Autism Spectrum Chart

The ASD Chart below breaks down the symptoms commonly found in the three most common PDD’s on the autism spectrum: Autistic Disorder (AD), Pervasive Development Disorder-Not otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger's Syndrome.

           Autism                                               PDD-NOS                                                Asperger’s        

                     Disorder                                                                                                             Syndrome

Age        

Diagnosed

Usually before age of 3                            After age 3 or 4                                        Noticeable between                                                                                                                                                                   ages 2-6

Social

Inter-

Action        

  (Highly variable depending on severity of disorder)

    Rarely speak words or                     Children have same types of                        Similar symptoms to those

                  use verbal interaction;                      symptoms as those found,                           found in Autistic Disorder,

                    little use of gestures                          in Autistic Disorder                                     but in many cases,

            during communication;                    but don't exhibit as many                             children have the most

                   avoidance of eye contact;                of these symptoms. Must                            trouble comprehending

                  no response to verbal cues;              have problem with social                             their own feelings and

                  odd body postures and                     interaction to be diagnosed with                those of others.

                   facial expressions.                             a PDD.

   Low interaction with peers;

   rarely gets others involved

   in activities or games;

   unaware or indifferent to

   others

   Rarely interacts with others;

   often shies away from events

   with peers and meeting new

   people. Child seems happier alone.

   (Click “Autism Symptoms”

    for complete list”

Com-

munica-

tion         

                                                                        Similar symptoms to those                    Similar symptoms to

                                                                                       found in Autistic Disorder,                    those found in the

                                                                                         but diagnosed individuals                    Autistic Disorder,

                    Obvious speech delays or                      usually don’t exhibit as                         but no delay in

                  no speech at all; Little use of                   many symptoms.                                    speech. Child

                   verbal communication (child                                                                                     struggles with

                    insists on using gestures only);                                                                              expressing and

                    loss of speech at one time or                                                                                    reading body lan-

                  another.                                                                                                                         guage.

                  Repetitive speech or

                  repetitive making of sounds, echolalia;

                   Children tend to lack imaginative

                 or creative play; lack of pretend 

                   play or imitation of others’ actions

                   or behaviors.

                Child struggles to communicate

               with others; either communicates

                awkwardly or completely

avoids communicating.

Behavior

Patterns

                                                                                Similar symptoms to those                        Similar symptoms to

                                                                                found in Autistic Disorder,                       those found in Autistic Disorder,

                                                                                but children with PDD-NOS                     but less body motions                                                                                                                                                           exhibit fewer symptoms                             and more emphasis on routines

                      and focuses of interest               

                    Child has strong desire to act out                                                                    

                    certain routines or rituals on a                                                                        

    consistent basis.                                                                                                               

    Constant focus or attention on 

                    one specific topic, activities,

                    or objects (example: continually

                   gazing at the hands of clock going

                   around and around, or switching a light

    switch off and on)

    Reoccurring body motions (example:

    flapping of the arms or rocking back

                    and forth)

 Additional

Notes:

                Six symptoms from DSM-IV list                                                                                 Possible impairments    

                 need to be present  for an autism diagnosis.                                                          in fine and gross

.                                                                                                                                                       motor skills.

Sources:

[O’brien, Marion, and Daggett, Julie A. Beyond the Autism Diagnosis. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes, 2006. pp. 8-10]

[Autism Spectrum Disorder Chart]