Title: Autism Content: thumb|A young boy with autism has arranged his toys in a row before falling asleep. Always arranging things in a certain way is a sign of autism. Autism spectrum is an umbrella term used to describe a range of conditions characterized by difficulties in social interactions and communication, unusual sensitivity to sensory inputs, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Autism changes how someone thinks, understands the world, moves, communicates, and socializes. Autism is also called the autism spectrum. That means that every autistic person is different. Some autistic people may need a lot of help with one thing. Other autistic people may not need help with the same thing. It may be easy to tell when someone is autistic, or it may not be. The main areas of difference from non-autistic people is thinking differences (how people think and understand the world), sensory processing differences (how people react to stimuli), motor differences, communication differences, and socializing differences. Autism is present from birth. About 1 in 44 or 2% of children are autistic. Signs of autism are usually present when a child is around two or three, but some people are not diagnosed until later. Some people are not diagnosed until they are adults. There is no cure for autism and many autistic people do not want a cure. They want to be accepted as different. This is called neurodiversity. Autistic people that want their differences to be accepted may be part of the autism rights movement. == History == === Early history === The word “autism” comes from the Greek word “autos”, meaning “self.” The term describes conditions in which a person is removed from social interaction: an “isolated self”.Brennan D (2015). "History of Autism". WebMD. WebMD, LLC The term "autism" was first used by a psychiatrist named Eugen Bleuler in 1911 to describe one group of symptoms of schizophrenia. Sigmund Freud considered this idea and thought it was related to narcissism.Fordham M, Gordon R, Hubback J (2013). “The Self and Autism: The Library of Analytical Psychology”. Butterworth-Heinemann, 41-56 === Discovery === In the 1940s, two researchers were studying autism in different countries; Hans Asperger in Austria and Leo Kanner in the United States. In 1943 Leo Kanner (a doctor from Johns Hopkins University) did a study of 11 children. He found out that they had difficulties such as changing environments, being sensitive to certain stimuli, having speech problems, and allergies to food. Later he named the children’s condition “early infantile autism”,Mash E, Wolfe D (2016). “Abnormal Child Psychology“. Cengage Learning, 315-317 now called autism spectrum disorder. Hans Asperger was doing a similar study in Austria He found they also had “[...] a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships, one-sided conversation, intense absorption in a special interest and clumsy movements”.Dodd S (2005). “Understanding Autism”. Elsevier Australia, 7 It used to be thought that Hans Asperger and Leo Kanner were looking at different children and that Hans Asperger found a "mild form" of autism. This was the initial justification for Asperger syndrome. However, later research found that they were doing research on similar populations. Hans Asperger was also doing research in Nazi-controlled Austria, which believed in eugenics. Eugenics is the idea that some people are better than others. In Nazi-controlled Europe, people who were considered "lesser" were murdered, imprisoned, and discriminated against. Recent research has discovered that Hans Asperger sent children with disabilities to be murdered. ==== The refrigerator mother theory ==== In 1943 and 1949, Kanner described the children he studied in scientific papers. In these papers, he wrote that he thought the children's parents were not loving them enough. He wrote that this might be part of the reason why the children had autism.Kanner L 1943. "Autistic disturbances of affective contact". Nerv Child 2: 217–50. Reprinted in Kanner, L (1968). "Autistic disturbances of affective contact.". Acta Paedopsychiatr 35 (4): 100–36. PMID 4880460Kanner L 1949. "Problems of nosology and psychodynamics in early childhood autism". Am J Orthopsychiatry 19 (3): 416–26. doi:10.1111/j.1939-0025.1949.tb05441.x. PMID 18146742 For example, in 1949 he wrote that the children's parents showed no warmth, or love, to their children. He thought the parents were so "cold" that he compared them to refrigerators: > “[The children] were left neatly in refrigerators which did not defrost. > Their withdrawal seems to be an act of turning away from such a situation to > seek comfort in solitude”. This idea became known as the refrigerator mother theory. For decades parents were blamed for causing their children's autism by not loving their children enough.Farrugia D 2009. "Exploring stigma: Medical knowledge and the stigmatization of parents with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder". Sociology of Health and Illness (Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness/Blackwell Publishing Ltd.) 31 (7): 1101-1027 By now, we know this is not true. === Later history === Schizophrenia and autism were linked in many researchers’ studies. It was in the 1960s when medical professionals started to see these two disorders as separate conditions. Since 1980, Kanner’s so-called "early infantile autism" is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, the DSM came out with a more accurate definition of autism in 1987. Since then, early infantile autism is called autism disorder. For the first time the DSM also introduced standardized criteria to diagnose autism. