AutismWhat is autism spectrum disorder, and why is no autistic child like another?

14What is autism?

“My son is two and a half and doesn't talk, and when I call him he doesn't look, and everyone tells me he's still little.” Many families carry this question in silence. Knowing what autism is does not mean worrying about every delay, but it does mean not losing precious time in which early support could have made a real difference.

The World Health Organization describes autism as a diverse group of conditions related to brain development, shared by some difficulty with social interaction and communication, along with unusual patterns of activities and behaviors, such as difficulty moving from one activity to another, intense attention to detail, and unusual reactions to sounds, lights, and textures.

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) describes it as a difference in the way the brain develops, which a person is born with, and not a disease that suddenly strikes them or an “infection” they catch. For this reason, many autistic people prefer to talk about support and adaptation rather than “cure.” Medically it is called a neurodevelopmental disorder, like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), because it is linked to the development of the nervous system from early childhood.

It is called a “spectrum” because the picture differs greatly from one person to another. According to the World Health Organization, the intellectual level of autistic people ranges from severe disability to above-average abilities, and some live completely independently while others need lifelong care and support. Abilities and needs themselves also change with age.

This is why doctors abandoned the old separate labels such as Asperger syndrome, and now diagnose “autism spectrum disorder” and then specify the level of support the person needs. The full details of the labels and levels are on the types of autism page.

15Is autism common? Autism in numbers

The gap between the global and US figures looks large because the global figure is an estimated average, and figures vary a great deal with the research method and the ability to detect cases. The World Health Organization notes that the prevalence of autism in many low- and middle-income countries is unknown, and no single published national figure exists for Egypt. The rise in figures over the years also reflects, to a large extent, better awareness and diagnosis.

Sources: World Health Organization, Autism fact sheet 2025; US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network data 2022.

16How does autism appear? A quick look at the signs

The signs revolve around two areas: communication and interaction, such as little response to their name and little pointing or sharing of interest, and repetitive behaviors and interests, such as hand flapping, lining up toys in rows, and intense distress at change, along with a different sensitivity to sounds, lights, and food. They may appear in the first year or may not become clear until school age, and some adults and girls may learn to hide them. Details for each age are on the autism symptoms and signs page.

17How does an autistic person experience the world?

Imagine that an ordinary sound like a fan reaches you with an irritating sharpness, that bright light strains your eyes, that a shirt label bothers your skin all day, and then you are asked to smile and greet guests. This is a rough picture of what the difference in sensory processing described by the NHS in many autistic people can mean, and it explains behaviors that may look to others like “stubbornness” or “bad manners.”

The NHS explains that repetitive movements, known as stimming, can be soothing and enjoyable for a child, and that a fixed routine gives them a sense of security in an unpredictable world. Masking, meaning imitating other people's behavior and hiding the signs, can make a person look “typical” from the outside, but it makes daily activities and social interaction tiring and draining.

18Why does autism happen?

There is no single cause. The World Health Organization points to multiple genetic and environmental factors that make autism more likely, with genetics playing the biggest part. The popular claim that a “cold” mother or a parenting style causes autism has no basis. The details are on the causes of autism page.

19Autism or something else? Conditions that may look similar

Not every child with delayed speech is autistic, and not every very active child has ADHD. This is a simplified comparison that helps explain the differences, not to make a diagnosis:

Every child with delayed speech needs a hearing test, because hearing loss can look like autism. Autism and ADHD can also occur in the same child. In adults, autism may be confused with social anxiety disorder or schizoid personality. The difference is that the communication difficulties in autism have been present since childhood and are not due to fear of judgment or a lack of interest in relationships.

20Common myths about autism and the truth

21What conditions can accompany autism?

The World Health Organization and the NHS note that autistic people are more prone to conditions such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Behind many “difficult behaviors” there is pain, sleeplessness, or anxiety that has not yet been discovered.

22Is autism related to addiction?

It was widely believed that autistic people rarely use substances, but a Swedish population study that followed about 27,000 people diagnosed with autism found that autism alone, without ADHD or intellectual disability, was linked to roughly half the risk of substance use problems, and the risk was highest in those who have both autism and ADHD. Some adults may turn to alcohol or sedatives to bear social anxiety or sensory stress, and here they need a dual diagnosis assessment that takes their way of communicating into account.

23When should you seek a specialist assessment?

• If the baby does not respond to their name or does not show clear facial expressions at about 9 months.
• If the child does not point to show you something that interests them at about 18 months.
• If the child loses words or social skills they had already gained, at any age.
• If the school notices clear difficulties with communication and making friends, along with repetitive behaviors.
• If an adult feels that difficulty communicating and social exhaustion have been with them since childhood and disrupt their work and relationships.

The ages above come from the list of signs published by the CDC. The absence of one sign does not mean autism, but it does mean that an assessment is better than waiting. The assessment steps and the M-CHAT screening questionnaire are explained on the autism diagnosis page.

24Can autism be cured?

Autism is not an illness that is cured in the usual sense; it is part of how the brain works for life. But that does not mean nothing can be done: the World Health Organization confirms that evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication, social skills, and the quality of life of autistic people and their families, and that getting them early makes the biggest difference. Many children learn to speak and become independent to a degree beyond their families' expectations. Learn about the options on the autism treatment page, and about the day-to-day side in the guide Dealing with an autistic child.

25Where does Eradah fit in?

Eradah receives children and adolescents for psychological assessment and follow-up of what accompanies autism, such as anxiety, hyperactivity, angry outbursts, or sleep disturbance, along with guidance for the family and coordination with the pediatrician and the speech and rehabilitation centers that run skill-development programs. Autistic adult men who have depression, anxiety, or substance use problems can receive a confidential assessment and follow-up in the outpatient clinics, taking their sensory needs and communication style into account.

26Autism Guide: Everything You Need to Know

We have gathered everything about autism into 6 pages, each answering one question in detail. Choose what you are looking for: