What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects how people communicate, behave, and interact with others.

It is called a “spectrum” because it includes a wide range of symptoms and levels of severity. Individuals with ASD may have challenges with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and may engage in repetitive behaviors and have restricted interests. The degree of disability varies from person to person, which is why it is considered a spectrum. ASD is typically diagnosed in early childhood, though the age at which a diagnosis occurs can vary depending on the situation. The signs of autism usually become apparent between 18 months and 3 years of age. While ASD is often diagnosed in early childhood, it is not uncommon for some individuals, especially those with milder symptoms, to receive a diagnosis later in childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood. 

Types of Autism

The most updated and recent form of The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) recently redefined autism by combining previously distinct subtypes into a single diagnosis, named Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The DSM-5 eliminated subcategories such as: Asperger syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, which were listed in earlier versions. The main reason why many subtypes of autism were removed from the DSM-5 is because it was reported that it was too difficult to support the distinction between the subtypes and autism itself. Furthermore, there was and has been a societal push to remove the stigma against autism and it was thought that removing the subtypes would be helpful in this goal.  

How Autism is Classified Now

The DSM-5 classifies autism based on the following areas:

1. Symptoms ( 2 categories) 

• A. Deficits in Social Communication and Social Interaction:
  • Difficulties in social-emotional reciprocity (e.g., abnormal social approach, difficulty with back-and-forth conversation, anxiety around talking to people, or what to say to people).
  • Impairments in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction (e.g., difficulties with eye contact, facial expressions, reading body language, understanding basic social cues).
  • Challenges in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships (e.g., difficulty adjusting behavior to fit different social contexts, trouble making and keeping friends, not being able to pick up on basic social cues).
• B. Restricted, Repetitive Patterns of Behavior, Interests, or Activities:
  • Stereotyped or repetitive movements, speech, or use of objects (e.g., hand-flapping).
  • Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns (e.g., distress at small changes, rigid thinking patterns, big emotions and feelings that come along with any changes).
  • Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong attachment to unusual objects, obsessive thought patterns, and interests).
  • Hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures).

2. Levels of Severity

The DSM-5 categorizes the severity of ASD based on the support needed in daily life. There are three levels of severity in the DSM-5:

• Level 1: Requiring Support
  • Noticeable impairments in social communication, such as difficulty initiating interactions or reduced interest in social activities. Oftentimes, has difficulty making and maintaining relationships with others. 
  • Inflexibility of behavior causes significant interference with daily functioning, but the person can function with some support. 
• Level 2: Requiring Substantial Support
  • Marked deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and reduced responses to social advances from others.
  • Inflexibility of behavior, difficulty coping with change, or other repetitive behaviors are obvious and interfere with functioning in a variety of contexts.
• Level 3: Requiring Very Substantial Support
  • Severe deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction that severely limit functioning. The person may be nonverbal at times.
  • Great difficulty in coping with change, rigid behavior, and extreme distress in response to changes.

3. Early Development

Symptoms of ASD must be present in the early developmental period, though they may not fully manifest until social demands exceed the child’s limited capacities. In some cases, individuals may not be diagnosed until later in life, when symptoms are more noticeable. Furthermore, some people might not have had the support or accessibility to be evaluated for ASD as a child, which is why some people might not be diagnosed until later in life.   

4. Comorbid Conditions

Many individuals with ASD also experience comorbid conditions, such as:

• Intellectual Disability
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Sensory Processing Disorders

Start Working with An Autism Therapist in Greenwood Village, CO, Englewood, Littleton, and Across the State

To learn more or inquire about getting tested or counseling for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), reach out to our team of caring therapists. We would be happy to help you get an evaluation and better understand your diagnosis. You can start your therapy journey with Mountain Vista Psychology today by following these simple steps:

1. Schedule a free phone consultation
2. Meeting with a caring therapist
3. Start seeing positive changes in your teen’s mental health!

Other Services offered by Mountain Vista Psychology

At Mountain Vista Psychology, we provide many services to help empower individuals on their journey toward mental and emotional well-being. So in addition to helping your teen find support in managing their mental health via telehealth, we also provide counseling services in child counseling, adult counseling, family counseling, & more. We also provide Neurofeedback Therapy services for Neurofeedback for ADHD, Neurofeedback for Autism, Neurofeedback for Concussion/ TBI, and Neurofeedback for Sports/Performance. Our team also provides testing for learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism. Be sure to check out our Blog and FAQs for more about us and our services!