How Is Autism Different From Other Disabilities?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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When it comes to other developmental and special needs, a person's cognitive abilities are usually consistent. Many special needs cause generally low cognitive skills. With autism,

a person's cognitive skills are uneven

. For example, a person with autism may have exceptional mathematical abilities.

How is autism different from other disorders?

Autistic disorder typically involves

language delays, communication challenges, social problems, and unusual interests and behaviors

. Asperger syndrome involves milder symptoms than autistic disorder and doesn't usually include language or intellectual delays or disabilities.

What other disabilities are like autism?

  • Prader-Willi Syndrome.
  • Angelman Syndrome.
  • Rett Syndrome.
  • Tardive Dyskinesia.

What are some autistic behaviors?

  • Repetitive body movements (e.g. rocking, flapping, spinning, running back and forth)
  • Repetitive motions with objects (e.g. spinning wheels, shaking sticks, flipping levers)
  • Staring at lights or spinning objects.
  • Ritualistic behaviors (e.g. lining up objects, repeatedly touching objects in a set order)

Is ADHD a form of autism?

Answer: Autism spectrum disorder and ADHD are related in several ways.

ADHD is not on the autism spectrum

, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other.

Can a person be slightly autistic?


No, there is no such thing as being a little autistic

. Many people may show some characteristics of autism from time to time. This may include avoiding bright lights and noises, preferring to be alone and being rigid about rules.

How does a child with autism behave?

Children with ASD also act in ways that seem unusual or have interests that aren't typical. Examples of this can include:

Repetitive behaviors

like hand-flapping, rocking, jumping, or twirling. Constant moving (pacing) and “hyper” behavior.

What age does autism usually show up?

Some children show ASD symptoms

within the first 12 months of life

. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones, until around 18 to 24 months of age and then they stop gaining new skills, or they lose the skills they once had.

Can ADHD go away?



ADHD doesn't disappear just because symptoms become less obvious

—its effect on the brain lingers.” Some adults who had milder symptom levels of ADHD as children may have developed coping skills that address their symptoms well enough to prevent ADHD from interfering with their daily lives.

What is the root cause of ADHD?

Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it's thought

the genes you inherit from your parents

are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of a child with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.

Is ADHD a form of retardation?

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in

children with (MR)

, with a prevalence rate of between 4 and 15%.

Does autism worsen with age?


Autism does not change or worsen with age

, and it is not curable.

What is the mildest form of autism?


High functioning autism

describes “mild” autism, or “level 1” on the spectrum. Asperger's syndrome is often described as high functioning autism. Symptoms are present, but the need for support is minimal.

What is a mild form of Aspergers?


Asperger Syndrome (ASD)

is a pervasive developmental disorder that is widely described as a mild form of autism. People with ASD tend to have many of the social and sensory issues of those with more severe forms of autistic disorder but have average to above average IQs and vocabularies.

Does autism come from the mother or father?

The team found that mothers passed only half of their structural variants on to their autistic children—a frequency that would be expected by chance alone—suggesting that variants inherited from mothers were not associated with autism. But surprisingly,

fathers did pass on substantially more than 50% of their

variants.

What triggers autism meltdowns?

Meltdown and shutdown are usually caused by

high levels of stress

, to a point where the person with autism in no longer able to cope. These can be triggered by any situation, and can be the result of an accumulation of stressful events over a period of time (hours, days or even weeks).

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.