The Autistic The Autistic SpectrumSpectrum

Presented by Julie CastlePresented by Julie Castle

Diagnosis on the riseDiagnosis on the rise

According to statistics from the Centers for According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007), 1 out Disease Control and Prevention (2007), 1 out of every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism of every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism each year.each year.

We have many more cases that go We have many more cases that go undiagnosed, especially when it comes to the undiagnosed, especially when it comes to the adult population.adult population.

Many people fail to realize that the spectrum is Many people fail to realize that the spectrum is very wide, and that Asperger’s Syndrome is very wide, and that Asperger’s Syndrome is included on the spectrum, yet these individuals included on the spectrum, yet these individuals are basically in a category of their own.are basically in a category of their own.

ASA calculates that the annual cost of autism ASA calculates that the annual cost of autism will increase to $200-400 billion in 10 years. will increase to $200-400 billion in 10 years. (February 2003) (February 2003)

Video regarding Video regarding autism awarenessautism awareness

http://wcbstv.com/video/?http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=91825@id=91825@

bs.dayport.combs.dayport.com

AutismAutism Vs. Asperger’s Vs. Asperger’s SyndromeSyndrome

(Definition)(Definition)AutismAutism: :

Autism is a pervasive Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that developmental disorder that typically appears during the first typically appears during the first 3 years of life, with the 3 years of life, with the exception of those who are high exception of those who are high functioning, in which case a functioning, in which case a diagnosis may not occur until diagnosis may not occur until later in life, and in some cases, later in life, and in some cases, never at all. never at all.

Both children and adults with Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal in verbal and non-verbal communication, social communication, social interactions, and leisure or play interactions, and leisure or play activities. The characteristic activities. The characteristic behaviors for a autism my not behaviors for a autism my not show up until early childhood show up until early childhood (between 2 and 6 years old). (between 2 and 6 years old).

Asperger’s SyndromeAsperger’s Syndrome::

Asperger’s Syndrome is a pervasive Asperger’s Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder that developmental disorder that includes a severe and sustained includes a severe and sustained impairment in social interaction. impairment in social interaction. Those with Asperger’s Syndrome Those with Asperger’s Syndrome usually develop restricted, repetitive usually develop restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and patterns of behavior, interest, and activity.activity.

Unlike those who suffer from Autism, Unlike those who suffer from Autism, those with Asperger’s Syndrome do those with Asperger’s Syndrome do not have any clinically significant not have any clinically significant language delays, cognitive language delays, cognitive development, or in the development development, or in the development of age-appropriate self-help skills, of age-appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior, and curiosity adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in childhood. about the environment in childhood.

Early characteristics of Early characteristics of AutismAutism

The NICHD lists 5 characteristics that signal a need for The NICHD lists 5 characteristics that signal a need for further evaluation, preferably by a multidisciplinary team further evaluation, preferably by a multidisciplinary team that is knowledgeable about Autism.that is knowledgeable about Autism.

Does not babble or coo by 12 months Does not babble or coo by 12 months Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24

months months Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age Does not say single words by 16 months Does not say single words by 16 months

To watch a video regarding early signs, see below.To watch a video regarding early signs, see below.

http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=96487@http://wcbstv.com/video/?id=96487@bs.dayport.combs.dayport.com

Typical behaviors Typical behaviors displayed by children displayed by children

with autismwith autismDuring childhood, dysfunctional behaviors During childhood, dysfunctional behaviors may start to appear in a child with autism, may start to appear in a child with autism, such as self-stimulatory behaviors (i.e., such as self-stimulatory behaviors (i.e., repetitive, non-goal directed behavior, such as repetitive, non-goal directed behavior, such as rocking, hand-flapping), self-injury (e.g., hand-rocking, hand-flapping), self-injury (e.g., hand-biting, headbanging), sleeping and eating biting, headbanging), sleeping and eating problems, poor eye contact, insensitivity to problems, poor eye contact, insensitivity to pain, hyper-/hypo-activity, and attention pain, hyper-/hypo-activity, and attention deficits. deficits.

