Autism

It’s a symptom, not a disease

By: Jennalee Jones

A few little facts…

• Autism is one of the most common developmental disabilities

• There is a milder form of Autism called PDD• Autism affects more than 6 out of 1,000 children• Autism typically appears within the first three years of

life • Autism is 3x more common in boys than in girls• One in four children with Autism get seizures• Autism comes from the Greek word meaning “self”

Types of Autism

• Autism Disorder- problems with social interactions, communication

• Asperger’s Syndrome- children tend to have social problems but lean away from language problems

• PDD (pervasive developmental disorder)- children only have a few autistic characteristics and do not fit other categories

• Rett’s Disorder- occurs in girls that seem to develop normally, but then begin to lose language and social skills

• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder- children who develop normally the first two years and then lose some or most of their communication and social skills

Problems that Accompany Autism• Sensory problems- sometimes light,

smell, sound, and how something feels can be unbearable to those with autism

• Mental retardation- sometimes children with autism can have normal ability levels but other areas can be very weak

• Seizures- caused my abnormal activity in the brain

Characteristics at Birth

• There are two main characteristics of an infant with Autism• The infants arch their back away from

the parent or caregiver to avoid physical contact

• The infants might go limp to show they are failing to anticipate to be picked up

Infancy

• Passive• Many infants will be very quiet and

will need little or no demand from parent or caregiver

• Crib behavior• Sometimes the infant will begin to

rock and bang their head against the crib

Toddler

• During the toddler stage there is a delay in talking, walking, and crawling

• Regressive Autism• “Approximately ½ of autistic children

develop normally until somewhere between the age of 1 ½ -3 yrs.” (Understanding Autism -- the Basics, 2005)

Childhood

• Problems of social skills and cognition occur during childhood of a child with Autism

• Dysfunctional Behaviors• Self stimulatory- rocking back and forth• Self injury- hand biting and head banging• Sleeping and eating problems• Poor eye contact• Insensitivity to pain

Transition to Puberty

• “Approximately 25% have seizures for the first time during puberty which may be due to hormonal changes.” (Edelson, 1999)

• More behavior problems occur and become more frequent

Problems with change

• “Insistence on sameness” (Understanding Autism -- the Basics, 2005) • Children with autism tend to have major

problems with change in routine• Drinking/eating the same food everyday• Wearing the same clothes• Driving to the grocery store the same way

Available Aids

• IDEA (The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)- a program that assures free public education for children with learning disabilities

• IEP (Individual Education Program)- an agreement between the school and the family on the child’s goals

Treatment

• Early intervention-• Targets specific problems in learning,

language, attention, motivation, compliance, and initiative of interaction

• Included are behavioral methods, communication, occupational and physical therapy along with social play interventions.

Reference Page

• Edelson, S. M. (1999). Overview of autism. Retrieved Apr. 20, 2006, from Center for the Study of Autism Web site: http://www.autism.org/overview.html.

• WedMD, (2005). Understanding autism -- the basics. Retrieved Apr. 20, 2006, from http://aolsvc.health.webmd.aol.com/content/article/9/1680_54883.htm.

• At Health, (2004). Autism spectrum disorders. Retrieved Apr. 20, 2006, from http://www.athealth.com/consumer/disorders/autismpdd.html.