Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves decreased social skills and various communication problems.
Symptoms of ASD normally occur during the first three years of life. Cause of ASD has yet not been found by the researchers. They believe several factors can be involved in causing ASD in a child.
Research has revealed that ASD runs in family. If one child in a family is suffering from this neurodevelopmental disorder, then other siblings are also prone to develop ASD. Relatives of children with autism can also show some symptoms of ASD. The cause of ASD is still under investigation. CT scan of brain of autistic children revealed some anomalies of the brain’s structure and chemical function. Multiple environmental factors are being investigated for their contribution in etiology of ASD. Diagnosis can be made by the doctor with thorough evaluation of a child before starting the treatment plan. Medication might help to treat aggressiveness, hyper focus, depression and obsessive behavior.