The most common question in our field. Pediatric Occupational Therapists get asked this question all of the time and there is no one answer. This is why it is now called Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is a wide spectrum of behaviors and developmental contradictions present in the 1 in 59 children diagnosed with "Autism". 

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As you have probably heard, the spectrum goes from "high functioning" to "low functioning" autism. The degrees in between is what Pediatric Occupational Therapists must determine and treat in our evaluations, assessments, and therapy sessions.

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So, what is Autism Spectrum Disorder? A neurodevelopment deficiency often noticeable around 2-3 years old.  Behaviors or lack of include a  broad range characteristics that are out of the "norm" in a child's development. These children communicate, learn, behave, and interact differently than others The older the child gets, the more apparent it becomes. At pre-school and elementary school age, side by side with other kids, the challenges are more obvious and perhaps troublesome for the child and for the parent. 

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