Three types of Austism Spectrum Disorder

Autism describes a complexity of developmental disorders. The odds of a child having some form of autism reaches 1 out of 150 children. That makes it more common than diabetes, cancer, and AIDS combined. Autism spectrum disorder covers three types of autism known as Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

ASPERGER’S SYNDROME
Asperger’s syndrome also commonly known as Asperger disorder or autistic psychopathy is characterized under a group of childhood disorders called pervasive developmental disorders. Children with this type of autism have problems with social interaction. One of the main symptoms is an inability to show reciprocating emotion towards the feeling of other people. These children may also exhibit flat unchanging speech patterns. Sometimes, they may repeat words or phrases and lack in form of common sense perceptions.

In physical appearance, children with AS may appear clumsy or have awkward movements which include swaying or repetitive moving. They find fascination in things like spinning objects, door knobs, and shiny objects. However, children that have Asperger’s often have a superior intelligence lending to vast creativity in math, music, and computers.

RETT SYNDROME
One of the more severe forms of autism spectrum disorders, Rett Syndrome attacks primarily females. The neurological system is highly affected during early development status. Children exhibit loss of use in hand movement, slowed head and brain growth, gait abnormalities, mental retardation, and seizures.

There are typically four stages that encompass Rett syndrome. Stage 1 (early onset)happens between 6-18 months with delays in major motor skills like sitting or crawling. In stage 2 (rapid destruction), children between the age of 1 and 4 loose purposeful hand function, daytime apnea, slowing in head development, and infatuation with hand movement involving wringing, clasping, and tapping.

As stage 3 (plateau) sets in between the ages of 2-10, a severity in motor skills diminishes most function and seizures begin to surface. Stage 4 (late motor deterioration) can last for several years causing increased stiffness or rigidity in muscles.

CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER
This condition usually develops in children who have basically had normal childhood development which makes it a difficult disorder to detect during early stages of children. It typically strikes at the ages of 2 to 7. They will almost suddenly lose self caring abilities like going to the toilet. They will also show a lack of interest in speech and social interactions.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder affects boys more so than girls. Testing is very extensive because this disorder is not apparent right away. CDD children will have seizures as well.