HERE WE LIST THE MANY THINGS TO LOOK FOR ON THE SPECTRUM. IT IS IMPORTANT AND WE CAN'T EMPHASISE ENOUGH THAT EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT. EACH POSSESS THEIR OWN UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS AND TO DIFFERENT DEGREES. CHILDREN MAY SHARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS, OR NONE AT ALL. THIS IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE EASILY MISLEADING,THROUGH MEDIA AND IN LIFE YOU HEAR A LOT OF PERSONAL STORIES AND IT USUALLY IS NOT STRESSED THAT YOUR CHILD COULD BE NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU'VE WITNESSED AND YET STILL HAVE AUTISM.

PEOPLE WITH AUTISM PROCESS AND RESPOND TO INFORMATION IN UNIQUE WAYS. IN SOME CASES, AGGRESSIVE AND/OR SELF INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR MAY BE PRESENT. EACH CHILD CAN POSSESS ANYONE OF THESE TRAITS AND TO VARYING DEGREES (MILD-SEVERE) TRAITS DO NOT HAVE TO BE PRESENT IN ALL SITUATIONS OR ENVIRONMENTS OR EVEN DAILY, TRAITS CAN COME AND GO OR REMAIN. IF YOUR CHILD POSSESSES ANY TRAITS BELOW PLEASE READ THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA BELOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY SUSPICIONS WHILE READING THIS LITERATURE, YOU ARE BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. NEXT STEP WOULD BE SEEING OUR PAGE TITLED "WHERE CAN WE GO TO GET A DIAGNOSIS?". MOST OFFICES DO NOT REQUIRE A PRIMARY DOCTOR REFERRAL, ALL #'S ARE LISTED TO FIND OUT.

SOME OF THE FOLLOWING TRAITS MAY BE PRESENT:

* INSISTENCE ON SAMENESS; RESISTANCE TO CHANGE

* DIFFICULTY IN EXPRESSING NEEDS, USING GESTURES, OR POINTING INSTEAD OF WORDS

* REPEATING WORDS OR PHRASES IN PLACE OF NORMAL, RESPONSIVE LANGUAGE
EXAMPLE: MOTHER SAYS, "DO YOU WANT SOME MILK?" CHILD ANSWERS, "DO YOU WANT SOME MILK?", "MILK" OR "WANT SOME MILK"

* REPETITIVE IN ANY ACTIONS OR WORDS

* CHILD'S LANGUAGE SEEMS TO BE PRIMARILY FROM WHAT HAS BEEN OBSERVED OR STUDIED,
FREE FLOWING CONVERSATION CAN BE LIMITED OR NOT PRESENT

*  LAUGHING (AND/OR CRYING) FOR NO APPARENT REASON SHOWING DISTRESS FOR REASONS NO APPARENT TO OTHERS

*  PREFERENCE TO INDEPENDENCE, BEING ALONE; ALOOF MANNER

*  TANTRUMS OR EASILY ANGERED

*  DIFFICULTY IN MIXING WITH OTHERS 

* ENGAGES WITH OTHERS ONLY TO MEET A PARTICULAR NEED: WILL PLAY WITH SIBLING/PEER TO GET CHASED OR ASK MOM TO COME OVER AND FIX A TOY

*  MAY NOT WANT TO CUDDLE OR BE CUDDLED, HAS TO BE OF THEIR OWN WILL OR ON REQUEST

*  LITTLE OR NO EYE CONTACT

* UNRESPONSIVE TO NORMAL TEACHING METHODS 

* SUSTAINED ODD PLAY

*  SPINNING OBJECTS

* LINING UP OBJECTS

* OBSESSIVE OVER AN OBJECTS PLACEMENT AND ANGER WHEN DISRUPTED

* OBSESSIVE ATTACHMENT TO OBJECTS

* OBSESSIVE BEHAVIORS- ANYTHING THAT IS GIVEN ATTENTION FOR A GREAT LENGTH OF TIME, REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR MAY BE PRESENT

* APPARENT OVER-SENSITIVITY OR UNDER-SENSITIVITY TO PAIN

* NO SENSE OF LIMITS

* NO REAL FEARS OF DANGER

* NOTICEABLE PHYSICAL OVER-ACTIVITY OR EXTREME UNDER-ACTIVITY

* UNEVEN GROSS/FINE MOTOR SKILLS

* NON RESPONSIVE TO VERBAL CUES; ACTS AS IF DEAF, ALTHOUGH HEARING TESTS IN NORMAL RANGE.

