Some Important Facts You Need To Know About Autism

Autism is a neuro -developmental disorder, caused by the miscommunication of brain cells and how their synapses meet, although the exact reason of this disorder remains yet to be discovered. This disorder is characterized by serious problem in interaction and communication, repetitive interests, actions and behavior pattern and a sense of restriction. Autism Spectrum (ASD) is a composite, which includes three types of disorders-
1. Autism: Involves difficulty in social communication and repetitive actions.
2. Asperger Syndrome: Causes delay in information processing procedure in brain and language development.
3. Pervasive Developmental Disorder: It is diagnosed when the criteria defining autism and asperger syndrome are not met.
Various factors have been pointed out as the possible causes of autism, mainly environmental atmosphere before birth like presence of heavy metal, pesticides, childhood vaccines etc have been held responsible for causing it, although most of them lack any scientific basis. Symptoms associated with autism begin to manifest themselves as early as the sixth month of the child, but keep developing as the child grows up, making full and steady appearance from the second year of it's life. In special cases, the child shows normal development in the early stage but then starts to regress. No curative measure for this disorder has been discovered yet, so there is a clamor for recognizing this disorder not as a disease, but as a difference.
Autistic symptoms make their presence known in the infants making them less attentive to a stimulus, reducing the possibility for them to respond to their own names and making them avoid eye contact, when interacting with others. These children are incapable of social understanding, spontaneous actions, expressing themselves through gestures, imitate and respond to emotions etc. Although these children do form attachment to their immediate caregivers, but they come to suffer more intense kind of solitude, as forming and maintaining friendship proves to be an arduous task for them. The obstacle they face while trying to communicate with others is caused by delayed language development, rendering them unable to talk and share experiences and making them merely repeat the words they hear from others.
Their obsession with repetitive patterns of behavior can be summarized in the following categories:
1. Stereotype indicates repetitive movements like rocking of body etc.
2. Compulsive pattern of behavior is adherence to some rules strictly like arranging things in a row.
3. Maintaining sameness involves strong resistance to change like their anger when a piece of furniture is moved.
4. Ritualistic behavior is closely associated with their obsession to maintain sameness like wearing the same dress everyday, which becomes a daily ritual.
5. Restricted behavior involves exhibiting very small range of interests, activities and focus.
6. Self injury: They also show a tendency to inflict injuries on themselves through head banging, skin picking etc. This is related to the aggressive and violent aspect of this disorder.
No cure has been discovered yet for his disorder. Many children with autism show notable improvements through long term treatment, although nobody knows how it happens, but some children do not show any improvement at all. These children can acquire language by the age of five or earlier, although in case of few, language development process gets delayed. The basic problems of autism continue, although the severity of their symptoms might diminish with the growing age of the individual. In exceptional cases, individuals with autism exhibits normal growth later in life and also become successful by finding proper or part time employment.

Kevin Halls is a renowned psychiatrist and a researcher on Autism Wisconsin. He writes interesting blog posts and points out his observations about the Autism Spectrum Disorders.

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Facts About Symptoms of Autism

The neural development disorder that are characterized by impaired communication, repetitive and restrictive behavior, and social interaction is known as Autism. Normally the symptoms of Autism or the disorder's warning signs begin before the child has reached three years of age. The disorder affects the processing of information in the brain because it changes how a person's nerve cells and their synapses connect with one another and then organize themselves. Unfortunately, the way in which this occurs is not understood.

In the Autism Spectrum, Autism is one of the three disorders that it covers. Asperger's Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) are the other two that are components of the spectrum. PDD-NOS is typically diagnosed when the characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome or Autism are not present. Although the genetics involved in Autism are extremely complex in nature, it isn't clear as to whether or not Autism Spectrum Disorders are rare mutations or rare combinations of genetic variations.

In rare occurrences, the symptoms of Autism are strongly related to genetic agents that are responsible for birth defects. Additionally, there are numerous controversies that surround environmental issues including childhood vaccines, heavy metals, and pesticides. Interestingly enough, the hypothesis regarding the vaccine issue is biologically implausible and lacks any psychological or scientific evidence. In recent reports published by the CDC, they estimate that roughly 1 out of every 100 children have the symptoms of Autism.

Since the 1980's when Autism became a common concern of the medical and psychological communities, the increase in the number of diagnoses of the disorder have increased exponentially. Naturally, this is due in part to changes and updates where current diagnostic practices are concerned. However, whether or not it can be considered prevalent in US society is the source of numerous debates. What is known for sure is that parents typically notice the symptoms of Autism within the first two years of the child's life.

The symptoms of Autism will vary greatly from one individual to the next. However, there are specific core symptoms that every individual who is suffering with autism have in common. These include:

Limited interests in normal activities or the way in which they play - a need for an established routine, an unusual focus on certain objects or toys, and the preoccupation of specific topics or subject matter

Non-verbal and verbal communication - delay in or a lack of learning how to talk, difficulty understanding the perspective of those listening to them, problems engaging in meaningful conversation, and a repetitive or stereotyped use of language

Social interaction and relationships - failure to establish friendships or relationships with their peers; lack of empathy; lack of interest where sharing achievements, enjoyment, or interests with others is concerned

As a parent, you need to be compiling a list of any unusual behavior while observing your child on a regular basis if you are concerned that they are showing the symptoms of Autism mentioned above. In so doing, when you discuss these issues with your child's pediatrician, family physician, or are referred by either to a specialist to determine if Autism is present, this will help considerably.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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Some Basic Facts About Autism and Related Developmental Delays

Autism disorders affect children as early as six months of age and are apparent by seven years of age. Children with autism experience the world differently than the rest of us. They see things differently. They learn things differently. They will even communicate differently. It is especially important to understand this. These children are often ostracized within the community because most people just don't understand what they are experiencing. These children are not sick, they are not less intelligent than the rest of us, but they are simply different.

These disorders involve trouble dealing with social situations and interacting on a social level. However, this is the main symptom of autism present themselves in pair or groups, this is the determinant for diagnosing the difference in most cases. Even children diagnosed with autism present the disorder differently. Children with developmental delays and autism related syndrome simply lack the ingrained intuition needed in social situations. They are unable to read body language, emotional cues, as well as environmental ones. They dislike changes in their routine and this can present them as stubborn and willful, argumentative and unmanageable. This is where patience from their parents and teacher becomes a mandatory part of their life.

If diagnosed young, children with autism can be taught the necessary skills needed in dealing with everyday life. Keep in mind that they are never going to handle it the way other people do and depending on the severity of their symptoms, they may always need a caregiver of some sort. Still, the goal is to help such children deal with their life, learning experiences. It is equally important for people surrounding them be as comfortably and well-adjusted as possible. Placing them in an educational environment specifically geared towards children with autism and other developmental disorders is the first step in this helpful therapy.

Children with these disorders need to feel that they are still loved. Even if they don't show affection in the normal way, compassion, nurturing, and love is still felt and the lack of such emotional contact can leave the child feeling even more anti-social, depressed, and lonely. This is dangerous to any child's well-being and especially that of a child with autism. Due to certain physical characteristics such as odd facial expressions, children with this disorder are often bullied and picked on by other kids their age. So, while it is necessary for such children to interaction with people and children in social situations, it may be beneficial for most of their time to be spent in an environment of understanding and acceptance.

The world needs to be taught a few things as well, not just these children. We need to begin to see them as a part of our society not as a stigma. Parents should be teaching their children the values of acceptance, patience, kindness and compassion for those different than themselves. It takes the cooperation of both sides to achieve peace.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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