to the schedule could throw them off. Autistic children tend to thrive with a consistent schedule.
Stick to consistent bedtimes and mealtimes. If there's going to be a change in the schedule, you should
inform your child beforehand. 
 Schedule time for play: In between school and therapy, autistic children can easily get swamped. It's a
great idea to schedule a time to unwind and play. It can be a little tricky figuring out what your autistic
child likes to do for fun, as they are unlikely to unwind like other kids. 

 What to Know About Play Therapy?

Where to Get Information Arming yourself with the appropriate knowledge to help your child with autism is
essential. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation out there.
It would be best if you only sourced information from reliable sources that will provide you with accurate
information. Autism Society of America and the National Autism Association are organizations that provide reliable
information and resources about the condition.
The Disabilities Education Act provides children with conditions like autism access to free and low-cost health
services. This law allows for your autistic child to be able to get access to evaluations, medication, therapy, and
specialized devices either for free or at a very low cost. Under the act, children below the age of ten don't need to
have been given an official diagnosis of autism before accessing these services. 5

If you observe your child is displaying symptoms of autism or a developmental disorder, you can take advantage of
this law. 

Caring for Yourself Parents often struggle with finding time to take care of themselves. This can become even
more difficult when parenting autistic children.
Research shows that parents of autistic children often find it challenging to combine caregiving with their daily
activities.6However, taking care of yourself and preventing burnout is vital to give your child the best help. Taking
care of a person with autism can be emotionally and physically demanding. This is why self-care is also essential.

 Practice self-care: Practicing self-care might seem indulgent, but you might be underestimating how
powerful it can be. If you have a busy schedule, you can start small. Take a 10-minute walk in the morning,
or soak in the bathtub for fifteen minutes at the end of a long day. 
 Join a support group: Joining a support group with other parents of autistic children can help you feel less
alone. Simply talking to people who understand and empathize with your struggles can feel good. Making
time to attend a support group in person can be tricky, so that you can sign up for a virtual support group.
 Ask for help: Don't be embarrassed to reach out to your support system to ask for help. They can help with
babysitting when you need some time to yourself or getting resources that can better equip you to care for
your autistic child.