Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism, and also known as being Autistic, can be a very mild or very severe disorder, or even a little in between. “With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder- not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome”(1). Autism is said to be characterized by difficulties in social interaction, nonverbal and verbal communication, as well as repetitive behaviors (1). Autism doesn’t only come with disabilities, some who have the disorder also excel in some skills such as art, music, visual skills, and math. Autism is also a very widely known and diagnosed disorder. Statistics on Autism given from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified that around 1 in 88 children are on the Autism Spectrum. Autism is also five times more prevalent in males than females (1). While Autism seems to be pretty common, there is still some questioning on the actual cause of the disorder. In an article by Autism Speaks they announced: “..we now know that there is no one cause of autism just as there is no one type of autism. Over the last five years, scientists have identified a number of rare gene changes, or mutations, associated with autism. A small number of these are sufficient to cause autism by themselves. Most cases of autism, however, appear to be caused by a combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early brain development”(1).
Education is important to somebody who has Autism. Children who are diagnosed autistic are taught in...

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...care Research and Quality. (August, 2012). Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retreieved 15 Nov. 2013.

6. National Autism Association. (2003). Autism Fact Sheet. National Autism Association. Retrieved 15 Nov, 2013.

7. Handleman, J.S., Harris, S. (June, 2013). Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved 15 Nov, 2013.

8. Advancing futures for adults with autism . (2012). Autism On the Rise. APAA. Retrieved 16 Nov, 2013.

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