Autism

What is Autism?Neurological DisorderAffects Communication and Social SkillsRestricted or Repetitive BehaviorsBefore age 3More boys than girlsAll races and nationalitiesFrom 1 in 10,000 10 years ago to 1 in

110Pervasive Developmental Disorder

SpectrumPDD-NOS: Many characteristics of autism,

but does not meet full diagnosisAsperger’s Syndrome- No significant verbal

delays, high intelligenceKanner’s Syndrome- Significant Speech delay,

may be non-verbalIF you’ve met a child with autism, you have

met a child with autism

CommunicationIn most severe cases may be non-verbalChildren with Asperger’s will not have

significant speech delaysMay not initiate conversations or

respond to nameMay use gestures instead of wordsSpeech Therapy often usedFor those who are non-verbal, PECS or

sign language may be used

Social BehaviorChildren with autism often lack or have

unusual eye contactWill often be unable to initiate conversation

or only on cueHave trouble expressing and understanding

emotions or social cues

Preoccupation and Restricted InterestLike routine and may get upset if routine is

disruptedOften have follow rules literally and

consistentlyMay have perseveration (pigs, circuits, ect.)May “stim” (stand on toes, flap arms, ect.)

Motor and Sensory IssuesMay be both hyper- and hypo- sensitive to sensory stimulation

Children with autism often have fine and gross motor issues

“Fidgets” often help with concentration

What causes autism?We don’t know

Heredity- Parents tend to be engineers, mathematicians, and scientists

EnvironmentBrian and Circuitry Abnormalities

Vaccines?-General consensus is that is does not cause autism

Is there a cure?There is no cure, but there are treatmentsEarly intervention is key!381 different treatment are being used

according to IAN1. Speech and Language Therapy2. Occupational Therapy (OT)3. Applied Behavior Analysis4. Social Skills Groups5. Picture Exchange Communications System

(PECS)

Reference: Top Treatments Used by IAN Families

ResourcesAutism SpeaksTouchPoint Autism ServicesSTL ArcMO-FEATProductive Living Board