What is Autism?

Autism is a life-long developmental disability, which results in difficulties with social relationships, communication and behaviour.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the American Psychological Association, 1994, defines autism as a pervasive developmental disorder characterized by:

• Impairments in communication and social interaction;
• Restricted, repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behaviour, interests and activities.
  

Symptoms of autism can be present in a variety of combinations and may accompany other developmental disabilities. People with autism can have normal intelligence or some level of an intellectual disability, ranging from mild to severe. This range is often referred to as “low to high functioning”.

Communication can present a challenge for many individuals with autism who have difficulty with expressive and receptive language skills. It has been estimated that 50 percent of people with autism do not develop functional speech. For those that develop speech, they may display unusual qualities and limited functions of communication.

All individuals with autism experience social interaction and behaviour difficulties, but the level of difficulty can vary. Some may withdraw from other people while some may be over-active and approach people in an unusual manner. Inattention and resistance to change are two areas of challenge for people with autism. They often exhibit atypical manner of processing stimuli and display odd behaviour, such as hand flapping, repetitive noises, spinning and rocking.

While individuals with autism often share common features, they do not display all the same characteristics. As well, the extent to which a person experiences difficulty with a particular skill can change with development. No two individuals with autism are identical and efforts should be made to identify each person’s individual strengths, challenges and personalities.

Variations in the degree of impact are well documented and the professional community continues to work to define the nature and cause of autism, as well as the the methods of diagnosis and treatment.

History of Autism

In the 1940's, Dr. Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, first coined the term “autism” in reference to a group of eleven children, who he described as “self-absorbed”. Kanner described the children as having “severe social, communication and behavioural problems”. Autism was described as a “biological impairment like physical or intellectual handicaps”, (Kanner, 1943). In the 1950's and 1960's, autism was often viewed as an emotionally based disorder due to parenting by a “cold” parent. The 1970's saw the view of autism shift to one of neurological impairment, with the focus on specific areas; communication, behaviour and cognitive problems.

Prevalence of Autism

Based on surveys conducted in the United States and England, autism was found to occur in 4.5 of every 10,000 live births. Studies, which include a broader spectrum of disorders suggest that the prevalence of autism is 40-60 in every 10,000 live births. Recent news articles have suggested that this rate has increased to 1 in every 165 live births.

Autism is found to occur more frequently in males, with studies suggesting a ratio of male to female of 3-4:1. In British Columbia, the Ministry of Children and Family Development serves about 1,600 children and youth who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Diagnosis of Autism

The DSM-IV classifies autism as a disorder within a broad group of disorders, known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). PDD is a term used to describe disorders which result in an impairment in social interaction skills, communication skills and the presence of stereotypical behaviours, interests and activities.

Disorders classified as a PDD are:

• Autism;
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD);
• Rett's Disorder;
• Asperger's Disorder;
• Pervasive Development Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).