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Category: Health & Fitness
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first 3 years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors have been estimated to occur in 1 in 500 people (Center for Disease Control, 1997) and perhaps as many as 1 in 250 people. Autism is four times more common in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle, and education levels do not affect the chances of autism's occurrence.
Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world. In some cases, aggressive or self-injurious behavior may be evident. Persons with autism may exhibit repeated bodily movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachment to objects and resistance to changes in routine.
Autism affects over half a million people in the United States, making it one of the most common developmental disabilities. 1 out of every 250 children born today will be diagnosed with autism. Yet most of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. In other words, the symptoms and characteristics vary widely, from mild to severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another with varying skills.
Several outdated theories about the cause of autism have been proven to be false. Autism is not a mental illness. Children with autism are not unruly kids who choose not to behave. Bad parenting does not cause autism. No known psychological factors in the development of the child have been shown to cause autism.
Contrary to popular understanding, many children with autism may make eye contact, show affection, smile and laugh, and demonstrate a variety of other emotions, although in varying degrees. Like other children, they respond to their environment in positive and negative ways. Sometimes touch or closeness of others may be painful to a person with autism, resulting in withdrawal even from family members. Anxiety, fear and confusion may result from being unable to &"make sense" of the world in a routine way.
Autism Checklist
Individuals with autism usually exhibit at least half of the traits listed below. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and vary in intensity from symptom to symptom. The behaviors usually occur across many different situations and are consistently inappropriate for their age.
*Insistence on sameness; resists change in routine
*Severe language deficits
*Difficulty expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words
*Echolalia (repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language, "parroting")
*Laughing, crying, or showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
*Prefers to be alone; aloof manner
*Difficulty in mixing with others
*May no want cuddling or act cuddly
*Little or no eye contact
*Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
*Sustained odd play (repetitive play, playing with toys inappropriately)
*Spins objects
*Inappropriate attachment to objects
*Apparent over sensitivity or under sensitivity to pain
*No real fear of dangers
*Noticeable over activity or extreme under activity
*Not responsive to verbal cues; acts deaf though hearing tests in normal range
*Uneven gross/fine motor skills (may not kick a ball but can stack blocks)
If your child seems to have some of these characteristics, please contact your pediatrician for a full diagnostic assessment.
Autism is not a hopeless situation. Many children with autism can lead productive lives. Individuals with autism have much to offer and to teach us. There is help and hope.
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Submitted By
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JLMarshall |
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Description
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mother of a child with autism |
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Web Page
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not
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