Autism and Asperger syndrome are both part of a range of related developmental disorders known as autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). They begin in childhood and persist through adulthood.
ASD can cause a wide range of symptoms, which are grouped into three broad categories, described below.
- Problems and difficulties with social interaction, such as a lack of understanding and awareness of other people's emotions and feelings.
- Impaired language and communication skills, such as delayed language development and an inability to start conversations or take part in them properly.
- Unusual patterns of thought and physical behaviour. This includes making repetitive physical movements, such as hand tapping or twisting. The child develops set routines of behaviour, which can upset the child if the routines are broken.
There is currently no cure for ASD, but there are a wide range of treatments, including specialist education and behavioural programmes, that can help improve the symptoms. Read more about treating ASD.
In England it is estimated that 1 in every 100 children has an ASD and they are more common in boys than girls. Boys are three to four times more likely to develop an ASD than girls.
Types of ASD
The term 'spectrum' is used because the symptoms of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) can vary from person to person and range from mild to severe.
In very broad terms, there are three main types of ASD:
- Autistic disorder, sometimes known as 'classic autism'
- Asperger syndrome
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), which is also known as 'atypical autism'
Autistic disorder
Children with autistic disorder usually have significant problems with language, social interaction and behaviour. Many children with autistic disorder will also have learning difficulties and below-average intelligence.
Asperger syndrome
Children with Asperger syndrome have milder symptoms that affect social interaction and behaviour. Their language development is usually unaffected, although they often have problems in certain areas of language. For example, understanding humour, or figures of speech such as 'it's raining cats and dogs'.
Children with Asperger syndrome usually have above-average intelligence. Some children are skilled in fields requiring logic, memory and creativity, such as maths, computer science and music.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified
PDD-NOS is also an autistic spectrum disorder and is a condition diagnosed in children who share some, but not all, of the traits of autistic disorder and/or Asperger syndrome.
Most children with PDD-NOS have milder symptoms than children with autistic disorder, but they do not share the language skills and above-average intelligence associated with Asperger syndrome.
Autism in children
Autism can normally be diagnosed in children around the age of two, although it can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms will often only become more noticeable as they get older.
See your GP if you notice any of the symptoms of ASD, or you’re concerned about your child’s development. You can discuss your concerns together in depth before deciding whether your child should be referred for a specialist assessment Read more about diagnosing autism.
If your child is diagnosed with ASD, there will be many things to consider as a parent, including coping with day-to-day life at home and choosing the right school. Read more information about coping with your child’s diagnosis in a parents guide to autism.
Autism in adults
Some people with ASD grow up without ever being diagnosed, sometimes through choice, but getting a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) as an adult can often help them and their families to understand the condition and then work out what kind of support they need.
There are a range of autism-specific services available to help adults with ASD find advice and support, get involved in leisure activities and find somewhere they are comfortable living.
Some adults with ASD may have also have difficulty finding a job due to the social demands and changes in routine that a workplace involves, but support can also help with finding a job to match the abilities and skills of the individual.
Read more about living with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) as an adult.
Are rates of autism increasing?
The number of diagnosed cases of ASD has increased over the past two decades, but this does not necessarily mean that the condition is becoming more widespread.
Some experts argue that the rise in diagnosed cases may be due to health professionals getting better at diagnosing cases correctly. In the past, many children with an ASD may have been incorrectly labelled as 'slow', 'difficult' or 'painfully shy', and not given the treatment they needed.
Some campaigners believe that the rise in cases is due to the MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) vaccine.
The MMR vaccine has been investigated extensively in a number of major studies around the world, involving millions of children. Researchers have found no evidence of a link between MMR and ASD.
In 2009, one of the country's leading ASD charities, the National Autism Society, released a statement supporting the claim that there is no link between MMR and ASD.
In the US, a compound containing mercury called thiomersal, which is used as a preservative in some vaccines, has also been claimed to cause ASD.
Thiomersal has been extensively studied and no evidence of a link to ASD has been found. Furthermore, thiomersal was removed from vaccines in the US after 1999, yet the rates of ASD have continued to rise.
Read more information about the causes of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD).
Outlook
Children with moderate symptoms who have average or above-average intelligence often grow up to be independent adults with jobs, long-term relationships and children.
Children with more severe symptoms who have below-average intelligence are likely to find it difficult living independently as adults and may need additional care and assistance. However, there is no reason why they cannot enjoy a good quality of life.
