Autism Spectrum Disorders 

FACT SHEET 

What are autism spectrum disorders? 

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of 

developmental disabilities caused by a problem with the 

brain. Scientists do not know yet exactly what causes this 

problem. ASDs can impact a person’s functioning at 

different levels, from very mildly to severely. There is 

usually nothing about how a person with an ASD looks 

that sets them apart from other people, but they may 

communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that 

are different from most people. The thinking and 

learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary – from 

gifted to severely challenged. Autistic disorder is the 

most commonly known type of ASD, but there are others, 

including “pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise 

specified” (PDD-NOS) and Asperger Syndrome. 

What are some of the signs of ASDs? 

People with ASDs may have problems with social, 

emotional, and communication skills. They might repeat 

certain behaviors and might not want change in their 

daily activities. Many people with ASDs also have 

different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting 

to things. ASDs begin during early childhood and last 

throughout a person’s life. 

A child or adult with an ASD might: 

■	 not play “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll) 

■	 not point at objects to show interest (point at an 

airplane flying over) 

■	 not look at objects when another person points at them 

■	 have trouble relating to others or not have an interest 

in other people at all 

■	 avoid eye contact and want to be alone 

■	 have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or 

talking about their own feelings 

■	 prefer not to be held or cuddled or might cuddle only 

when they want to 

■	 appear to be unaware when other 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 (echolalia) 

■	 have trouble expressing their needs using typical words 

or motions 

■	 repeat actions over and over again 

■	 have trouble adapting when a routine changes 

■	 have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, 

look, feel, or sound 

■	 lose skills they once had (for instance, stop saying 

words they were using) 

What can I do if I think my child has 

an ASD? 

Talk with your child’s doctor or nurse. If you or your 

doctor think there could be a problem, ask for a referral 

to see a developmental pediatrician or other specialist, 

or you can contact your local early intervention agency 

(for children under 3) or public school (for children 

3 and older). To find out who to speak to in your 

area, you can contact the National Information Center 

for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) by 

logging onto www.nichcy.org or call 

1-800-695-0285. In addition, the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention (CDC) has links to information 

for families on their Autism Information Center Web 

page (www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/aic/resources). 

Right now, the main research-based treatment for ASDs 

is intensive structured teaching of skills, often called 

behavioral intervention. It is very important to begin this 

intervention as early as possible in order to help your 

child reach his or her full potential. Acting early can 

make a real difference! 

1-800-CDC-INFO www.cdc.gov/actearly


Learn the Signs. Act Early.