A brief review of four papers relating to parents with children who have autism: psychological and sociological perspectives
This paper will discuss the psychological and sociological perspectives of parents who have children with autism. This paper will address the psychology – the performance of individuals and their mental actions (Gerrig, Zimbardo, Campbell, Cumming, & Wilkes, 2005) and the sociology – the study of the development, structure, and functioning of human society. (Germov, 2009) . The psychological and sociological processes will both be looked at from the parents’ perspective in relation to their child’s autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by social interaction and communication deficiencies, restricted and repetitive behaviors patterns, and frequently a wide variety of other symptoms (Ekas & Whitman, 2011). The condition of ASD often presents severe problems for parents as they try to cope with the demands produced by their child’s disability and the social consequences that flow from it (Gray, 2002). This essay will examine four papers that convey psychological and sociological perspectives of parents who have children with ASD.
Paper one studies the felt and enacted stigma among parents of children with high functioning autism. 53 parents with children who have high functioning autism were interviewed. The interviews conducted were through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Both a psychological and sociological approach was used to research this question. This is because the questions that were asked covered both of psychological and sociological perspectives of parents. The research method used was qualitative. The results from the paper showed that ...
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...iagnosis were particularly concerned about how their children would fare, as they became young adults. Parents of children diagnosed with autism have made positive adaptations in the form of changed worldviews concerning life and disability, and have come to appreciate the positive contributions made by children to society as a whole. The author believes the limitation is that the severity of the autism was not measured. Also, a limitation of the study is that they should’ve broadened the area in which the population was interviewed in such as making it across a number of towns.
In conclusion it can be seen that the 4 papers have all looked at the psychological nd sociological perspectives of having children with ASD. have accurately review the psychological and sociological effects of psychological and sociological perspective of parnts with children who have asd.
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.
To begin defines what autism is, and the stress that is bestowed onto the caregivers that support a child with this type of mental disability. Adam M. Hutton, the author, had conducted an interview of 21 families about the recognition, diagnosis of autism in their child, services accessed, and the impact of having a child with autism on their family. A common thread throughout the thesis is the empowerment of families, that have to endure the joys and hardships that come with having a child with specific needs. The author also encourages families to use the resources available to them to better care for this type of
Stoner, J. B., & Thompson, S. J. (2005). Welcome to our World: Parent perceptions of interactions between parents of young children with ASD and education professionals. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 20(1), 39-51.
Children with autism suffer a myriad of social, behavioral, and language abnormalities. An individual with such a dense profile can have a huge impact on the normal functioning of the family. In this short essay, I’ll present the reasons behind this abnormal profile of these individuals and the effects of such symptoms on the family adjustment and work load. Secondly, I’ll provide some suggestions that can help alleviate parental and siblings suffering during primary years of the child’s life.
The majority of this research focuses on communication, socialization, verbal use, repetitive movements, the assessment, and behavioral responses in children with ASD. Each study focused on a different aspect of the development of children with ASD, but they all reached the same conclusions in the results. Children with ASD develop differently in many areas than typical children.
Admittedly, when I first chose to explore autism, I figured it would be an easier psychological issue to discuss than bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. Only after researching autism for an hour or so, I quickly realized this was not the case. Autism may very well be one of the most complex and examined disorders, for it’s a disorder that stirs up tons of questions yet yields very few answers. So what exactly is it? What are the causes and symptoms? Is there a cure? How many people are affected by autism? Is it being properly portrayed in mainstream media? In this paper, I’ll do my very best to touch on these questions and hopefully leave the ones reading with a better understanding of this disorder.
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.
According to Autism Speaks Inc. (2015) Autism, also known as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) effects about 3 million people in the United States. Autism is a development disability that typically shows during the first three years. Autism is an effect of a neurological disorder that disturbs the functioning of the brain. Autism is four more times dominant in boys than girls. Autism shows no cultural, racial or social boundaries. Family salary, lifestyle and education also does not affect the chance of autism. Autisms linked behaviors have been estimated to occur in at least 1 in 68 children. (Autism Speaks.org). I will discuss the signs, symptoms, and diagnosis of Autism while also discussing an interview I had with a caregiver of a child with
Gray, D. E. (2002). Ten years on: A longitudinal study of families of children with autism. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 27, 215-222.
65 children, 52 boys and 13 girls who were not diagnosed with autism, from 3 different clinics, were used for this study. They were under 3 years of age, they were referred to the clinics due to social and/or language issues, and their parents provided informed consent. The children had also previously had 2 independent diagnostic evaluations. A second group of 37 children were used from this sample, th...
The number of children that display autistic traits keeps rising and the need for services is at an all-time high. Out of 10,000 children born, 60 to 100 children and families will be affected by autistic spectrum disorder (Gulberg, 2010). Autism is characterized by a lack of connection to other people, even parents, and an avoidance of interpersonal situations (Feldman, 2011). Children with autism also show limited, repetitive and stereotypical patterns of behavior, interest, and activities. Not one child with autism is the same as the next; each child has their own severity and indicators of autism. A child with intellectual disabilities and a gifted child can both be given the diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum, because of the wide range of severities. Many of these children will not attend special schools, but instead be included in the general education population by inclusion. Inclusion has been found to have a number of benefits for children with autism. In addition, negative perspectives have also come into play when discussing autism and inclusion. Furthermore, parents have the right to make decisions for their child on an individual basis.
"The Affects of Autism in Families and in Partner Relationships - Autism College." Autism College. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.
Many treatments have been suggested to parents for children with autism. An Internet survey was carried out and allocated to parents in order to classify the treatments applied by parents of children with autism. Almost all 108 of the 111 treatments recorded in the survey were used by at least one parent. An overall of 764 surveys were presented to the website throughout the 3-month data gathering tim...
Autism is an intricate developmental disorder that is characteristically noticed by parents and or diagnosed by parents between the ages of eight-teen months and three years of age. In recent studies, Werner (2001) isolated themes from in-depth interviews conducted with different parents of children with autism. These themes included the following findings: the family’s life revolves around dealing with the child’s autism and unusual behaviors; parents feel losses because they and their children cannot lead a so called normal life; and the family experiences only fleeting moments of actually feeling like a typical family. Autism does not effect a particular type of person it occurs in all social, racial, and ethnic groups.
We live in a world where every topic of study has become controversial. The purpose of this paper an ongoing study into the world of Autism. Autism is defined as” a mental condition present from early childhood characterized by difficulty in communication and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts”(www.oxford,dictionaries.com).The cause of it, if any. How autism has effected children, family, the risk factors, and if any cure or solution can get rid of this childhood disease.