April is Autism Awareness Month. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability. Signs typically appear during early childhood and affect a person’s ability to communicate, and interact with others.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
ASD is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause of autism, but increased awareness and early diagnosis/intervention and access to appropriate services/supports lead to significantly improved outcomes.
Associated Behaviors to Know About During Autism Awareness Month
Some of the behaviors associated with autism include:
Again, a person on the spectrum might follow many of these behaviors or just a few. There may also be behaviors not listed here. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is applied based on analysis of all behaviors and their severity.
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their ADDM autism prevalence report. The report concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 68 births in the United States. In 2004, the rate was 1 in 125 – and almost 1 in 54 boys.
- Lack of or delay in spoken language
- Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
- Little or no eye contact
- Lack of interest in peer relationships
- Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
- Persistent fixation on parts of objects
HERE ARE SOME SIGNS TO LOOK FOR IN CHILDREN
At Personalized Cause, we offer two types of pins to recognize autism and autism spectrum disorder. We offer a puzzle pieces pin that can be personalized with a name, date or message. This is a great way for parents to show support of this important cause or a loved one. We also offer the infinity neurodiversity pin. Both pins are a great addition to Autism Month Awareness events and fundraisers.
(Content: Autism-society.org ; Image: ethereal3d.com)
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