The way the media presents it, you'd think that autism is autism. But not so. In fact, "autism" is actually a collection of diagnoses, each a little different from the others. At its most severe, autism is sometimes termed "classic autism." But what are the other autism spectrum disorders?
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder which affects social and communication skills and, to a greater or lesser degree, motor and language skills. It is such a broad diagnosis that it can include people with high IQ's and mental retardation - and people with autism can be chatty or silent, affectionate or cold, methodical or disorganized. So, what exactly is an autism spectrum disorder?
Often called "the little professor" or "geek" syndrome, Asperger syndrome describes individuals at the highest-functioning end of the autism spectrum. Unlike other autism spectrum disorders, Asperger syndrome is often diagnosed in teens and adults.
"Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" is a mouthful of words that are often applied to people on the autism spectrum. It describes individuals who don't fully fit the criteria for other specific diagnoses, but are nevertheless autistic. It's important to note that PDD-NOS does NOT mean the same thing as "mild autism."
No, it's not QUITE the same thing as Asperger syndrome. Or is it? Even the experts aren't quite sure.
This rare genetic disorder causes a range of significant mental impairments, of which autism is one.
Like Fragile X, Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder that can cause many mental impairments, autism included. Its symptoms are quite distinct, and it affects only females.
Tuberous sclerosis is a disease which causes brain lesions. In turn, these lesions can produce a number of symptoms such as speech delays, social disorders, and difficulties with communication. Often, people diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis are also diagnosed with autism.
If Asperger syndrome is considered "mild" autism, then the broad autism phenotype includes those people with the merest touch of autism. Is this really autism? Or just a personality type? As with many issues related to autism, it depends on who you ask.
With so many diagnoses on the autism spectrum, what do people with autism really have in common? Social and communication difficulties are a "core deficit," but even these look starkly different at different ends of the spectrum.
