What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder? All You Need To Know

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave

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Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a "developmental disorder" because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life

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People with ASD often have difficulty in communication and interaction with other people

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They also have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, and symptoms that affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas of life

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Symptoms include, making little or inconsistent eye contact, appearing not to look at or listen to people who are talking, and difficulty in adjusting behaviours to social situations

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People with ASD may also experience sleep problems and irritability

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Health care providers diagnose ASD by evaluating a person's behavior and development

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ASD can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 2. It is important to seek an evaluation as soon as possible

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