Autism and Its Obstacles

Abstract

Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder characterized by deficits in communication, adherence to routine, and repetitive behaviors. It is also a condition that is often co-morbid with other medical problems such as intellectual disability or seizures. Current understanding of its prevalence rates in the United States is 1 in 54, with its occurrence in boys being about four times greater than in girls (Maenner et al., 2020). Most people with ASD are found early in childhood, with 72% being diagnosed before the age of eight. These prevalence rates caused the condition to be perceived and understood as a male childhood disorder and treated as such. However, in recent years and in light of new findings, the male bias is being questioned. This also is co-occurring as more adult women are referring themselves to specialists, as they identify with the increasingly available information on the condition. The exact reasons for these variations are unknown, but several ideas have been proposed as to why this disparity exists. Some are based in biological differences found between the sexes, and others in the sociological and historical contexts of autism research. In review of the current state of the literature it is evident that many studies conducted often don't have a significant sample size of girls and women with autism. This gap in the research limits how quicky these children can be identified, especially those without co-morbidities, limiting programs and treatment options that can improve their quality of life.