Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means that not everyone will have the same neurological blocks and the severity will be different from person to person. This means that someone who possesses a high-functioning range of autism may be able to speak in groups of people, however, but with a low-functioning range might find it incredibly intimidating to speak at all. 

Alongside this, there are 5 main types of autism that people can be affected by. These include Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Kanner’s Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Knowing that there are multiple different types of autism that people can suffer from, and knowing that it doesn’t affect people in the same way, it is useful to understand what each of the autism categories refer to. This is so that you are able to better your understanding of the condition, and in turn, better understand their mindset, thought-process and way of living so you are better prepared to deal with people who might suffer from autism.

ASPERGERS’S SYNDROME – Although officially called ‘Level 1 autism spectrum disorder’, Asperger’s is still what this type of autism is commonly referred as. An individual who potentially has Asperger’s, might show good intelligence levels, and an ability to verbally communicate to a high standard, but might suffer from other developmental issues. These include flat monotone speech, or the inability to express their feelings through their speech. Executive functioning ability might also be a sign of Asperger’s. This means that the individual could be unable or struggle to plan and organize, and as a result of this, they could find it difficult to change between activities and events.  Asperger’s is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of five and nine, with boys three-to-four times more likely to develop it.

RETT SYNDROME – Unlike Asperger’s, Rett Syndrome is more commonly diagnosed in infancy, and is more commonly diagnosed and detected in girls. Rett Syndrome is a type of autism that can affect almost every aspect of life with the conditions that come with it. These conditions include challenged verbal communication, an inability to complete standard movements, as well as create breathing difficulties in certain severe cases. However, even with these conditions, the child can experience and enjoy a fulfilling life if provided with the right care. 

CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER – Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, abbreviated to CDD, and also known as Heller’s Syndrome is a disorder that predominantly delays neurological development like motor skills and language ability. What can be especially difficult with this category of autism is that the child can experience normal development, only to hit a block, the disorder, and then be unable to continue or remember certain behavioural traits including toileting and social skills. Unfortunately, scientists and neurological experts have been unable to determine what causes CDD and therefore, there isn’t really too much in the way of stopping or preventing it, given that it appears like there is no trigger or cause, but it is purely random. However, CDD is far more common in boys, with 90% of all cases being boys.

KANNER’S SYNDROME – Kanner’s Syndrome, is often characterized as being the ‘infantile’ autism. What this means is that people who suffer from Kanner’s Syndrome have tendencies that are often considered to be childlike. As a functioning adult we are able to perceive and understand people’s points of view, opinions and feelings. People with Kanner’s might be unable to associate with these feelings, and therefore be unable to gain some sort of attachment to them. They might not be able to understand certain social cues, and have obsessions with dealing and handling specific objects. With that said, however, individuals who do suffer with Kanner’s can appear alert and intelligent despite possessing these neurological issues.

PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENT DISRODER – Pervasive Development Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified, again, abbreviated to PDD-NOS is an autism type that mainly refers to, and categorises people who suffer some form of autistic issues, but don’t entirely fit into an Asperger’s or Kanner’s type of autism. Again, the main developmental problem that people with PDD might suffer from is a difficulty in communication and social ability.

Understanding the different types of autism can go a long way in helping to understand and empathise what living and dealing with these conditions is like. People with autism can find certain situations difficult to manage, and it’s important to understand why this might be, especially with the new, more improved focus on things like mental health, accessibility and acceptance. Speaking of management, it’s also important to understand that should someone you know potentially develop symptoms of a certain type of autism, how to manage those effectively. People with more mild cases of autism like Asperger’s might only need behavioural modification or small amounts of social training, however a more serious, life-effecting type of autism like Rett’s Syndrome would potentially call for more serious treatment, like therapy, alongside a substantial amount of continuous support. Each type of autism is different, and therefore the management for them is going to be different too.