What are Autism Spectrum Disorders? Autism Spectrum Disorders
(ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs),
cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling,
language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders
are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a
severe form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive
development disorder not otherwise specified, to a much milder
form, Asperger syndrome. They also include two rare disorders,
Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. Signs &
Symptoms Parents are usually the first to notice unusual
behaviors in their child. In some cases, the baby seemed
“different” from birth, unresponsive to people or focusing
intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs
of an autism spectrum disorder can also appear in children who
had been developing normally. When an affectionate, babbling
toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or
indifferent to social overtures, something is w