* DELAY IN POTTY TRAINING

* CHILD HAD A DELAY IN SPEECH OR MOTOR SKILLS, OR IT STOPPED AT SOME POINT WITH NO PROGRESS, OR ANY PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE WAS REVERSED

* TROUBLE READING BODY LANGUAGE, OR PROPER BODY SPACE

* OVER SENSITIVE TO SOUNDS, TASTES, SMELLS, SIGHTS, OR LIGHTS NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO HEAR OR SEE

* MAY PREFER CERTAIN CLOTHING, CERTAIN FOODS

* BOTHERED BY SOUNDS OR LIGHTS

* NORMAL OR EXTREMELY HIGH IQ AND MANY EXHIBIT EXCEPTIONAL SKILLS OR TALENTS IN ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC AREAS

* VOCABULARIES CAN BE EXTRAORDINARILY RICH, OR CHILD CAN EVEN TALK EXCESSIVELY, BUT DIFFICULTY USING IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT

* ALTHOUGH RARE, NOT UNCOMMON TO GET A RE-DIAGNOSIS OR POSSIBLY DUAL DIAGNOSIS.
ON THAT SLIGHT CHANCE DIAGNOSIS COULD CHANGE, AVAILABLE THERAPIES ARE USED ALL OVER THE SPECTRUM

* ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT IN RECIPROCAL SOCIAL INTERACTIONS; VERBAL AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION; AND/OR REPETITIVE OR STEREOTYPED BEHAVIOR, INTERESTS, AND ACTIVITIES




                                          


                                            
                                            
                                           AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS,
                TERM USED THAT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, 
                   YOU WILL OFTEN HEAR THE WORDS, "THE CHILD IS ON THE SPECTRUM":

                     * AUTISM DISORDER
                     * ASPERGER'S DISORDER
                     * PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER (PDD OR NOS)



        DIAGNOSIS CRITERIA FOR AUTISTIC DISORDER:

A. A TOTAL OF SIX FROM 1,2 OR 3 WITH AT LEAST TWO FROM 1 AND ONE EACH FROM 2 AND 3...

     (1) QUALITATIVE IMPAIRMENT IN SOCIAL INTERACTION, AS MANIFESTED BE AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING:
                     (A) MARKED IMPAIRMENT IN THE USE OF MULTIPLE NONVERBAL BEHAVIORS SUCH AS EYE-TO-EYE GAZE,FACIAL EXPRESSION, BODY POSTURES, AND GESTURES TO REGULATE SOCIAL INTERACTION
                     (B) FAILURE TO DEVELOP PEER RELATIONSHIPS APPROPRIATE TO DEVELOPMENT LEVEL
                     (C) A LACK OF SPONTANEOUS SEEKING TO SHARE ENJOYMENT, INTERESTS, OR ACHIEVEMENTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE (LACK OF SHOWING, BRINGING, OR POINTING OUT OBJECTS OF INTEREST)
                     (D) LACK OF SOCIAL OR EMOTIONAL RECIPROCITY

     (2) QUALITATIVE IMPAIRMENTS IN COMMUNICATION AS MANIFESTED BE AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
                     (A) DELAY IN, OR LACK OF, THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE (NOT ACCOMPANIED BY AN ATTEMPT TO COMPENSATE THROUGH ALTERNATIVE MODES OF COMMUNICATION SUCH AS GESTURE OF MIME)
                     (B) IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ADEQUATE SPEECH, MARKED IMPAIRMENT IN THE ABILITY TO INITIATE OR SUSTAIN A CONVERSATION WITH OTHERS
                     (C) STEREOTYPED AND REPETITIVE US OF LANGUAGE OR IDIOSYNCRATIC LANGUAGE
                     (D) LACK OF VARIED SPONTANEOUS MAKE-BELIEVE PLAY OR SOCIAL IMITATIVE PLAY APPROPRIATE TO DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL

     (3) RESTRICTED REPETITIVE AND STEREOTYPED PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, INTERESTS, AND ACTIVITIES, AS MANIFESTED BY AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
                    (A) ENCOMPASSING PREOCCUPATION WITH ONE OR MORE STEREOTYPED AND RESTRICTED PATTERNS OF INTEREST THAT IS ABNORMAL EITHER IN INTENSITY OR FOCUS
                    (B) APPARENTLY INFLEXIBLE ADHERENCE TO SPECIFIC, NONFUNCTIONAL ROUTINES OR RITUALS
                    (C) STEREOTYPES AND REPETITIVE MOTOR MANNERISMS (HAND OR FINGER FLAPPING OR TWISTING, OR COMPLEX WHOLE-BODY MOVEMENTS)
                    (D) PERSISTENT PREOCCUPATION WITH PARTS OF OBJECTS

B. DELAYS OR ABNORMAL FUNCTIONING IN AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS, WITH ONSET PRIOR TO AGE 3 YEARS: (1) SOCIAL INTERACTION, (2) LANGUAGE AS USED IN SOCIAL COMMUNICATION, OR (3) SYMBOLIC OR IMAGINATIVE PLAY.

