The next question naturally is, what are the Autism Spectrum Disorders? This is a great question, as many of us have never even heard of ASD and really know next-to-nothing about it. It is actually far more pervasive than you might think. For every 1,000 children, there are around 3.4 children that are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. Sadly, only around 50 percent with ASD are actually diagnosed.

The Autism Spectrum encompases the behavioral and social development of children. The affected child will have problems in communication, socially interacting, and with repetitive behaviors. Also, the child may react in an unusual way to sensory stimulation via specific sounds or the look of a certain object.

Within these areas, the classification of severity of symptoms runs from mild to severe. And of course, each child will present themselves differently from one to the other. For example, one child may have no problem with learning how to read, but demonstrates very poor social interactions.

What are some of the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder? Well, one symptom may be that the child does not babble or make gestures that have meaning by the age of 1. Another is that they fail to speak by age 16 months. Can't combine words (2 or more) by the age of 2 can be another symptom, as well as the child does not respond to their own name.

In some cases the child may lose the language and social skills that they had earlier acquired. Poor or complete lack of eye contact is noted. May not interact well with other kids in social interactions.

Inappropriate angry outbursts are also prominent with many ASD sufferers. Sometimes these outbursts are violent in nature, with displays of behavior such as hair-pulling, biting, and even striking others.

What are some other problems that may go along with ASD? With some Autistic Spectrum Disorder children, they may be oblivious to extremes in temperature and pain. On the other hand, some kids are very sensitive to specific tastes, sounds, smells and even textures. To think of this in terms of hypersensitivity would be accurate.

Unfortunately, mental retardation affects many children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. The level of mental retardation can vary greatly, but again, many kids with ASD may display some form of mental impairments.

Physiologically, seizures can also affect children with ASD. It is estimated that approximately one out of four children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder may develop seizure activity. Typically, this happens in early childhood, sometimes as late as adolescence.

There is another syndrome that affects around two to five percent of ASD afflicted children. The name of the syndrome is Fragile X Syndrome. It is named this due to the part of the X chromosome that is fragile and pinched that can be seen under a microscope. This portion of the chromosome is defective. It remains that most common form of inherited mental retardation and is passed on to future generations.

A much less well-known disorder that affects ASD children is called Tuberous Sclerosis. It is genetic in nature and promotes the growth of tumors in the brain and other parts of the body, as well. It is important to note that these tumors are benign or non-cancerous. The overall percentage of Autism Spectrum Disorder children affected by TS is around 1 to 4 percent.

Autism Spectrum Disorders cover a wide and complex array of problems. It is vital that early detection take place, as this will benefit that affected child and help increase their prognosis for a better quality of life. Always consult your physician if you suspect that your child has any of the above-listed symptoms as their quality of life may well depend on it.

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