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National Autism Awareness Month  | ||||
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According to stats from the U.S. Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17 percent per year. At this rate, the American Society of America estimates that the occurrence of autism could reach 4-million Americans in the next decade. Definition of Autism: Autism is a lifelong, non-progressive neurological disorder with symptoms typically appearing before the age of three years. The word "autism" means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction. The classic form of autism involves areas of impairments - in social interaction, in communication and the use of language, and in limited imagination as reflected in restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior and activities. It was in 1943 that Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, created the diagnosis of autism. The symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. Children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children, both with the same diagnosis, can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.  |
Traits: Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits:  Insistence on sameness; resistance to change Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others Prefers to be alone; aloof manner Tantrums Difficulty in mixing with others May not want to cuddle or be cuddled Little or no eye contact Unresponsive to normal teaching methods Sustained odd play Spins objects Inappropriate attachments to objects Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain No real fears of danger Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity Uneven gross/fine motor skills Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests in normal range.There is no known cure, though careful training and sensitive support can bring improvements. Two-thirds of those with classic autism (or Kanner syndrome) are severely to mildly handicapped in cognition and intellect. Most people with mild autism (Asperger's) have average to higher IQ. Causes of Autism: There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by |
abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. There are many theories by researchers such as heredity, genetics, medical problems, a cluster of unstable genes interfering with brain development, problems during pregnancy or delivering as well as environmental factors such as viral infections, metabolic imbalances, and exposure to environmental chemicals. Autism tends to occur more frequently than expected among individuals who have certain medical conditions, including Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and untreated phenylketonuria (PKU). Treatment: All available research strongly suggests that intensive early intervention makes a critical difference to children with autistic spectrum disorders. Without early identification and diagnosis, children with autism are unlikely to learn the skills they need to benefit from education. Many treatment approaches have been developed to address the range of social, language, sensory, and behavioral difficulties. These include Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA); Discrete Trial Training (discrete trials); TEACCH; PECS; Floor Time; Social Stories, and sensory integration. More Information references: Stanley Greenspan's book "The Child with Special Needs: Encouraging Intellectual and Emotional Growth". www.thegraycenter.org www.out-of-sync-child.com www.sensoryint.com www.autism-society.org www.autism.com | |||
Copyright 2006, Mecosta County Medical Center