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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder because affected individuals have abnormalities in regards to their brain structure and neurotransmitters, and symptoms usually emerge within the first two years of one’s life.
自閉症譜系障礙是一種神經發育障礙。患者在大腦結構和神經遞質方面存在異常，症狀通常出現在生命的前兩年。
This disorder is considered a spectrum because it encompasses different conditions that used to be diagnosed separately.
自閉症譜系障礙被稱為譜系是因為它由不同的情況組成，這些情況以前是分開來診斷的。
Those with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty with social interaction, communication, adaption, and often engage in repetitive behavior. These features interfere with an individual’s learning/education, relationships, daily activity, and their ability to establish independence.
患者往往在社交、溝通、適應方面存在困難，而且常常會做一些重複性動作。這些特徵影響了患者的學習，人際關係，日常活動以及獨立的能力。
Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder usually appear before the individual’s second birthday (within the first two years). Red flags that may indicate autism spectrum disorder include delayed language development, disinterest in social interaction, odd and repetitive behavior, and regression in terms of social behavior and language use.
自閉症譜系障礙的正傳通常出現在患者的兩歲生日前。可能表明自閉症譜系的危險信號包括遲緩的語言發育、對社會的不感興趣、奇怪和重複的行為，以及在社會行為和語言使用方面的退步。
According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), the symptoms of autism are:
根據第五版《精神疾病診斷與統計手冊》，自閉症的症狀有：
-Difficulties with social interaction, communication in terms of social-emotional reciprocation, nonverbal communication, and issues with maintaining relationships.
在社會交流、情緒表達、非語言交流，以及維持關係上出現問題。
-Abnormal, repetitive behavior, emotions, activities, and interests; shown through repetitive motor movements, restricted/unalterable routines (individual shows distress at small changes), specific and unchanged interests that the individual fixates on, and hyper- or hypoactivity to specific senses and odd interest in sensory features of the natural world.
反覆的，反常的行為、情緒、活動和興趣。通過重複的機械行為，受限的日常活動（對細微改變表現出痛苦），特定且不改變的興趣愛好，對特定感覺的過激/過平淡反應，以及對自然世界感知的奇怪興趣體現。
Here's a short video on what it is like to have ASD
Some Common Misconceptions
一些常見的誤解
In media, autistic representation is often well-intentioned but inaccurate and promote unrealistic stereotypes. Here are some of those misconceptions:
在媒體中，對自閉症的描述往往是善意的，卻有不夠準確，助長了對於自閉症患者不切實際的刻板印象。下面是一些常見的誤解：
1. Autism is caused by vaccines. 自閉症是由於疫苗引起的
This is an argument that anti-vaxxers often use but are not backed by any proof. There is no evidence to back up the claim that childhood vaccine causes autism and there is no proven correlation between autism and vaccines.
這是一個沒有任何實際證據卻被反疫苗支持者經常拿來使用的觀點。沒有證據可以證實兒童疫苗會導致自閉症，也沒有任何證據表明自閉症與疫苗直接存在關聯。
A study in 1998 that connects autism and vaccines has been retracted and numerous studies that have been conducted afterward have not been able to show any link between autism and vaccines.
1998年的一項將自閉症和疫苗聯繫起來的研究已經被撤回，而且之後的一系列實驗研究也並沒能證明自閉症和疫苗間存在關係。
2. All individuals with autism also have savant syndrome.
所有自閉症患者都有學者症候群
Savant syndrome is a rare condition where someone with severe mental disabilities, including autistic spectrum disorder, also have abilities (often memory-related) that far exceed those of a normal person.
學者症候群是一種罕見的症狀，患有嚴重精神疾病（包括自閉症）的人同時也具有超常的能力（通常與記憶力有關）。
Examples in media include 「The Rain Man」 from the 1980’s movie and Shaun from 「The Good Doctor」. Even though there is a high chance that someone with autism will have savant syndrome, only 10% of those with autism have it, therefore this notion is false.
兩個媒體中的例子是二十世紀八十年代的《雨人》以及《好醫生》中的肖恩。儘管自閉症患者患有學者症候群的概率比常人要高，但也只有10%的自閉症患者有學者症候群。因此所有自閉症患者都有學者症候群這個觀點是錯誤的。
3. People with autism lack emotions and reject social relationships.
自閉症患者缺乏情感，排斥社交。
On the contrary, those with autism feel just as much as those without autism, perhaps even more. However, they may show it in subtler ways which can be hard to notice.
其實事實正好相反，自閉症患者與非自閉症患者有一樣的感覺，甚至更多。然而，他們可能會用更微妙的方式表現出來。
僅僅因為自閉症患者可能發現很難表達他們的感受，並不意味著他們沒有感情來表達！
Additionally, people with autism have difficulties regarding social interaction but they are still able to create meaningful relationships, fall in love and have children.