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) expanded the definition of autism and included milder cases of autism. Asperger’s syndrome was added as a type of autism in 1994. === Recent history === Autism used to be considered different conditions. Some diagnoses in the past include: Classical autism, Asperger's syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). However, none of these separate diagnoses exist anymore. Both the US DSM-V (2013) and the ICD-11 (2022) have combined the existing diagnoses into one diagnosis: Autism spectrum disorder. This happened because doctors found that these diagnoses were frequently used in different ways. For example, one person could get a diagnosis of classical autism from one doctor, Asperger's from a second doctor, and PDD-NOS from a third doctor. This was hurting people's ability to access services and supports. Additionally, recent research shows that Hans Asperger sent autistic children to be murdered by Nazis. Because of this, the diagnosis is less frequently used, and is not preferred by many autistic people. == Symptoms == ==== Persistent Deficits ==== Both the ICD-11 and the DSM-5 define autism by deficits. Deficits are areas where autistic people are not as good at something as non-autistic people. Autistic people have disagreed with how autism is defined by deficits and not by differences. In Welcome to the Autistic Community, a Simple English book, about being autistic, they refer to differences, rather than symptoms or deficits. Researchers and autistic advocates are working together on creating a way to diagnose that is based on autistic people's experiences of autism and is not deficit based. The symptoms or characteristics of autism can look different depending on how old you are. Doctors are supposed to keep that in mind while diagnosing autism. For example, a toddler and an adult, while they both are autistic, would express it very differently. These symptoms must be persistent. Persistent means that these symptoms must keep happening over a long span of time. If a symptom only happened once, it wouldn't be persistent. Autism is life-long. === Social Interaction and Communication === Difficulty in social interactions and communicating with each other. Some examples are: * may not understand body language or other forms of non-verbal communication * may not like to make eye contact * may have difficulty making friends * may prefer being alone, or not interested in making friends * may not speak or speak less than others * may have difficulty in knowing how other people feel === Restricted, repetitive and inflexible behavior === This term means behavior that happens over and over again and it is difficult to change. This can happen in many different situations: talking, routine, body movements, and others. Some examples include: * may have trouble dealing with changes in routine or unexpected events. * may do the same things at the same time or the same places * may be overly concerned with rules while playing * may enjoy lining up or sorting objects * may do the same body movements repeatedly (stimming) ** rocking, walking on tiptoes, flapping hands, and others * may have special interests (areas where the person is super interested in something) * Sensitivity ** Greater or lesser sensitivity to certain sensory experiences like smells, noises, or touch. === Onset (When symptoms start) === These are the two areas where symptoms must be present to diagnose autism spectrum disorders. Both the ICD-11 and DSM-5 say that there have to be some symptoms in childhood, but that sometimes symptoms won't fully manifest until later. === Affects the persons life === Finally, for a diagnosis, the symptoms must affect the person's life. This can include social, school, job, or other areas. For example, someone having trouble making friends, or having trouble getting a job. In 2021, an online survey of 16-90 year-olds showed that autistic men are more likely to be bisexual, while autistic women are more likely to be homosexual. == Frequency == There are many studies on how many autistic people are out there. In the United States, the CDC does studies. In 2018, they found that 1 in 44 children are autistic. That is about 2%. This number keeps going up. Many people wonder why there are