| With it featuring so heavily in the media (and | | | | processing, leading to a series of different kinds |
| rightly so) a fear that many parents hold is the | | | | of behaviors. |
| possibility that their child or children may be | | | | 4. Asperger's Syndrome - Asperger's Syndrome |
| diagnosed with autism. However, before jumping | | | | children are frequently mistaken for children with |
| to conclusions should you observe some | | | | high-functioning autism. The syndrome does not |
| symptoms or traits of autism in your child, it is | | | | typically present itself until after three years of |
| important to get a professional diagnosis and to | | | | age, as these children tend not to show any |
| look carefully into that diagnosis to make certain | | | | issues with language acquisition and use. Instead, |
| that there isn't something else causing the autistic | | | | they commonly form extreme interests in |
| behaviors to occur. There are a number of other | | | | narrow subjects, and are often known for |
| health problems and disorders that are commonly | | | | frequent (though not universal) ability to recite full |
| misinterpreted and misdiagnosed as autism. | | | | book texts or movie lines, as well as a seemingly |
| Misdiagnosis of autism can occur among the | | | | endless line of trivial facts. Some autism-like traits |
| various autism spectrum disorders, or it can be | | | | may present themselves, such as the desire for a |
| connected to a completely unrelated condition. | | | | strict routine, a struggle with social interactions |
| Parents should make sure to share all | | | | and communication, and an inclination toward |
| observations and considerations with the child's | | | | repetitive behaviors. Some also struggle with vocal |
| doctor so that possible alternate diagnoses the | | | | control. |
| appropriate attention. | | | | 5. Pervasive Development Disorder (Not |
| There are five conditions within the autism | | | | Otherwise Specified) - PDD/NOS symptoms are |
| spectrum, and each of them can easily be | | | | difficult to classify. This portion of the autism |
| mistaken for another. These are: | | | | spectrum is essentially used as a "catch-all" |
| 1. Rett's Syndrome - this is a condition found only | | | | diagnosis for children who present symptoms of |
| in girls which was discovered back in 1966. It is | | | | autism that cannot be contained by the other |
| currently believed by scientists that this is not an | | | | four autism spectrum disorders. |
| inherited condition, but is the result of a random | | | | Beyond the autism spectrum disorder, other |
| genetic mutation. Symptoms of Rett's Syndrome | | | | disorders and health problems that can often |
| do not become apparent in babies until 6 to 18 | | | | cause children to display autistic traits - though |
| months of age. When Rett's Syndrome starts to | | | | they don't actually have autism - are: |
| become apparent, the development of the baby | | | | - Deafness or hearing loss - children who have a |
| begins to slow and their heads no longer grow in a | | | | difficulty hearing may have impaired social |
| normal way. Normal speech does not develop and | | | | responses, causing them to behave in ways |
| repetitive hand movements, unusual walking | | | | similar to some autistic behaviors. |
| patterns, and torso shaking begin. Children with | | | | - Schizophrenia - though some symptoms of this |
| Rett's Syndrome also frequently experience | | | | disorder are similar to those of autism, |
| seizures, breathing problems, rigid muscles, | | | | schizophrenia normally presents much later in life |
| retarded growth, and other health issues. | | | | than autism. |
| 2. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder - this disorder | | | | - Language delay, language disorder, or speech |
| almost always occurs in boys, and is extremely | | | | delay - children with linguistic disorders and delays |
| rare. Until the age of about 42 months, the child | | | | can experience social impairments as a result of |
| appears to be normal, but a dramatic linguistic and | | | | their inability to express themselves. |
| social skill loss then occurs. The child may also | | | | - Developmental delay or mental retardation - |
| start experiencing seizures and lose bladder and | | | | behaviors of developmentally delayed or mentally |
| bowel control. Typically, these children experience | | | | retarded children frequently mimic those of |
| low intellectual development. CDD is the easiest of | | | | autistic children, but for completely different |
| the autism spectrum disorders for doctors to | | | | reasons. Before the discovery of autism as a |
| diagnose. | | | | disorder many autistic children were regarded as |
| 3. Autism - Autism itself is often referred to as | | | | mentally retarded. |
| Classic Autism, Kanner's Autism, or Early Infantile | | | | As there are so many different symptoms of |
| Autism. Until its recognition in the 1940's, children | | | | autism and the disorder never presents the same |
| with autism had been diagnosed as emotionally | | | | way from person to person, it is easy to |
| disturbed or mentally retarded. Autistic children | | | | misdiagnose disorders both inside and outside the |
| show many different kinds of symptoms that | | | | spectrum as being autism. This is especially |
| also occur in other physical and mental disorders, | | | | prevalent among the various autism spectrum |
| making it easy to misdiagnose. Among them are | | | | disorders. |
| issues with sensory integration and information | | | | |