Autism Spectrum Disorder (Updated), A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Autism Spectrum Disorder, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

Autism Spectrum Disorders are a group of developmental disabilities which affects a person’s ability to communicate and socialize with others.
It is an often used term to depict these related disorders that are under this spectrum of disorders sharing frequent characteristics.

Essential updates:

1. Specifically, some people with ASD are missing a piece of their chromosome 16.
   Termed 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, this chromosomal defect often causes neurodevelopmental disability and language skills impairment.
   Doctors may have discovered a way to reverse this genetic form of ASD.
   Researchers used experimental drugs that were initially developed to treat cancer to restore normal brain function in mice with ASD-like symptoms.
   The doctors hope in the future to replicate these findings and ultimately test the drugs in medical trials for people with ASD

2. A single intranasal dose of oxytocin in healthy humans has also been seen to enhance trust, generosity, and empathy.
   Together with oxytocin, another hormone called vasopressin has been observed to help shape various social behaviors, including both aggression and pair-bonding at least in animals.
   Certain studies have suggested that vasopressin may be implicated in the regulation of social behavior in humans, too.

3. Following research published last year, a new paper outlines the further success of a diagnostic blood test for autism.
   These results could be able to diagnose the disorder at a younger age
   This new test will be moved swiftly on to the next stage of research, so that it may soon be available to doctors

4. Ultrasound scans may be useful for detecting ASD in uterus
   Doctors used fetal anomaly ultrasound scans to show that children with ASD may have more rapidly growing brains and bodies at the beginning of the second trimester than children without the disorder.

5. Autism is depicted as a medical disorder which affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills with pervasive deficiency of responsiveness to other people.

6. Asperger Disease

7. Pervasive Developmental Disorder

8. Childhood Autism

9. Atypical Autism

There is

1. Gross deficiency of language development
2. Bizarre and poor response to meaningful interaction

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifests in early childhood and is featured by:

1. Qualitative abnormalities in social interactions,
2. Markedly aberrant communication skills, and
3. Restricted repetitive behaviors, stereotyped conducts, interests, and actions (RRBs).

Data from the study of children with ASD and healthy controls show that the children with ASD had:

1. Significantly (P < .05) greater head and abdominal circumference,
2. Cerebellar diameter, and
3. Femur length at about 20 weeks' gestation, after controlling for maternal age and other demographic factors.
   The data suggest that children with ASD grow at a faster rate during the 18- to 24-week gestational period

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is featured by:
a. Continual deficiencies in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts;
b. Limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or actions;
c. Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (typically recognized in the first two years of life); and,
d. Symptoms cause medically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of present functioning.

The term “spectrum” indicates the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment or disability that children with ASD can have.
Some children are mildly impaired while others are disabled.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Chapter 8 Asperger Syndrome
Epilogue