About Autism

Autism is a lifelong complex neuro-developmental disorder, with biological roots thought to be present at birth, which continues through adulthood. Autism can affect any child and family from any race, ethnic or socioeconomic group anywhere in the world, including Armenia.

Autism is a lifelong complex neuro-developmental disorder, with biological roots thought to be present at birth, which continues through adulthood. Autism can affect any child and family from any race, ethnic or socioeconomic group anywhere in the world.

  • Autism affects development in the areas of social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and behavior, including intense preoccupations, interests, and repetitive movements, extreme reactions to changes in routines, and over-or under-responsiveness to noise, light, textures and tastes.
  • An estimated 30% of children diagnosed with autism have an early period of typical social and communication development, and then lose some or all of these abilities. Some early signs may be delay in speech and language development. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary for each person; this is why the term Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is used. Differences in symptoms and severity levels can be across all developmental areas: language, social, emotional, and intellectual.
  • According to most recent estimates reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 44 children has been identified with ASD in the US. This number has doubled since 2006 when 1 in 88 children were diagnosed with ASD. ASD affects boys at a higher rate (1 in 42) and is up to 4.5 times more common in boys than in girls. Studies are being conducted to help understand what causes this difference, and how it affects the timing of the diagnosis in girls.
  • Many symptoms of ASD are present by 18 months of age, or even earlier. A reliable diagnosis can be made at the age of two years, however, most children are not diagnosed until the age of 3 to 4 years or later. Sociocultural factors may delay diagnosis into later years in a child’s life. Here are some of the more important milestones and early signs.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children be screened specifically for ASD during well-child doctor visits at 18 and 24 months.
  • Some symptoms or characteristics of ASD are:
    • not pointing at objects to show interest (i.e. not point to a dog walking by or an airplane flying over)
    • not looking at objects when another person points to them
    • trouble relating to others or not interested in others at all
    • avoid eye contact and want to be alone
    • not respond to their name when called
    • trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
    • not like to cuddle or to be held, or might cuddle only when they want to
    • appear to be unaware when people talk to them, but respond to other sounds
    • be very interested in people, but not know how to talk, play, or relate to them
    • repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in place of normal language
    • trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions
    • not play “pretend” games (i.e. not pretend to “feed” a doll)
    • repeat actions over and over again
    • trouble adapting when a routine changes
    • unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look feel, or sound
    • lose skills they once had (i.e. stop saying words they were using)
  • While the causes of autism are not yet known, some risk factors have been identified. Among them are family history, parental age, and certain other neurodevelopmental disorders.
  • Research suggests that early diagnosis and intervention geared towards the child’s strengths and needs can result in significant positive outcomes. Interventions typically focus on social emotional development, behavior management, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training, and special education methods to promote development in the preschool years, and educational achievement in the school-age years.
  • In California, the Regional Centers coordinate services for individuals with autism from birth on. According to the Autism Insurance Law which went into effect in July 2012, health plans governed by California are to include coverage for autism as a medical benefit. The public schools provide special education services through the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process from ages 3-22 years.

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