此外，自閉症患者雖然在社交方面會有困難，但是他們他們依然可以建立有意義的關係，墜入愛河並生兒育女。
There is no cure for autism, however, there are medications that can help those with autism to better function throughout their day to day life. Early treatment after the diagnosis is crucial for the individual to learn to work with their skills and to decrease their difficulties.
目前並沒有治療自閉症的方法，但是有一些可以幫助自閉症患者的藥物。發現病情後早期治療對於患者的學習技能培養以及減少困難十分重要。
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, there are four general categories in terms of treatment: Behavior and Communication Approaches, Dietary Approaches, Medication, and Complementary and Alternative Treatment.
根據美國疾病控制與預防中心的說法，就對於自閉症的治療而言，大致可分為四類：行為，溝通方式，飲食方式，藥物以及營養品治療。
Behavior and Communication Approaches 行為與溝通方式:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a noteworthy treatment that is recognized by many healthcare professionals and used by many treatment facilities and schools. This treatment focuses on encouraging positive behavior and discouraging negative behavior to cultivate important skills. This person’s growth and progress are also tracked during this treatment.
應用行為分析（ABA）是一種被許多專業醫療人員認可，並且被許可在許多治療機構和學校使用的治療方案。這種方案的重點是鼓勵積極行為並勸阻消極行為，培養重要技能。患者的成長進步也會被同步記錄下來。
分析在關注行為前後發生的情況
Some examples of ABA include: Verbal Behavior Intervention, Discrete Trial Training, Pivotal Response Training, and Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention. Other treatments a part of this approach includes Speech Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, Occupational Therapy among others.
ABA的一些例子包括言語行為幹預、離散試驗訓練、關鍵反應訓練以及早期強化行為幹預。其他治療也包括講話治療，感知整合治療以及職業治療等等。
Dietary Approaches 飲食方法:
Diets have been developed by well-known medical specialists, though many do not have evidence to back them up. Various biomedical interventions encourage a change in diet, including increasing vitamin and mineral intake and removing certain foods.
飲食治療由著名的醫學專家們開發，雖然現在還沒有確切的證據表明飲食治療的有效性。多樣的生物醫學幹預鼓勵患者在飲食上作出改變，包括增加維生素與礦物質的攝入以及減少某些特定食物的攝入。
However, parents/guardians should consult their doctor before implementing a diet.
然而，患者的家屬以及監護人在調整患者飲食之前需要諮詢先尋求醫生的建議。
Medication 藥物治療:
No medication can help cure autism or treat the main symptoms, but some medication could treat related symptoms. Medication may help with irritability, attention deficiency, hyperactivity, depression, and seizures among other symptoms.
沒有藥物可以準確有效的治療自閉症或者解決主要症狀，但是一些藥物可以解決相關的病症。比如，藥物或許可以幫助改善易怒、注意力散失、多動、情緒低迷已經癲癇等症狀。
Complementary and Alternative Treatment 補充和替代治療:
To help with ASD, some parents/guardians and healthcare professionals use treatments that are not recommended by pediatricians. These treatments may include special diets, removal of heavy metals from the body, biologicals, and other body-based systems.
為了治療自閉症，一些家長和醫療人員使用一些不被兒科醫生推薦的方法。這些治療包括一些特殊的飲食，移除人體的某些重金屬成分，生物製劑和其他一些基於身體的治療體系。
Before attempting or going through with any of these treatments, parents/guardians should do careful research and talk to their doctor, especially since 10% of these treatments include potentially dangerous elements.
在採用任何一樣治療方案之前，家長應該做相關的查詢以及與醫生交談，因為這些方案當中10%是存在潛在危險因素的。
Autism spectrum disorder may be incurable, but there is always hope.
自閉症譜系障礙或許現如今還無法得到完全的治癒，但希望一直在。
Early diagnosis, proper support, and treatment are very important in managing symptoms. There are also various organizations that seek to assist children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
早期的診斷、支持，以及治療非常重要。現在也有很多組織在向自閉症兒童和他們的家庭提供幫助。
Autism does not have to be a life sentence.
總而言之，自閉症不是人生的句號，要充滿希望！
Author: Erika; Translator: Jonny
Source used: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5. 5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.
「Autism Myths and Misconceptions.」 State of Nevada. http://adsd.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/adsdnvgov/content/Programs/Autism/ATAP/Autism%20Myths%20and%20Misconceptions.pdf
「Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).」 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Aug. 2019, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html.
Treffert, Darold A. 「The Savant Syndrome: an Extraordinary Condition. A Synopsis: Past, Present, Future.」 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, The Royal Society, 27 May 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2677584/.
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Stay tuned for next week's article: Dissociative Identity Disorder