Kids with autism may have trouble understanding the world around them. Kids also might move in an unusual way like flapping their hands or do the same thing over and over like saying the same word.
A kid with autism may have a little trouble with these things, or a lot. Some kids need only a little bit of help, and others might need a lot of help with learning and doing everyday stuff.
Autism is something people are born with. No one knows exactly what causes it. It probably has something to do with a kid's genes and other things that change the way the brain develops. Doctors check babies and little kids for signs of autism at every checkup. A parent may think that something is wrong and tell the doctor. Maybe the child is old enough to speak but doesn't.
Or a kid doesn't seem interested in people or plays in unusual ways. The information below is not meant to diagnose or treat. It should not take the place of consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic, or environmental, influences. These influences appear to increase the risk that a child will develop autism.
Similarly, not everyone exposed to an environmental risk factor for autism will develop the disorder. In fact, most will not. Research tells us that autism tends to run in families. Changes in certain genes increase the risk that a child will develop autism. If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may get passed to a child even if the parent does not have autism.
Again, the majority of these gene changes do not cause autism by themselves. They simply increase risk for the disorder. Research also shows that certain environmental influences may further increase — or reduce — autism risk in people who are genetically predisposed to the disorder. Importantly, the increase or decrease in risk appears to be small for any one of these risk factors:.
Overview Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Autism spectrum disorder ASD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 4, Uno Y, et al. Early exposure to the combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines and risk of autism spectrum disorder.
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