According to the National Institute of Mental Health, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by:
- Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts;
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities;
- Symptoms must be present in the early developmental period (typically recognized in the first two years of life); and,
- Symptoms cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functioning.
The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment or disability that children with ASD can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, while others are severely disabled. The latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) no longer includes Asperger’s syndrome; the characteristics of Asperger’s syndrome are included within the broader category of ASD.
There has been a good deal of controversy about the elimination of the Asperger’s diagnosis and it’s potential impact upon treatment, resources and educational process. Slate.com offers a thoughtful summary in You Do Not Have Asperger’s: What psychiatry’s new diagnostic manual means for people on the autism spectrum.
Additional resources include ASPEN Asperger Autism Syndrome Education Network in New Jersey and Autism Society Improving the Lives of All Affected by Autism.
In April 2013, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a report, along with extensive scientific research data, that concluded there is NO link between autism and the MMR vaccine, thimerosal, multiple vaccines given at once, fevers or seizures. See Vaccine Safety: Examine the Evidence.