Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is an umbrella diagnosis that now includes several conditions that used to be diagnosed separately: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger’s syndrome. Typically, autism symptoms first appear in a child before the age of three.

There is no medical test for autistic disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, or any of the other disorders on the autism spectrum. Instead, autism symptoms and social behavior are used to make an assessment. Moreover, there is no known cure for autism. However, research shows that early interventions, when applied to autism spectrum disorder, can greatly improve a child’s development.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health and Human Services (NIH), National Institute of Mental Health