Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: History, Diagnosis & Support
This paper provides a broad introduction to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), beginning with a definition of the condition and its core characteristics. It traces key historical milestones from the late nineteenth century through the 2013 DSM-5 revision. The paper then examines rising prevalence rates, explaining how recorded cases have grown dramatically since the 1970s. It describes the two-phase diagnostic process — developmental screening and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation — including the specific ages at which screening is recommended. The paper concludes with a brief overview of online resources available to families of individuals living with ASD.
- What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?: Definition, core characteristics, and causes of ASD
- History of Autism: Key milestones from 1887 to DSM-5 in 2013
- Prevalence of Autism Over Time: Rising diagnosis rates from 1970s to present
- How Autism Is Diagnosed: Two-phase process: screening and comprehensive evaluation
- Family Supports and Resources: Online resources available to ASD families
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What makes this paper effective
- Follows a logical progression from definition to history to prevalence to diagnosis, giving readers a coherent, scaffolded introduction to a complex topic.
- Uses credible, named sources (CDC, Autism Speaks, Autism Society) to support each factual claim, lending authority to a relatively brief overview.
- Breaks the diagnostic process into two clearly labeled phases — developmental screening and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation — making clinical information accessible to a general audience.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the technique of synthesizing multiple authoritative sources into a cohesive informational overview. Rather than relying on a single source, the author draws on governmental health agencies, advocacy organizations, and peer-reviewed research to build a well-rounded picture of ASD, which is appropriate for an introductory expository paper on a health topic.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a definition section, moves into a chronological history presented as annotated milestones, then shifts to epidemiological data on rising prevalence. The diagnostic section is subdivided into two phases (developmental screening and comprehensive evaluation), and the paper closes with a list of family-facing resources. The structure is primarily informational and encyclopedic rather than argumentative.
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a condition that encompasses a variety of presentations characterized by challenges with social abilities, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication, in addition to distinctive strengths and differences (Autism Speaks, 2018). Delineated by a broad set of behaviors, autism affects individuals in different ways and to varying degrees. There is no single acknowledged cause of autism, but increased awareness, early diagnosis or intervention, and access to appropriate services lead to substantially improved outcomes (Autism Society, 2016).
History of Autism
The history of autism spans well over a century, marked by evolving understanding and shifting diagnostic criteria. The following are key milestones in that history:
1887 — Dr. John Langdon Down, the first physician to describe Down syndrome, conducted research on intellectual disability that would today be recognized as relevant to autism.
1911 — Eugen Bleuler used the word "autism" to describe a symptom of schizophrenia.
1943 and 1944 — Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger independently developed the concepts of Infantile Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, respectively.
1971 — Eric Schopler and Robert Reichler studied the effects of parent involvement in the treatment of children with autism.
1980 — Autism was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition (DSM-III) as "infantile autism." This enabled physicians to accurately diagnose autism and to differentiate it clearly from schizophrenia.
2013 — After 19 years, the DSM was updated based on new literature and clinical experience. Significant changes to the autism criteria were introduced, and the diagnosis was formally renamed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Project Autism, 2018).
Prevalence of Autism Over Time
The number of children identified with autism or associated disorders has increased at a considerable rate. During the 1970s and 1980s, statistics indicated that approximately one in every 2,000 children had autism. Today, however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that one in 150 eight-year-olds in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder (Doheny, 2018).
How Autism Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing autism remains challenging because, to date, there is no single medical test or procedure that can definitively identify the condition. Instead, specifically trained physicians and psychologists conduct autism-specific behavioral evaluations and subsequently make a diagnosis. The diagnostic process for ASD involves two phases: developmental screening and comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.
Developmental screening is a brief assessment designed to determine whether children are learning basic skills on schedule or whether they are experiencing delays. During this assessment, the doctor may ask the parent a series of questions, or speak and interact with the child during an examination to observe how the child speaks, learns, behaves, and moves. A perceived delay in any of these developmental areas may indicate a problem.
All children should be screened for developmental delays and disabilities during routine doctor visits at 9 months, 18 months, and 24 or 30 months of age. Additional screening may be warranted if a child is at elevated risk for developmental issues due to factors such as premature birth or low birth weight.
Furthermore, all children should be screened specifically for autism spectrum disorder during doctor visits at the 18-month and 24-month checkups. Additional screening may be necessary if a child is at high risk for ASD or if behaviors associated with ASD are observed. If the doctor identifies any signs of a developmental problem, a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is required (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).
The second phase of diagnosis is a comprehensive evaluation. This thorough, in-depth assessment may include an examination of the child's behavior and developmental history as well as an interview with the parents. The evaluation may also involve genetic testing, hearing and vision screening, neurological testing, and other medical assessments (Lord et al., 2006).
References
Lord, C., Risi, S., DiLavore, P. S., Shulman, C., Thurm, A., & Pickles, A. (2006). Autism from 2 to 9 years of age. Archives of General Psychiatry, 63(6), 694–701.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Screening and Diagnosis. Retrieved June 20, 2018, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/screening.html
Doheny, K. (2018). Autism cases on the rise; reason for increase a mystery. WebMD.
Autism Society. (2016). What is autism? Retrieved June 20, 2018, from
Autism Speaks. (2018). What is autism? Retrieved June 20, 2018, from https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
Project Autism. (2018). History of autism. Retrieved June 20, 2018, from http://projectautism.org/history-of-autism
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