What is Autism in 2025? Understanding the Spectrum

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a widely discussed yet often misunderstood condition. With increasing prevalence and shifting perceptions, understanding autism has never been more critical. In this article, we explore the definition of autism, its symptoms, causes, controversies, and actionable steps for parents and caregivers.
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Understanding Autism: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction, communication, and behavior. It is called a “spectrum” because it varies widely in how it impacts individuals.

Early Signs and Diagnosis: Signs of autism, such as delayed speech, limited eye contact, or repetitive behaviors, often appear before age three. Early diagnosis through behavioral assessments is key to effective intervention.

Causes and Influences: Autism results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with no single cause identified. Studies show identical twins can have differing autism traits, underscoring its complexity.

Steps for Parents: Tools like the BECA assessment and strategies from the Turn Autism Around approach provide actionable steps to support children, improve communication, and decrease problem behaviors at the first sign of autism.

Is Autism Lifelong?: While often considered a lifelong condition, research shows early and targeted interventions can lead to significant improvements, with some children no longer meeting diagnostic criteria later in life.

Controversies and Advocacy: Debates on autism acceptance, awareness, and self-advocacy highlight the need for a balanced, inclusive approach to understanding and supporting individuals with autism.

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🧩 About Mary Barbera 👩⚕️

I'm Dr. Mary Barbera and I have been helping parents and professionals for more than two decades ago when my first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with a speech delay at 2 and then with autism at age 3. Since then, I became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Host of the Turn Autism Around podcast (with more than 1.7 million downloads), and best-selling author of two books (including my newest book Turn Autism Around: An Action Guide for Parents of Young Children with Early Signs of Autism).

In addition to free content, I post daily across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. I also offer online courses for parents and professionals. Behavior Analyst BACB CEUs and Early Intervention contact hours are also included for professionals.

Whether you have a toddler with speech delays and/or excessive tantrums or you're a parent or professional helping early intervention clients, I encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel and join me for videos almost every day that will help you increase talking, decrease tantrums, and improve eating, sleeping, and potty training!

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