more and more autistic children. Some people think that something is causing it. But really, most scientists think that we are getting better at diagnosing autism. More doctors know about autism and can diagnosis children that they see. More people have access to medical care and can get a diagnosis. ==== Under-diagnosis ==== In the past, autism was considered a disorder for white boys. Still, more white boys are diagnosed. Girls and children of color are under-diagnosed. Under- diagnosed means that girls and people of color are not diagnosed as often as they should be. This means that many girls and children of color do not get a diagnosis. They may receive a different diagnosis, or they may not receive any diagnosis at all. Now, more girls and children of color are getting diagnosed. Many women and people of color also get a diagnosis or realize they are autistic as adults. == Causes == Scientists do not know exactly what causes autism. There may be many different causes for autism. Scientists do know about some things that make a person more likely to have an Autism Spectrum Disorder. === Genes === Autism may be caused by genes. Genes are passed on from parents to children. If you have an autistic family member, you are more likely to be autistic. Some doctors look for the genes that cause autism. This is criticized by some autistic people. === Differences in the brain === Some researchers think that differences in the brain may cause autism. However, no one type of abnormal functioning of the brain is the only cause of autism. Still, scientists found some differences between the brains of autistic people and the brains of people who are not autistic. Autistic people and non- autistic people might use their brain differently. Autistic people might use certain parts of the brain more than non-autistic people. === Familial factors === There are some factors during pregnancy that can make autism more likely. The likelihood of autism increases if the mother uses thalidomide, valproic acid or drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy.Freitag C M (2007). "The genetics of autistic disorders and its clinical relevance: a review of the literature". Molecular Psychiatry 12: 2–22. doi:10.1038/sj.mp.4001896 The risk for autism also increases with the age of father and mother at the time of pregnancy.Abrahams B S, Geschwind D H (2008). "Advances in autism genetics: on the threshold of a new neurobiology." Nature Reviews Genetics 9.5: 341-355. == Debunked Theories == Some thing don't cause autism but people used to think they did. === "Refrigerator Mother" Theory === Scientists used to think that the parents caused autism by not loving their child enough. This is not true. Scientists know that parents do not cause their children's autism. === Vaccines === Scientists do know for sure that vaccines do not cause autism.Doja A; Roberts W 2006. "Immunizations and autism: a review of the literature". Canadian Journal of Neurological Science 33 (4): 341–6. doi: 10.1017/s031716710000528x. PMID: 17168158 Vaccines do not even make a person more likely to have autism, even if they are already likely to have autism before they get their vaccines."No Association Found Between MMR Vaccine and Autism, Even Among Children at Higher Risk". The JAMA Network. Journal of the American Medical Association. April 21, 2015. Retrieved February 14, 2016 One paper said in 1997 that vaccines caused autism.Wakefield, A. J., Murch, S. H., Anthony, A., Linnell, J., Casson, D., Malik, M., et al. (1998). RETRACTED: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet, 351(9103), 637-641 This study did not do research the right way. Many studies have shown that this is not true. Vaccines do not cause autism. This paper was retracted, which means that it was unpublished because it was incorrect. == Diagnosis == Diagnosing autism can be hard because there is no medical test like a blood test. Instead, an evaluation is made by a team of doctors and other health professionals who are experienced in autism and know the person trying to get diagnosed. === Diagnosis in children === A reliable diagnosis can first be given at the age of two. At the age of 18 and 24 months, children should get a check-up. If anything wrong is noticed, a further evaluation is done. In this, a team of professionals will talk to the child’s guardians about the child’s behaviour and see what they are like in different settings. This may also include behavioural or physical assessments as well as intelligence tests or developmental tests. A good, detailed history of the child is often very useful in getting a diagnosis.Dissanayake C, Green C, Tennison O (2013). “How autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed”. Raising Children Network. Web 26 July, 2016 === Diagnosis in adults === Autism can be diagnosed in adults as well as children. This can be difficult because autism has symptoms that can also be a part of other disorders, such as OCD, that may have appeared by adulthood. An expert will usually ask the adult about concerns, challenges in life (such as socially or behaviourally) as well as standardised testing in these areas. They also often ask for a developmental history.Bastiaansen J A, Meffert H, Hein S (2011). et al. J Autism Dev Disord 41: 1256. