Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Following are some of the disorders that fall under ASD:
- Autistic Disorder
- Asperger’s Disorder
- Childhood Disintegrated Disorder
- Rett’s Disorder
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
It is a condition characterized by impaired social skills; verbal and nonverbal communication difficulties; and narrow, obsessive interests or repetitive behaviors.
ASD affects the way that individuals are able to interact with others and they often find the world to be a confusing place. Difficulty communicating can result in ‘melt downs’ – this differs from a tantrum as the individual does not choose to have a melt down.
Individuals with ASD often have sensory sensitivities – they may be under- or over-sensitive to any of the five senses.
