These characteristics can make life very challenging. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. They may come to the attention of healthcare providers because they also have conditions such as anxiety, depression, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which occur more often in people with ASD than in people without ASD. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.Īs children with ASD become adolescents and young adults, they may have difficulties developing and maintaining friendships, communicating with peers and adults, or understanding what behaviors are expected in school or on the job.

In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives others can work and live with little to no support.ĪSD begins before the age of 3 years and can last throughout a person’s life, although symptoms may improve over time. For example, some people with ASD may have advanced conversation skills whereas others may be nonverbal. The abilities of people with ASD can vary significantly. There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people. People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop. Some people with ASD have a known difference, such as a genetic condition.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.

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