One in sixty-eight children in the U.S. have an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is a 30% increase from 2012, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Autism is more common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined (Ana Maria Rodriguez, Autism Spectrum Disorders).A common sign of Autism is difficulties in social interaction. Autism socially impairs by making it difficult to interpret others’ emotions, not understanding social cues, and inhibiting the ability to initiate or carry on conversations. According to Elaine Landau in the book Autism, children with Autism do not respond to situations the same as other children and slowly develop language skills.
Autism is not just one disorder; it is a spectrum of neurological disorders. There are five widely recognized pervasive disorders. They are classic autistic disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Rett’s disorder. Signs of autism usually appear between ages of 18 months to 6 years, and are usually diagnosed by age 3. In the early days of autism, it was believed to be caused by uncaring and unresponsive mothers, or refrigerator mothers. Children with autism were believed to be psychotic, insensitive, or to have schizophrenia. The theories of Leo Kanner (one of the first to conduct research on autism), Hans Asperger, and Bruno Bettelheim among others were widely accepted by society. Many believed that if children with autism could not be “controlled,” they should be institutionalized. Today we know much more about autism, and that they do not belong in institutions, proving many of the early theories to be inaccurate but at th...
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Today, the term“Autism” refers to Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ASDs are a group of severe developmental disorders that affect social development, and which cause very specific, atypical social behaviors (Hollander, xix). As noted
In 1968, the APA referred to autism as a single disorder, and now it is known to be a syndrome of behavioral and medical effects. Along with autism, several related disorders are grouped under Pervasive Developmental Disorders, PDD, a general category ...
Slaughter, Virginia, Ph.D. "Autism." Magill’S Medical Guide (Online Edition) (2013): Research Starters. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. Experts believe that Autism presents itself dur...
First off, autism is not a form of mental retardation despite what the general public may have you believe. In actuality, autism, which was first described by Kanner (1943) in his study of 11 children with “autistic disturbances of affective contact” (US: American Psychological Ass...
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.
CDC - Data & Statistics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30 June 2010. Web. 26 July 2010. .
The Autism Spectrum is a mystery. With no cause or cure, researchers have been working hard, to the best of their abilities, to diagnose, treat, and educate those with autism. For centuries, since 1943, with enhanced technology, the view on autism has improved tremendously. New advancements have been developed to diagnose autism earlier, help create more successful treatments, and to help better an educational plan for people with autism.
In the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that between 1 in 80 and 1 in 240, for an average of 1 in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder, “ASD” (Nirv, Shah 2011). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, up to six out of every 1,000 children may be diagnosed with some form of autism. In addition, boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism. This means that as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. Unfortunately, the numbers appear to be increasing rapidly. Autism is a disability that frequently appears during the first three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain and impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills (Bee & Boyd, 2009). It is the most prevalent developmental disorder to date. Autism is one of five disorders coming under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by "severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development," including social interaction and communications skills (Zager, 2006). The etiology of autism is a topic of controversial debate, while researchers strive to achieve a common objective. The goal is to identify the cause of autism to understand the complex interplay between environment and gene regulation (NCBI, 2009). Although individuals with autism have existed for many centuries it was not recognized and labeled until mid 20th century. Therefore, early detection, intervention and an individual educational plan are essentials for the progress of ASD.
There is no known single cause of autism. Researchers are investigating a number of possible theories including genetics, heredity, medical problems, problems during pregnancy or delivery, as well as environmental influences. It is widely accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in the brain structure or function. There is evidence from neuropathological studies that autism has its origins in abnormal brain development early in prenatal life which continues postnatally, showing acceleration in brain growth measured by head circumference (Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S., Rogers, T., Roberts, W., Brian, J., & Szatmari, P., 2005). The disorder also seems to have a genetic basis, although researchers have yet to find the specific genes that link to the onset of autism. There could be a cluster of genes that have somehow interfered with normal brain development and function. Studies show that twins of children with autism were more likely to be autistic themselves than the regular population, demonstrating there is a heredity lin...
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2011). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved [18th April 2011] from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/picks/picks.htm.
Autism is a disorder that affects people all over the world. The full name for the disorder is Autism Spectrum disorder and its effects vary from person to person. There are different severities of the disorder that range from Asperger syndrome all the way to severe Autism Spectrum disorder. The main challenge presented by autism is impaired social interaction for the people dealing with autism. For instance, children with autism often times have to be placed in special needs classrooms because they are unable to function and interact with other children in a normal classroom setting. When looking at the statistics about autism studies have shown that males are four times more likely to have
Autism is a disease. One of the main characteristics is having social problems. Children with Autism have trouble interacting with other children. They won’t play with other children. They could be so focus...