Common Characteristics of Children with ASD

Impairments in communication & social interaction
Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors
Heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli

Example Behaviors Include:

Solitary and detached
Odd repetitive behaviors
Difficulty expressing needs
About 25% of individuals with ASD are nonverbal, but can learn to communicate using other means
More interest in objects than other children
Heightened sensitivity to sound, sight, smells, tastes and textures

Other Disorders with Similar Characteristics

Many challenges faced by autistic kids are shared
by a broader community of special needs children including motor and neuromuscular challenges, cognitive, sensory and communication issues and visual and auditory impairment. Other disorders include Down Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Sensory Disorders, Vision & Auditory Deficiencies - just to name a few.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

What is Autism?

Autism is a complex neurological developmental disability appearing in first three years of life and the most common of the five Pervasive Development Disorders known as PDDs. Autism is a spectrum disorder that effects each person differently with varying degrees of strengths and challenges. Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2014 identify around 1 in 68 American children are on the autism spectrum, a ten fold increase in prevalence in 40 years. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls and especially impacts development in areas of social skills, verbal and nonverbal communication, behavior and sensory systems.