Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder has become the most common neurological and developmental disorder diagnosed in children today. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012) estimate that 1 out of every 88 American children have been properly diagnosed. There is no known cure for autism, and the inconsistencies of the symptoms of autism in each case make it difficult to target a particular set of effective treatments. However some behavior management therapies, specifically physical therapy, may help to significantly control the unwanted symptoms in young children with autism spectrum disorder.
Symptoms. Children begin showing symptoms of autism as early as twelve months of life, making two to three years old the typical age of diagnosis. The symptoms of autism are truly of a spectrum, hence the name, meaning no child is affected by the disorder in quite the same way. However, symptoms of autism are generally categorized into three basic areas of impairment, the first of these being sociability. Most children with autism have trouble comprehending basic social situations. A child with autism likely makes little eye contact, fails respond to other people in their environment, and reacts inappropriately when others show extreme emotion. It is common for children with autism to misread emotional cues because they focus on a person’s mouth while speaking instead of their eyes as would an unaffected person. Likewise, people may have difficulties understanding the emotions of an autistic child. Many times their body language or tone of voice will not match the emotion that they are trying to express. The second area of impairment is communication. Children with autism ...
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Nicholson, H., Kehle, TJ., Bray, MA., & Heest, J. (2011). The Effects of Antecedent Physical Activity on the Academic Engagement of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Psychology in the Schools, 48(2), 198-213.
Ospina, MB., Krebs, SJ., Clark, B., Karkhaneh, M., Hartling, L., et al. (2008). Behavioural and Developmental Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Clinical Systematic Review. PLoS ONE, 3(11). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19015734
Petrus, C., Adamson, SR., Block, L., Einarson, SJ., Sharifnejad, M., & Harris, SR. (2008) Effects of Exercise Interventions on Stereotypic Behaviours in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Physiotherapy Canada, 60(2), 134-145.
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2012) Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has two main core criteria, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5). The first of the two criteria is ‘Persistent Deficits in Social Communication and Interaction across Multiple Contexts’ under which there are three categories. The first being deficits in social emotional reciprocity which may include atypical social approach and failure of the back and forth exchange of normal conversation. In addition, there may be a failure to respond or initiate social interaction as well as reduced emotions, interest or effect sharing. In the scenario ‘Ben loves Trains’ it is indicated that Ben is content to play alone for hours, he doesn’t interact with his sister in
Although Ferguson and Rosales-Ruiz (2001) conducted a study with horses, their findings can be replicated and generalized to humans as well. Schmidt, Luiselli, Rue, and Whalley (2013) developed a similar study involving an adolescent boy with Autism. This participant was a student who consistently avoided the music room, gymnasium, and gross-mot...
For the purpose of these literature review a search was done using PubMed which is available through the Medical Library of the National Guard Health Services. This research focus is Autism and its management. Using these four key words "Autism" "definition" , "symptoms", and "treatment". As result, nine papers were found and this literature review summarizes them.
Common behaviors exhibited by individuals on the Autism Spectrum are labeled as disruptive and self injurious. Fortunately, these behaviors, that can be dangerous to the Autistic individual and others around them, can be managed with psychopharmacological treatment. Behaviors that often times fall under the category of common disruptive and self injurious behaviors, according to Ji, Capone and Kaufmann (2011), are irritability, impulsivity, having temper tantrums and yelling at inappropriate times. Physically aggressive behaviors, such as biting, scratching, kicking and hitting, are often times, more dangerous than some of the other behaviors exhibited. Physically aggressive behaviors are seen as more dangerous than other type of aggressive behaviors because they can harm someone, and in some instances cause fractures, sprains and in severe instances, can cause death. Bronsard, Botbol and Tordjman (2010) found after researching 74 Autistic children and Adolescence that the most prevalent aggressive behaviors are slapping, pinching, throwing objects, head butting, scratching, tearing, hair/scab/skin pulling, biting, kicking, poking and spitting. Along with physical aggression, individuals on the Autism Spectrum often times display self injurious behaviors. In the study, “Self-Injurious Behaviour in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability”, Richards, Oliver, Nelson and Moss (2012) studied 149 individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and found that the most common self injurious behaviors displayed are hitting ones-self with their own body, hitting themselves against objects/with objects, biting themselves, pulling/rubbing and scratching self and sodomizing themselves. Researches found that these behavi...
