Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex set of characteristics that continues to evolve as more research surfaces with new findings. It is recognized more frequently in males, with a male to female ratio of 4:1 (NIH, 2013; NIMH, 2013). Co-occurring conditions are common and typically include: Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, epileptic seizures, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder (APA, 2013; NIMH, 2013). The most common co-occurring condition is epilepsy, developing in 2-3 out every 10 cases (NIMH, 2013). The cause of ASD remains unknown with research focusing on genetic, prenatal, neurological and environmental factors or a combination thereof. There are several different interpretations for defining ASD. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013) offers a sociological perspective stating:
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain… There is usually nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but they may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.
This definition is expanded by the National Institute of Mental Health (2013), which states:
Autism is a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called autism spectrum disorder. The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment, or disability that children with ASD can have. Some children are mildly impaired by their symptoms, but others a severely disabled.
The two previous definitions offer general insights to the impairments, but they are limited in specifying characteristics. In the DSM-5, the APA (2013) defines ASD in the following terms:
Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, including deficits in social reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and skills in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships. In addition to the social communication deficits, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder requires the presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Because symptoms change with development and may be masked by compensatory mechanisms, the diagnostic criteria may be met based on historical information, although the current presentation must cause significant impairment.
For the purposes of this study, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) definition will be applied. It appears to be the most inclusive and is considered the standard for diagnosis and research