life with autism
Post on 16-Dec-2014
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Life with Autism
By: Psychology Master
**DISCLAIMER**
This is a project for an AP Psychology course. This is a fictionalized account of having a psychological ailment. For questions about this blog project or its content please email the teacher, Laura Astorian: laura.astorian@cobbk12.org.
What is Autism?
• Autism is a collection of complex disorders of development
• Characterized by difficulties in social communication, verbal and nonverbal interaction, and repetitive actions
• Most obvious signs of autism tend to become apparent at 2-3 years of age
How Common is Autism?
• Approximately 1 in 88 children are identified as having Autism
• Appears to be increasing recently• 4-5 times as prevalent among boys as among
girls• 2 million in the US are
affected by this disorder
Causes
• No known single cause for Autism, but generally believed to be caused by abnormalities in brain structure
• In families there appears to be a pattern of Autism or related disorders, supporting the idea that genetics may play a role in the disorder
• Research also shows that environmental toxins (ex: mercury) may cause Autism
Diagnosis
• No medical test currently• Parents are often first to notice unusual
behaviors (ex: failure to make eye contact, not responding to name, etc.)
• DSM V has criteria for a child to be labeled as autistic
Symptoms
• Varying severity• Usually infants social by nature, however
children with autism have difficulty with social interaction
• Children with autism tend to have delayed babbling
• Autistic children also have unusual, repetitive behaviors
Treatment
• Each case is unique, therefore treatment must be unique
• Early intensive behavioral intervention is shown by research to improve learning and communication in Autistic children
• A small minority of children with this disorder improve to the point where they can no longer be categorized as Autistic
Quick Facts on Autism
• Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental
disability in the U.S.• Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding
of many less prevalent childhood diseases
Impacts of Autism on Family
• Every member is now impacted• Primary focus placed on child with Autism,
which may put stress on other relationships and responsibilities
• Time and resources now need to be directed towards providing treatment for the child
Myths about Autism• “Autism is a mental health disorder”- Autism is a neurological disorder that occurs from abnormalities in brain
structure and neurotransmitter levels• “Individuals with Autism are violent”- It is unusual for individuals with Autism to act violently or pose a threat to
society• “Individuals with Autism are unable or unwilling to form meaningful social
relationships”- Although many Autistic individuals have trouble with social interaction, they can form close relationships and fall in love
Myths about Autism (cont.)
• “Autism is caused by poor parenting”- There was once an assumption of this, however today it is
well known that poor parenting is not a cause for this disorder• “Autism is caused solely by environmental factors”- Parents whose first child has autism are more likely to have a
second child with autism - Identical twin studies show that if one twin has autism, the
other twin has a 90% chance of having autism also
My experience with Autism
I have been told by my parents that I am one of the lucky ones, that my IQ is high in comparison to others with Autism. I however, always have difficulty understanding other people. Sometimes, it is quite frustrating.
For the most part, I like to be left alone. However, I still love my family. Many people think that I am not capable of love, but this isn’t true. Over the years, I’ve discovered what this word means.
I am 13 years old. My favorite hobby is playing tennis. I have learned so much from my coach. However, it is sometimes hard to understand certain concepts.
When I was 2, my mom told me that she noticed I had delayed babbling and played with my toys in a repetitive manner. She took me to a doctor, who then told her I was Autistic. My mom told me she cried for a long time.
It’s easy for me to get distracted. In class, I will often just look out the window and get lost in everything going on. Also, many people ask me if I mind being touched or hugged. I prefer being hugged to being touched.
One thing I have a lot of is energy. I can get it all out by hugging, squeezing and yelling. Some people also ask me what I think about Autism. I think Autism isn’t necessarily bad, it just makes me unique.
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