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1157-x === Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) === In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association published the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). In order to be diagnosed with autism, a person must fulfill two standardized criteria. It is important that individuals must show symptoms from early childhood, even if those symptoms are recognized later. These symptoms have to limit everyday functioning. These symptoms also cannot be explained by an intellectual disability or a developmental delay.American Psychiatric Association (2013). “Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed”. American Psychiatric Pub. 416-430 Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviours. === Co-occurring conditions === Autism spectrum disorder includes a wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of disability. Some autistic people also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions. This means that autism can also co-occur with other conditions and symptoms of the following disorders:Gillberg C, Billstedt E (2001). “Autism and Asperger syndrome: coexistence with other clinical disorders”. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2000.102005321.x * Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder * Obsessive-compulsive disorder * Learning disability * Intellectual disability * Anxiety disorder In the DSM-V, making a diagnosis of autism means a formal diagnosis of other psychiatric disorders cannot be made. Therefore, other mental health conditions may be undiagnosed in an autistic person, because it is impossible to make a comorbid clinical diagnosis. == Treatment == Since autism is a spectrum, every person with autism is different. Different treatments help different people. There are a few different categories of treatment. The main ones are medication, different therapies and diets. The treatment is fitted depending on what a person with autism needs. === Medication === It is still unclear what causes autism. There may be a few causes. At the moment, it is only possible to lower the symptoms of autism. A full recovery from autism is not possible.Moore ML, Eichner SF, Jones J (2004). “Treating Functional Impairment of Autism with Selective Serotonin- Reuptake Inhibitors”. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 38(9): 1515-9. doi: 10.1345/aph.1D543 If therapies cannot reduce the symptoms of autism, medications are used additionally.Posey DJ, Stigler KA, Erickson CA, McDougle CJ (2008). “Antipsychotics in the treatment of autism”. The Journal of Clinical Investigation 118 (1): 6-14. doi:: 10.1172/JCI32483. PMID: 18172517 Often, several medications are used at the same time to treat different symptoms of autism. ==== Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) ==== Serotonin is a chemical messenger that transports signals between cells and is very important for normal function, such as with sensory perception, memory, learning, and sleep, all of which are impaired in autistic people. Researchers have not yet found a link between autism and serotonin, although they have been successful in treating autism with SSRIs, which stop cells from absorbing serotonin, meaning more is used for signals. They can be used to treat repetitive behaviour, aggression, hyperactive behaviour and outbursts of anger.Leskovec TJ, Rowles BM, Findling RL (2008). “Pharmacological Treatment Options for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children and Adolescents”. Harvard Review of Psychiatry 16 (2): 97-112. doi: 10.1080/10673220802075852. PMID: 18415882 The SSRIs can have many side-effects. Usually the medication is better tolerated by adults than by children. Examples of SSRIs are Clomipramine, Fluvoxamine, Sertraline, Venlafaxine, Trazodone and Mirtazapine.Doyle CA, McDougle CJ (2012). “Pharmacologic treatments for the behavioral symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders across the lifespan”. