Understanding The Different Types Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In Children

Autism written using blocks

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term that defines a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. These issues can develop at any age but are more prevalent in children. ASD causes behavioral, social, and communication-related issues, which may delay their development.

It is estimated that around 18.5% of every 1,000 children born in the US have some form of ASD, and these children need additional help during their schooling and growth to make sure they don’t stay behind. Moreover, untreated or undiagnosed ADS can make it difficult for children to become functional adults in society. Take a look at the 5 different types of autism disorders in children.

Rett Syndrome

Rett Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder more common in girls, and this disorder develops during infancy. Rett Syndrome causes loss of standard coordination and movement in children, breathing difficulties in some cases, and communication challenges. The good thing about this issue is that, with proper care, the child can enjoy a normal life because this syndrome doesn’t cause excessive developmental issues. 

Asperger’s Syndrome

Asperger’s Syndrome, or level 1 autism disorder, is a type of high-functioning ASD that leads to above-average intelligence in children but causes communication and behavioral issues. These children have inflexibility in thought and behaviors, can’t multitask, and have trouble expressing their feelings.

Some common symptoms of this syndrome are having trouble making eye contact, the constant repetition of sentences in a single conversation, and having trouble adapting to change. 

A kid wearing headphones

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD)

Child Disintegrative Disorder causes delayed developmental issues in motor skills, language development, and social skills. This disorder is more common in boys and usually develops after age 3 or 4. CDD is harder to diagnose because children grow and develop normally in the first few years of their lives. With CDD, children can forget any learned skills, such as eating and using the toilet, forget learned vocabulary, and lose motor skills. 

Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD)

PDD is a mild form of autism disorder that leads to social and language development issues. A child may be slow in learning how to talk, walk, and develop other motor skills. Another issue with PDD is that parents might not notice it at an early age and chalk it up to delayed development. However, untreated PDD can regress and lead to more developmental issues as the child grows. 

Kanner’s Syndrome

Also known as the ‘Classic Autism Disorder,’ Kenner’s Syndrome causes communication and interaction issues among children, unformed or uncontrolled speech issues, and an obsession with handling objects. However, a major characteristic of this ASD is the lack of emotional attachment to others. This makes it difficult for children to develop meaningful relationships. 

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