Autism: Characteristics, Causes, And Treatments
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that generally emerges before the age of three. Individuals with autism demonstrate difficulties in communication, both verbal and non-verbal, as well as difficulties in socially interacting with others, as well as leisure and play activities (Autism Society of America, 2003). Autism is one five disorders that are classified as Pervasive Developmental Disorders in the DSM-IV, which are all neurological disorders that are characterized by severe and ubiquitous impairments in many areas of development.
As the most common Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Autism affects approximately 2 to 6 out of every 1,000 individuals, which translates into as many as 1.5 million Americans (Autism Society of America, 2003). The number of cases of autism appear to be increasing at a rate of about 10 to 17% per year, which means that the number of cases of autism could reach 4 million in the United States within the next ten years (Autism Society of America, 2003). However, these increased rates may be due to a greater awareness and recognition among parents and healthcare professionals, with regards to autism (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2003). An in-depth understanding of Autism requires exploration of the characteristic, causes and treatments available in relation to this disorder.
Characteristics of autism
The Autism Society of America (2003) explains how autism is known as a spectrum disorder, which means that the symptoms of the disorder can appear in various combinations and to various degrees, from mild to severe. Generally, individuals with autism process and respond to information differently than individuals without the disorder, which sometimes includes the presence of aggressive or self-destructive behavior, as well as language difficulties. However, the assumption that autistic children lack language ability completely is oversimplified, as autistic children tend to comprehend and use language differently than other children, and to various degrees (Carson et al., 1998). Many children...
Prematurely Born BabiesAccording to the World Health Organization, approximately 15 million babies are born prematurely across the globe each year (par, 1). Premature babies are those born before 37 complete weeks of gestation. They are classified into three categories i.e. extremely preterm, very preterm, and moderate to late preterm (World Health Organization par, 1). Extremely preterm babies are those born less than 28 weeks whereas very preterm are those born
Autism is a developmental disorder as it is marked with pervasive and severe impairment revolving around areas of development such as communication, imagination, reciprocal interaction and behavior. The diagnostic criteria for autism as incorporated by the DSM IV TR includes symptoms such as impairment in the use of nonverbal behaviors like eye contact, gestures, bodily postures during the normal routine social interaction, the inability to form good peer relationships, delay
Identifying Autism Loci and Genes by Tracing Recent Shared Ancestry. Science 321(5886): 218-23. Introduction This article begins with a discussion of autism spectrum disorders and the social and mental impairments that typify the disorder, setting up an approach that is inherently humanistic and person-centered. Despite the highly technical and quantified nature of the ultimate research question and data collected and analyzed in this study, this person-centered focus and tone is observable
Autistic Spectrum Disorders and the Family Unit Autistic Spectrum Disorders are a group of related disorders or developmental disabilities that have been caused by some sort of problem within the brain. The necessity to understand the reasons for autism and the basic underlying pathophysiology has become more severe because the amount of diagnosed cases has increased dramatically in recent years. (White, 2003) Researchers and scientists have not been able to discover,
1) Connor (2002) states that studies report findings that mothers of children with Autism "who showed greater satisfaction" in life were those "who made the clearest redefinitions and who were most willing to follow alternative ways of gaining self-fulfillment." (p. 1) II. EFFECTS on LIFE of FAMILY in NORMAL ACTIVITIES In the work entitled: 'Autism and the Family" reported is a study conducted in a 12th grade classroom at 'Our Lady of
Autism is one of the most severe and disruptive of all childhood disorders. It is a communicative disorder that interferes with an individual's ability to form social relationships, as well as to communicate with others. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) officially belong to a group of illnesses known as 'developmental disabilities'. They are characterized by problems with social and communication skills of varying degrees (Schechter & Grether, 20). Autistic people also
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