Autism spectrum disorder is a neurobehavioral condition that affects the ability of the person suffering from it to communicate and relate to others. This type of disease is associated with developmental problems of the nervous system and causes many limitations in the personal autonomy of the person who suffers it, therefore it also generates a lot of discomfort, stress and anxiety in the family of is. Generally, ASD is usually detected during the first 3 years of life, so parents are the first to notice that their child does not display behaviors similar to those of the children in their age.
It is important to mention that, as it is a complex disorder, there are 5 different types or degrees, so those who suffer from it can be found at any point on this spectrum. But, what are the types of autism spectrum that exist? What symptoms or characteristics does the person who suffers have? What causes this disorder? Can it be treated? In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about Autism Spectrum Disorder: Types, Characteristics, Causes, and Treatment.
As we have mentioned previously, there are 5 types of the autism spectrum, which we will briefly explain below:
- Autism or Kanner syndrome: It is characterized because people who suffer from it are affected in terms of their body and verbal language, their social interaction and also show stereotyped behaviors.
- Asperger syndrome:It is characterized by being considered one of the mildest forms of autism. People with this syndrome show a lack of empathy towards others since they do not know how to interpret their emotional states and therefore they cannot understand them, as well as they cannot interpret their language bodily. Their language is not affected and their cognitive development is also normal.
- Rett syndrome: It is one of the rarest cognitive disorders because there have been few cases of people with this condition worldwide. What characterizes people with this syndrome is that they have severe delays in language and / or motor coordination. On the other hand, they also show serious, progressive and continuous cognitive deterioration.
- Pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified: It is considered unspecified because the people who suffer from it do not meet the sufficient criteria established for it to be related to pervasive developmental disorders. Children with it have difficulty communicating, behaving, and socializing with others.
- Childhood Disintegration Disorder: This type of disorder develops in a strange and progressive way since after the development of the child cognitively and socially correctly during his 3 or 4 years, begins to develop a process of regression. The first symptoms that appear in this type of condition are anxiety, hyperactivity, irritability, then comes a lack of interest and loss of emotions. social skills and speech and language impairment.
To this day the exact cause of autism spectrum disorder is unknown, however it has been found that it may be related to various factors that may be in constant interaction. Among the factors that may be related to this type of pathology are the following:
- Genetic heritage: It has been found that more than 100 genes found on different chromosomes may be related to the development of ASD. People who show changes called mutations in these genes are more likely to develop it.
- Genes and the environment:It is said that if a person is prone to having this condition due to genetic mutations, some situations can cause them to develop ASD. For example, an infection or that is in contact with some chemical substances in the environment.
- Biological causes: It has also been found that some biological factors may be related to this disorder, such as problems with overgrowth of some areas of the brain, problems with brain connections, problems with the immune system, etc.
There is no specific treatment to cure autism spectrum disorder, however it can be treated to stabilize the person suffering from it as best as possible. There are many ways to minimize the symptoms associated with ASD and also maximize skills. It is necessary to take into account that the treatment is different for each person so the professional has to adapt it to their needs. It is proven that early detection of this disorder and early intervention has many positive effects in terms of minimizing symptoms. Among the main educational treatments for autism spectrum disorder are the following:
- Behavior modification therapy: This type of therapy helps to reinforce the desired behaviors in the child and to reduce the unwanted ones as much as possible. It is also in charge of training the caregivers so that they know what to do after the child engages in inappropriate and / or problematic behavior.
- Behavior and communication therapy: This type of therapy is in charge of training children so that they know how to act in certain social situations and to find the best way to communicate with others. All this through a reward-based motivation system.
- Family therapies: Parents and the family in general are taught to learn to play and interact better with the child since in this way they also help him to develop his skills to interact socially.
- Educational therapies: They are well structured programs carried out by specialists so that children better develop their social skills in terms of acquiring appropriate behavior and communication. These therapies are usually received in an intensive and individualized way.
- Occupational therapy: In this type of therapy, the child is trained to learn to carry out activities of daily life, which will help him improve his individual and social skills.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Autism spectrum disorder: types, characteristics, causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.
1 from 3
Autism spectrum disorder: types, characteristics, causes and treatment