--2007-2008 Autism Research Institute 2007-2008 Autism Research Institute

Treatments for autismTreatments for autism

There are many routes that can be taken to help an There are many routes that can be taken to help an autistic individual, which include:autistic individual, which include:

-Altering their diet-Altering their diet

-Behavioral Interventions (such as applied behavior -Behavioral Interventions (such as applied behavior analysis)analysis)

-Vitamin supplements-Vitamin supplements

-Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy-Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy

-Biomedical therapy-Biomedical therapy

-A good educational program-A good educational program

-Social Interventions-Social Interventions

Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments” by Jon Pangborn, Ph.D., and Sidney Baker, MD,. published by the Autism Research Institute

Regressive AutismRegressive Autism

Approximately one-half of autistic children develop Approximately one-half of autistic children develop normally until somewhere between 1 1/2 to 3 years of normally until somewhere between 1 1/2 to 3 years of age; then autistic symptoms begin to emerge. These age; then autistic symptoms begin to emerge. These individuals are often referred to as having 'regressive' individuals are often referred to as having 'regressive' autism. Some people in the field believe that candida autism. Some people in the field believe that candida albicans, vaccinations, exposure to a virus, or the albicans, vaccinations, exposure to a virus, or the onset of seizures may be responsible for this onset of seizures may be responsible for this regression.regression.

-2007-2008 Autism Research Institute (Stephen M. -2007-2008 Autism Research Institute (Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D)Edelson, Ph.D)

Characteristics of Characteristics of Asperger’s SyndromeAsperger’s Syndrome

*It is not uncommon to see students with AS in *It is not uncommon to see students with AS in mainstream educational settings, although often mainstream educational settings, although often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, so this is a topic that undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, so this is a topic that is very important for both educational personnel and is very important for both educational personnel and parents. (Maap Services, Inc.)parents. (Maap Services, Inc.)

*Asperger’s Syndrome is more common in boys than *Asperger’s Syndrome is more common in boys than in girls.in girls.

*Characteristics include:*Characteristics include:

*Social impairment with extreme egocentricity, which *Social impairment with extreme egocentricity, which may include difficulty interacting with peers, lack of may include difficulty interacting with peers, lack of desire to interact with peers, poor appreciation for desire to interact with peers, poor appreciation for social cues, and socially and emotionally social cues, and socially and emotionally inappropriate responses.inappropriate responses.

Characteristics of Characteristics of Asperger’s SyndromeAsperger’s Syndrome

Cont’dCont’d

*Limited interests and preoccupations*Limited interests and preoccupations

*Repetitive routines and/or rituals*Repetitive routines and/or rituals

*Speech and language peculiarities*Speech and language peculiarities

*Nonverbal communication problems*Nonverbal communication problems

*Motor clumsiness*Motor clumsiness

It is important to remember It is important to remember that both Autism and that both Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are Asperger’s Syndrome are spectrum disorders, meaning spectrum disorders, meaning that they range from mild to that they range from mild to severe, and the level of delay severe, and the level of delay is different for each person is different for each person affected by the disorder.affected by the disorder.

Hopkins study, from April Hopkins study, from April 2006, finds that only 8% of 2006, finds that only 8% of primary care pediatricians primary care pediatricians routinely screen for Autism.routinely screen for Autism. Lack of familiarity with the Lack of familiarity with the screening tools was the screening tools was the primary reason.primary reason.

J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2006 Apr;27(2 J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2006 Apr;27(2

Suppl):S88-94.Suppl):S88-94.

Causes of AutismCauses of Autism

While there are many theories as to the cause of the While there are many theories as to the cause of the increase of autism such as genetics and an increase of autism such as genetics and an overproduction of the yeast Candida within the body, overproduction of the yeast Candida within the body, the Autism Research Institute believes environmental the Autism Research Institute believes environmental factors—including unprecedented exposure to toxic factors—including unprecedented exposure to toxic substances and over-vaccination of infants and young substances and over-vaccination of infants and young children—are the key factors triggering this children—are the key factors triggering this devastating epidemic. devastating epidemic.

Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites

http://http://www.autism.comwww.autism.com

http://www.aspergers.orghttp://www.aspergers.org

http://www.autism-society.orghttp://www.autism-society.org

http://www.tonyattwood.comhttp://www.tonyattwood.com

http://www.autismtreatment.orghttp://www.autismtreatment.org

http://www.autism-resources.comhttp://www.autism-resources.com

http://www.mayoclinic.comhttp://www.mayoclinic.com

http://www.autism-pdd.nethttp://www.autism-pdd.net

I hope that the information that I have provided I hope that the information that I have provided in powerpoint presentation has been helpful to in powerpoint presentation has been helpful to

everyone. everyone.

I chose to focus on autism because I think that I chose to focus on autism because I think that it is an extremely important issue within our it is an extremely important issue within our

society today, and I feel that everyone, society today, and I feel that everyone, especially educators, needs to be better especially educators, needs to be better

informed about its characteristics, as well as informed about its characteristics, as well as possible interventions.possible interventions.

This will allow all of us, both those affected by This will allow all of us, both those affected by autism and those who are not, to function autism and those who are not, to function

together within society. together within society.