Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, is a term used to describe a number of conditions in which a person has differences in social interaction and communication, as well as repetitive behavior. The latter one is what parents usually notice in their children. Stacking, or lining up objects, is characteristic for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and it usually shows by the age of three.
The cause of ASD is still the subject of research. It is known that genes have a lot to do with these conditions, but it's not a simple issue of either having, or not having a certain gene (such as, for instance: sickle-cell anemia, Huntington's disease, or cystic fibrosis). It's much more complicated when it comes to autism. Different genes, different combinations of certain genes, as well as the expression of certain genes can cause ASD. As for other causes, some maternal viral infections, as well as the mother's immune response, have been linked to higher odds of autism in babies. Other hypotheses, such as a vitamin D deficiency, or heavy metal poisoning, are plausible, but further research needs to be done. On the other hand, some hypotheses, such as the one saying that vaccines cause autism, or that autism is caused by mothers who withhold attention from their kids, have been disproved.
1. ADHD
ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a condition in which people have problems paying attention and get distracted easily, are hyperactive and act impulsively, regardless of the consequences. This condition can be divided into two sub-groups: the inattentive and the hyperactive-impulsive type. The first type is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Being easily distracted and forgetting things.
- Daydreaming, appearing not to listen when being talked to.
- Getting bored easily, and having problems focusing on a task.
- Overlooking details.
The symptoms of the second type may include:
- Being constantly active.
- Talking a lot.
- Being impatient.
- Making inappropriate comments and interrupting other people's conversations.
- Having problems sitting down still.
ADHD usually gets diagnosed between the ages of six and 12. ADHD is often diagnosed alongside autism, and sometimes even confused with this condition, since the outward signs can be somewhat similar.
2. Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a condition which is characterized by seizures. The causes of epilepsy are many, and they range from inherited, genetic conditions to acquired ones, which can also vary from brain tumors, to parasitosis, to other infectious diseases, malnutrition and alcoholism. Epilepsy is a fairly common condition, with about one percent of the population suffering from some form of this illness, but epilepsy is more common in autistic people; up to 40 percent of autistic folks suffer from epilepsy, depending on which study you look at.
3. Eating issues
Up to 70 percent of ASD patients suffer from some form of eating disorder as well. In some cases, people avoid certain foods, or certain food textures. Chronic overeating is another issue that often happens. The third eating issue connected to ASD is pica. Pica is a disorder in which a person feels the need to eat non-edible objects, such as wood, dirt, glass, sharp objects, soap, feces, or chalk, to name a few. This eating disorder is the more common in people on the spectrum.
4. Anxiety
Anxiety is common in people on the spectrum, and it appears much more often in this group than in the rest of the population. About 42 percent of people on the spectrum suffer from anxiety, compared to 15 percent of adults, or three percent of children, in the rest of the population. Social anxiety is the most common form of this disorder in autistic people. This manifests as fear when facing new people, or a large number of people.
5. Sleep issues
A lot of people on the spectrum have issues related to sleep. One study suggested that between 44 and 86 percent of autistic children have problems getting a good night's sleep. This is a lot, especially when compared to neurotypical children, only about 10 to 16 percent of whom suffer from these issues. People on the spectrum take 11 minutes longer to fall asleep, and spend a significantly lower amount of time in the REM phase (which is crucial for learning). Consequentially, children with sleeping issues have worse repetitive behavior symptoms than ones who don't.
6. Depression
Depression is also connected to autism. Depression is diagnosed in seven percent of children, and 26 percent of adults who suffer from ASD. This could also be an underestimation, since difficulties in communication can mask depression. It is believed that the rates of depression co-relate to intellectual ability in people on the spectrum, as well as with their age.
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