Introduction
Statement of the problem
Autism treatment plans, treat autism as a psychiatric-behavioral disease, however, the ever-increasing population of children living with the disease require a multitude of supportive services that are not readily available. A multi-level treatment plan that encompasses integrated care of a physician, neurologist, gastroenterologist, nutritionist, psychiatrist, occupational therapist and a special educator is needed to treat the sleep and gastrointestinal disorders, nutritional deficiencies, metabolic and immune problems, seizures, psychiatric problems, and sensory sensitivities that range from mild to severe in children diagnosed with autism. The children who have extreme communication disorders and/or maladaptive behaviors require specialized care for their life’s entirety and must include highly specialized schools, appropriate day programs, residential opportunities and structured community integration (Hamlin, 2012).
Significance of the problem
According to the New York City Department of Education, between 2009 and 2011, New York City had a twenty-eight percent increase in the number of students with autism between ages three and twenty-one (Shapiro, 2012). New York City also reported that 1 in 110 public students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade have a diagnosis of autism (Shapiro, 2012). In a survey done in 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 88 children in the United States has been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a 78 percent increase from 2002 (Centers for Disease and Control, 2012). Boys are five times more likely than girls to receive a diagnosis of autism with a rate of one in 54 for boys compared to one...
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...ters for Disease Control (2012). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from News Resleases: www.cdc.goc/media/releases/2012
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Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that effects the brains development. It is characterized by affecting communication, cognition and social interaction. The spectrum of the disorders ranges from a mild condition called Asperger’s syndrome to a more severe form, which severely impairer’s development. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison states that the disorder affects one and eighty-eight children, however ASD effects boys more frequently than girls (Office of Communications and Public Liaison, 2013). ASD emerges in all age, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The significant varied character and severity of the disorder is why ASD is considered a spectrum that poses a broad range of symptoms.
Autism is a developmental disorder that appears within the first three years of a child’s life. It affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. Autism affects 1 out of 68 children. It is also the fastest growing disability in the United States. There are multiple types of Autism, some children are considered high functioning, and some are low functioning. “High functioning” is when a child with autism can function in life, and completes jobs, and chores with little to no help. “Low functioning” is when a child with autism cannot complete simple daily tasks without help, and (or) constant supervision.
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Through the ages of of 3 and 17, 1 in 45 have been diagnosed with autism. Autism actually affects kids more than it affects
Every year doctors diagnose thousands of adults and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Due to the growing awareness of autism and recent developments in technology, scientists and doctors can now discover and observe the effects of autism on society, and people. Starting with its discovery, researchers have been able to diagnose people more effectively. Doctors are beginning to discover what causes this disorder, and are currently trying to find ways to prevent and treat it. Many places have opened their doors to people with this disorder, creating autistic friendly environments where people are patient and understanding. Schools have also become accommodating to autistic children and adults. Autism also puts great strain on family and home lives.
Treatments for must begin right away. Early treatment is critical for a child. Since there are many cases of autism a treatment plan is created specifically for the child to make sure it meets the needs of the parents/caregivers and child. Treatments included a variation of speech and language strategies, communication treatments, and behavioral interventions. Having the child’s hearing evaluated is also important to check for hearing loss. These treatments can be done at home or in a classroom. It is preferred for the child to work in a small group because it allows the child to be exposed to other
Temple Grandin, a doctor in the field of animal sciences who suffers from Autism, once said, “People are always looking for that single magic bullet that will totally change everything. There is no single magic bullet.” Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. The Autism Spectrum can be split into many subtypes, including Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Development Disorder- Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Starting from an age as young as infancy, symptoms of Autism may be conveyed. Repetitive behavior, any loss of speech or social skills, and attachment to parents are three of the many symptoms expressed by children with Autism (“What is Autism?”). In order to improve theses symptoms, many types of treatments have been established. First are the Behavior and Communication Approaches, which include Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), and different sorts of therapy. Other treatments include dietary approaches, medication, and Complimentary and Alternative treatments. Based on the developed treatments, the early intervention Behavior and Communication Approaches exhibit the most benefits to children diagnosed with autism.
Tens of millions of people have been diagnosed with Autism worldwide, effecting both genders, all races, ethnicities and people from all socioeconomic classes. In 2010 a Surveillance Summary was conducted in the United States, where it identified that one in 68 children are diagnosed with Autism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). It has been recognised within this study that Autism has a higher likelihood to be identified in males, where one in 42 are diagnosed, than females, where one in 189 are diagnosed.
application to autism and autism related disorders. (pp. 15-32). Iowa City, IA: Springer Science and Business Media
The prevalence of ASD ranges between 3.3 and 10.6 for every 1000 children with a general mean prevalence of 6.6 per 1000 children. There is significant higher prevalence among white non-Hispanic kids compared with black non-Hispanic kids (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007). The male-to-female ratio varies from 3.4 to 6.5 boys per 1 girl. The population of children who are diagnosed with autism continues to rise significantly with statistics from the United States Department of Health indicating the number of children diagnosed with autism growing at a rate of 20% annually in America. Additionally, one in every a hundred and seventy five 175 elementary learners is diagnosed with autism (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007).
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. ...
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World Health Organization. (2013, May 30). Comprehensive and coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders (Document EB133/4). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mental_health/action_plan_2013/eb_resolution_childhood/en/
As the prevalence of Autism continues to grow rapidly, it is proven fact that Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. “On March 27, 2014, this surveillance study identified one in sixty-eight children (one in forty-two boys and one in one-hundred eighty-nine girls) as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).” (DSM-IV, 2000). Eight-hundred thousand people younger than eighteen years are on record as having Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States. Most children display abnormalities within the first year of life; although most are diagnosed with Autism between the ages of two and three. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have Autism. However, females with the disorder are more feasible to exhibit serious mental retardation. There are “approximately seventy-five percent of children with Autism are mentally handicapped; meaning their IQ ranges from thirty-five to fifty. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV, 2000) research suggests that only a small percentage of individuals with Autistic Disorder go on as adults to live and work independently.” ( DSM-IV, 2000)