Ten Facts About Autism for Kids You Never Knew

The world knows more about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) today than it ever has. Even people who are directly affected by autism — i.e., those who don’t have it or don’t regularly interact with someone who does — typically have at least a general idea of what autism is.

This newfound knowledge has led to much more acceptance of individuals on the autism spectrum and overall support for what they need.

At the same time, ASD is such a challenging affliction because most children who have it don’t look anything different on the outside. Instead, they may just exhibit different behaviors that others wouldn’t find “normal” and/or struggle with typical communication.

This stands as a roadblock to better understanding of the neurodevelopmental disorder and how it might affect people.

Below, we’ve listed 10 facts about autism for kids you never knew to help give you a more in-depth look at what ASD is and how it affects people.

Table Of Contents

ONE: Kids are Born with ASD

Children are born with autism. It is not something that develops as they get older, and there is nothing that can be done to prevent a child from having it.

This is an often-misunderstood aspect of autism, since it typically isn’t diagnosed in children until they are 3 years old. The reason for this is that the signs and symptoms of autism become more obvious around that age range, which leads to the identification that autism might be present.

TWO: Autism is a Life-Long Disorder

Kids who are born with autism will live with it forever. It’s not something that can be cured like a disease, and it’s not something that you can grow out of.

There are many great treatment options available today such as applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy, that can help children grow and cope with their symptoms better, but it’s something they’ll always have.

Learn more:
https://bluegemsaba.com/can-autism-be-cured-or-reversed/
https://bluegemsaba.com/will-autism-ever-be-cured/

THREE: ASD is Diagnosed Based on Behavior

Unlike other disorders, ASD can’t be diagnosed by a blood test or medical exam. Only through observational and conversational evaluations can a trained professional diagnose autism.

All of these evaluations are also based on behaviors that the children exhibit, as well as whether they are meeting established developmental milestones.

FOUR: Kids Can Grow with Treatment

Just because a kid is diagnosed with autism doesn’t mean they can’t grow and build skills. To the contrary, there are many amazing skills that kids with autism can learn through dedicated treatment plans.

ABA therapy, for instance, is designed specifically to meet each individual’s needs and help them build the specific skills they struggle most with.

FIVE: They Have a Lot of Strengths

Autism is often thought of from a negative standpoint. In other words, a lot of focus is given to what challenges kids with autism face.

But, there are a lot of things that kids with autism can do quite well. Some children on the autism spectrum can be incredibly intelligent and have excellent abilities. They just might need extra help, support and/or encouragement to do it.

Learn more:
https://bluegemsaba.com/which-autism-makes-you-smart/

SIX: More Boys are Diagnosed Than Girls

Many more boys are diagnosed with autism than girls. In fact, the ratio of boys-to-girls is 4-to-1.

While the prevalence of autism in boys is much greater than that in girls, recent studies are suggesting this might be misleading. Some reasons may be that the criteria that was designed for diagnosing ASD was based on a study on just boys, and girls might be better at masking their symptoms at a young age.

It’s possible, then, that in the coming years, the autism prevalence rates in boys and girls might even out.

Learn more:
https://bluegemsaba.com/autism-in-girls/

SEVEN: Autism is a Wide Spectrum

Autism is referred to as ASD today, and a big reason for that is it can present itself in a variety of different ways.

Some children have what’s known as “high-functioning” autism and may not appear to act too much differently than neurotypical children. Others may experience much more severe signs and symptoms of autism.

Each child on the autism spectrum is an individual, and should be treated as such.

Learn more:
https://bluegemsaba.com/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd/

EIGHT: There are Many Kids That Have Autism

ASD affects one-in-36 children, according to the most recent estimates. That’s 2.78% of all children. This ratio has grown dramatically in recent years, and a lot of that is due to increased knowledge about ASD as well as professionals who are better at more accurately diagnosing it.

Today, autism is more common in kids than AIDs, diabetes and childhood cancer combined.

NINE: Sensory Perception Can Be Heightened

A child’s sensory perception can be heightened if they’re on the autism spectrum. This may mean that things such as strong odors, bright lights and loud sounds can cause their brain to go “haywire” and make them feel overwhelmed very quickly.

When this happens, children may engage in self-stimulating behaviors such as tapping their fingers repeatedly, biting their nails or more. It can help to have a quiet, safe space for them to retreat to if they’re ever experience “sensory overload” so that they can ground themselves again.

TEN: Every Child is Unique

Just like every neurotypical child is unique, so, too, is every child on the autism spectrum. ASD affects everyone differently, and they should be treated as individuals, not lumped together.

The more personalized attention kids with autism get, the more they feel accepted, loved and supported.

Trust Blue Gems ABA to Help Your Child with Autism Grow

These are just a few of the things about autism for kids that most people don’t know. There are many other facts about ASD that can be learned, and doing so will help you better understand and support kids on the autism spectrum.

At Blue Gems ABA, we support kids with ASD every day by administering best-in-class ABA therapy. Through this, we help children on the autism spectrum gain the social, communication and daily life skills with which they often struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.