Autism Spectrum Disorder

1052 Words3 Pages

Autism

If your odds were one in 68 would you play the lotto? With odds that good it would be hard not to, but these are not the odds for the lottery - this is the chance that your child will have autism. Autism is a challenging disorder not only for the child, but also for the parents and family of the child. A long road begins for the family once this disorder is diagnosed and it takes a strong support structure for all that are involved. In today’s society, every person and profession will at some point encounter a child or an adult with autism. It is important that everyone has a basic understanding of this disorder.

Autism is a complex mental disorder that at its best hinders the child socializing with peers and in worst cases inhibits verbal communication and causes repetitive body movement. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition the following five subcategories have been removed and merged into the general term of ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. They are: Autism Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Rett's disorder, Persuasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, and Childhood disintegrative disorder.

Autism can affect intelligence, motor skills and the ability to pay attention. People with autism have problems communicating both verbally and nonverbally. The severity of autism will range from mild to severe and will vary with each person. A person with autism may be sensitive to certain sounds or even just being touched. This sensitivity can be painful for the individual. Repetitive movement such as hand flapping or rocking back and forth is also a trait that may be associated with autism. Although lacking social skills, many with autism attain and even excel at...

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