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience 14 (3): 263-279. PMID: 23226952 ==== Antipsychotic medication ==== Dopamine is a chemical messenger in the brain. It helps to do movements, release hormones and strengthen cognitive abilities. Researchers found that increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain will worsen the symptoms of autism. Substances that help to reduce symptoms of autism are the antipsychotic drugs. There are two types of antipsychotic medications. One of the types are typical antipsychotics. They block the sites where dopamine would bind to a cell. Atypical antipsychotic drugs on the other hand block the sites where dopamine or serotonin would bind to a cell. Antipsychotic medicine is the most successful treatment for excitability in autism. It can also help to reduce aggression, self-injury, hyperactivity and repetitive behaviours, although it may have many side- effects. Originally, antipsychotic medications were used to treat mental disorders like depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Examples of antipsychotic drugs are Haloperidol, Clozapine, Risperidone and Paliperidone. ==== Psychostimulants ==== In the beginning, psychostimulants were only used for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Researchers found out that they can also help patients with autism. The medication can reduce hyperactivity and inattention in people with autism. The medication can have many side-effects. Examples are Methylphenidate, Clonidine and Guanfacine. === Diet === People with autism often have problems with their digestive organs like the stomach or gut. These problems could be inflammations, abdominal pain, gas, diarrhea or bacterial overgrowth. The reasons may be malnutrition, food intolerances or allergies. Specific food products causing these problems are left out from the diet. In many cases, products containing gluten or casein, the main protein occurring in dairy products, are excluded. In many cases vitamins, minerals as well as essential fatty acids are additionally provided. A big problem is that many autistic people cannot tell that they have pain. Because of this, many problems concerning the digestive organs are not noticed.Kawicka A, Regulska-Ilow B (2013). “How nutritional status, diet and dietary supplements can affect autism. A review.” Roczniki Państwowego Zakładu Higieny 64 (1): 1-12. PMID: 23789306 === Therapies === ==== Occupational therapy ==== Therapy can be used to minimize distress caused by sensory overload. Special therapy plans are created for each autistic person. What is part of these plans depends on what the autistic person needs help with. The therapist tries to help the autistic person in many different aspects. One part of this is sensory integration. The therapist will help the patient to make sense of different sensory inputs. For example, they may ask a child patient to play with finger paints or collect objects from a bag of dried beans. Another part is the training of daily life activities. The therapist may help the patient to get used to things like getting dressed, eating, hygiene, shopping and financial management. These may be done one step at a time if the activity involves multiple steps, such as cooking. Play therapy is also helpful, especially for children. It can be useful to learn about certain emotions, which can be hard for autistic people. This can also be used to help learn social conventions, such as shaking hands instead of hugging when meeting a stranger.Bumin G, Meral H, Salar S, Kayihan H (2015). "Occupational Therapy in Autism." Autism Spectrum Disorder - Recent Advances: 161-203. doi: 10.5772/59168 ==== Therapy with animals ==== Often animals are used to help autistic people. Most often dogs or horses are used. The people diagnosed with autism can care for these animals, pet them, and, in the case of the horse, even ride on them. Studies showed that the interaction between an autistic person and animals can increase communication, reduce stress, fear, and aggression, and reduce the severity of the symptoms of autism.51 O’Haire ME (2013). “Animal-Assisted Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review”. Journal of autism and developmental disorders 43: 1606–1622. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1707-5 PMID: 23124442 ==== Music therapy ==== Music therapy consists of two parts. One is an active listening part. Here, the therapist is making music himself or playing music from a record. In the other part, the autistic person can make music himself like playing an instrument or singing. Music therapy will improve different aspects of communication.Geretsegger M, Elefant C, Mössler KA, Gold C (2014). “Music therapy for people with autism spectrum disorder”. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 6. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004381.pub3. PMID: 24936966 ==== Art therapy ==== Here, different materials and techniques are used to draw pictures. The aim of art therapy is to make the autistic person more flexible and relaxed and to improve communication skills, self-image and learning skills. The effects of the therapy can be long lasting and transferred to the school, work or home setting.Schweizer C, Knorth EJ, Spreen M (2014). “Art therapy with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A review of clinical case descriptions on ‘what works’”. ScienceDirect 41 (5): 577–593. doi: 10.1016/j.aip.2014.10.009 == Related pages == * Nonverbal learning disorder (common in people with autism spectrum disorders) * Asperger Syndrome (a form of autism spectrum disorder) *Imprinted Brain Theory *Monotropism