“Treatment of Autism in Young Children: Behavioral Intervention and Applied Behavior Analysis:Infants & Young Children, by Jensen, VK, and Sinclair LV, published in 2002, summarized Oct 19, 2006
Early intervention is effective in treating autism spectrum disorder in many ways. One important way it has been proven effective by research is by increasing a child’s cognitive skills. When a child is first diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, they will likely be diagnosed as having a cognitive delay. Research shows that early invention services, such as applied behavior analysis, occupational, and speech therapy has helped increase IQ scores in children with autism spectrum disorder. In one study, children who received up to twenty hours a week of early intervention services had an average rise in IQ points of 17.6 (Solis, 2010). This increase in cognitive skills benefited children in the classroom setting. After receiving extensive early intervention treatment, children typically performed better on standardized testing. With an increase in cognitive skills and better achievement on standardized testing, children were able to be placed in less restrictive classroom settings (Smith, 199...
Grandpeesheh, D, Tarbox, J, & Dixon, D. (2009). Applied behavior analytic interventions for children with autism: a description and review of treatment research. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 21(3), 63-173.
Case-Smith, J., & Arbesman, M. (2008). Evidence-Based Review of Interventions for Autism Used in or of Relevance to Occupational Therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy,62(4), 416-429. doi:10.5014/ajot.62.4.416
Figure 1 shows the variants of autism spectrum disorders. In many cases children are either diagnosed with either Autism or PDD-NOS (Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified). Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 88 American children are diagnosed with autism, additionally exhibiting that autism is four to five times more prevalent among boys than girls. Regime autism statistics suggest that prevalence rates have incremented 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. ...
Autism is a form of neurodevelopment disorder in the autism spectrum disorders. It is characterized by impaired development in social interactions and communication, both verbal and non-verbal. There is an observed lack of spontaneous acts of communication; both receptive and expressed, as well as speech impairments. A person diagnosed with Autism will also show a limited range of activities and interests, as well as forming and maintain peer relationships. The individuals will display limited interests, which are often very focused and repetitive. He or she is likely to be very routine oriented and may show behavioral symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and self-injurious behaviors.
( Autism Spectrum , 2009 ). Kids with autism usually show signs within the first three years. Signs can be difficult to notice at first even though a child with autism has it at birth. Children at a young age might not be interested in simple common games such as peek a boo, and may not like to be held. They also may seem to have problems with their hearing ability. The child may not seem to be able to hear you and does not respond, but when hearing a distant noise like a truck or train, this will get their attention immediately. Teens with autism seem to start changing their behavior. They may seem to excel in certain skills but with that their ability to understand and relate to others expressions. They also seem to have more of an issue understanding and going through things with emerging sexuality and puberty.
Autism is characterized as a developmental disorder that is seen in children by the age of three years old. Autism affects the brains normal, natural development, and causes many impairments. The major impairments that affect an individual are reciprocal socialization, Qualitative impairment in communication, and repetitive or unusual behavior. Signs of Autism can be seen in early infanthood, with proper awareness and resources. An infant child can appear to be adverse to eye contact early on. Some signs in early infancy appear as being indifferent to affection and physical contact. When spoken to, they can appear to be deaf or ignoring the parent or caregiver. Noticing the early red flags of Autism can provide an early intervention and give the child the best chance at learning to tolerate their environment. Children around three years old will display certain signs and symptoms.
Nowadays, the most common treatments for Autism is behavioral therapy. ABA therapy is a very common technique used. (Simpson) The children with Autism are taught general social skills. One way this is taught is through modeling social behaviors to them and teaching them to imitate it.
Leslie Neely, Mandy Rispoli, Stephanie Gerow, and Jennifer Ninci (2014) examine the effects of an exercise intervention before academic instruction in their article “Effects of Antecedent Exercise on Academic Engagement and Stereotypy during Instruction.” Neely et al. performed this study to determine the effects of antecedent exercise leading to satiation on academic engagement upon individuals with autism with proposed mechanisms such as fatigue and motivation. Fatigue has been found to reduce stereotypy—which are repetitive vocalizations and motor movements in children with autism—and increase on-task behavior in the classroom. Additionally, individuals with autism have been found to be less motivated in engaging in stereotypy following
Dempsey, I. & Foreman, P. ( 2001). A Review of Educational Approaches for Individuals with Autism. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 48 (1), 105-116.