First Name:

Last Name:

Telephone:

Email:

Address:

City:

State:

Zipcode:

Incident Details:

Yes, I would like to receive
the Morgan & Morgan newsletter.

form base
Home » Consumer Information » Children with Disabilities » Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a term that encompasses the general definition of autism, which includes the classic form of the disorder in addition to closely related disabilities that share some of the same fundamental attributes. Despite the fact that classic autism is quite discernible from the other types of ASD, the terms autism and ASD are often used in place of one another.

ASD is composed of the following:

  • Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) -- characterized by symptoms similar to autism, but they are on a smaller scale. It is also referred to as mild or atypical autism. People with PDD are considered highly functional.
  • Asperger's syndrome (AS) -- features minimal socialization abilities, difficulty coping with change, obsession with habits, and possible fixation on a specific subject of interest. Someone with AS also has trouble interpreting body language and establishing a boundary between themselves and others. Since they are usually bothered by sights, sounds, tastes, and smells, an AS patient may favor softer attire, special foods, and be bothered by sounds or lights that the typical person would not think twice about. A child with AS normally possesses an average to above average IQ, and some of them find that they have a unique gift applicable to a special area of interest (e.g., painting with watercolors).
  • Rett's syndrome -- a genetic disorder that attacks the nervous system and only affects females. It is commonly characterized by seizures that occur more frequently with age. Hypotonia, or muscle deterioration, is the often the first symptom a girl diagnosed with Rett's will experienced. This is followed by hand-wringing stereotypy, or constant squeezing of the hands. About one in every 10,000-15,000 female babies are born with Rett's. The gene that causes it was recently identified.
  • Childhood disintegrative disorder -- features normal progression among toddlers in regards to physical and mental ability for the first few years of life. Suddenly, speech and other skills decline over a several month period until the child demonstrates all the signs of autism.

If you or someone you know has a child with a form of autism, there may be government assistance available to you. A Florida social security disability attorney will be happy to discuss your options.