C. THE DISTURBANCE IS NOT BETTER ACCOUNTED FOR BY RETT'S DISORDER OR CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER




          DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ASPERGER'S DISORDER:

                                                       *NOTE: THIS IS THE DISORDER THAT SHOWS
                          NO SIGNIFICANT GENERAL DELAY IN LANGUAGE OR COMMUNICATIVE PHRASES.

A. QUALITATIVE IMPAIRMENT IN SOCIAL INTERACTION, AS MANIFESTED BE AT LEAST TWO OF THE FOLLOWING:

   (1) MARKED IMPAIRMENT IN THE USE OF MULTIPLE NONVERBAL BEHAVIORS SUCH AS EYE-TO-EYE GAZE, FACIAL EXPRESSION, BODY POSTURES, AND GESTURES TO REGULATE SOCIAL INTERACTION
   (2) FAILURE TO DEVELOP PEER REALTIONSHIPS APPROPRIATE TO DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL 
   (3) LACK OF SPONTANEOUS SEEKING TO SHARE ENJOYMENT, INTERESTS, OR ACHIEVEMENTS WITH OTHER PEOPLE (BY LACK OF SHOWING, BRINGING,OR POINTING OUT OBJECTS OF INTEREST TO OTHER PEOPLE)
   (4) LACK OF SOCIAL OR EMOTIONAL RECIPROCITY

B. RESTRICTED REPETITIVE AND STEREOTYPED PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR, INTERESTS, AND ACTIVITIES, AS MANIFESTED BY AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  (1) ENCOMPASSING PREOCCUPATION WITH ONE OR MORE STEREOTYPED AND RESTRICTED PATTERNS OF INTEREST THAT IS ABNORMAL EITHER IN INTENSITY OR FOCUS 
  (2) APPARENTLY INFLEXIBLE ADHERENCE TO SPECIFIC, NONFUNCTIONAL ROUTINES OR RITUALS
  (3) PERSISTENT PREOCCUPATION WITH PARTS OF OBJECTS

C. THE DISTURBANCE CAUSES CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENT IN SOCIAL, OCCUPATIONAL, OR OTHER IMPORTANT AREAS OF FUNCTIONING.

D. THERE IS NO CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT GENERAL DELAY IN KANGUAGE (SINGLE WORDS USED BY AGE 2 YEARS, COMMUNICATIVE PHRASES USED BY AGE 3 YEARS).

E. THERE IS NO CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OR INT HE DEVELOPMENT OF AGE-APPROPRIATE SELF-HELP SKILLS, ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR (OTHER THAN SOCIAL INTERACTION), AND CURIOSITY ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN CHILDHOOD.

F. CRITERIA ARE NOT MET FOR ANOTHER SPECIFIC "PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER" OR SCHIZOPHRENIA.
       
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER: - NOT OTHERWISE  SPECIFIED (PDD - NOS)

THIS CATEGORY SHOULD BE USED WHEN THERE IS SEVERE AND PERVASIVE IMPAIRMENT IN  THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECIPROCAL SOCIAL INTERACTION ASSOCIATED WITH IMPAIRMENT IN EITHER VERBAL OR NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OR WITH THE PRESENCE OF STEREOTYPED BEHAVIOR, INTERESTS, AND ACTIVITIES, BUT THE CRITERIA ARE NOT MET FOR A SPECIFIC "PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER, SCHIZOPHRENIA, SCHIZOTYPAL PERSONALITY DISORDER, OR AVOIDANT PERSONALITY DISORDER". FOR EXAMPLE, THIS CATEGORY INCLUDES "ATYPICAL AUTISM" - PRESENTATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR "AUTISTIC DISORDER" BECAUSE OF LATE AGE AT ONSET, ATYPICAL SYMPTOMATOLOGY, OR SUB-THRESHOLD SYMPTOMATOLOGY, OR ALL OF THESE.