Autism

1086 Words3 Pages

There are many diseases and disorders that plague today’s society, but one of the most serious of those disorders is autism. Autism is not nearly as widely known as the familiar Down’s Syndrome, yet, surprisingly, autism is far more widespread. In fact, autism is the third most common developmental disability, affecting 400,000 people worldwide (Autism Society of America). As of yet there is no cure for this debilitating disorder, only a variety of treatments.
Autism is a developmental disability, not a mental illness, that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects 15 of every 10,000 individuals. No one is certain why it occurs, but researchers have found that MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans of people with autism show abnormalities in the structure of the brain. Significant abnormalities include differences in the cerebellum and in the size and number of Purkinje cells within the brain. Sometimes there is a pattern that exists within families from generation to generation. This indicates the possibility that autism is genetically related. However, no gene has been found.
Every person with autism is different and there is no set type or typical person with autism. This is because autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that symptoms and characteristics of the disorder can present themselves in a variety of ways, from mild to severe. Usually children with autism have deficiencies in both verbal and non-verbal communication. Their language develops slowly or not at all and they have very short attention spans. They often lack social skills and will spend time alone, rather than with others. In more severe cases, children have unusual reactions to physical sensations such as being overly sensitive to touch or under responsive to pain. Most commonly, children with autism lack imagination and imitate other’s ideas, rather than initiate their own. Lastly, behavior is greatly affected by autism. They may be overactive or very passive and throw frequent tantrums, injuring themselves, for no apparent reason other than to gather attention. They often lack common sense and show aggressive or violent behavior. While some people only show one or two symptoms, others have all or nearly all and find it extremely difficult to function in society. People with autism do live normal life spans and the behaviors associated may change or disappear...

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...ajority of people however, will continue to show symptoms throughout their lives.
There is not one sure treatment for every person with autism, since every person may have different symptoms. What works for one person may or may not work for another and it is imperative to talk with a doctor about what treatment option will work best with a certain combination of symptoms. Although this is a debilitating disorder, individuals who find the right treatment plan for themselves can lead a normal life.
Works Cited
Adams, Lynn, and Susan Conn. “Nutrition and its Relationship to Autism.” Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities 12 (1997) : 53-59.
Kazdin, Alan E. “Replication and Extension of Behavioral Treatment of Autistic Disorder.” American Journal on Mental Retardation 97 (1993) :377-380.
Lovaas, Ivar. “Autism: A New Behavioral Treatment.” The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter 1989: n. pag. Online. Internet. 31 Mar. 1998. Available: www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p5h-aut2.html
Quinn, Colleen, Brenda Swaggart, et al. “Implementing Cognitive Behavior Management Programs for Persons with Autism: Guidelines for Practitioners.” Focus on Autistic Behavior 9 (1994) : 1-14.

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