Autism

Autism

Autism is a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), the most common in a group of five disabilities marked by "severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development", most notably those involved in social interaction and communication. Together, Austism, Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Rett's Syndrome, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), make up the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), ranging in form from the more mild (Asperger's Syndrome) to the more severe (Austism), though autism itself ranges greatly in severity. It is estimated that approximately 1 in 150 children are born with autism, with males being four times as likely as females to be affected by the disorder. In all, about 1.5 million American's are thought to have some form of autism, and this number is rapidly increasing as the criteria for autism is broadened and more light is shed everyday on the causes, characteristics, and inner-workings of this mysterious neurologic disability.

Characteristics of autism

The three core characteristics of autism are impairments in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, as well as repetitive, restricted behaviors and interests. One of the most important things to understand about autism is that it is an extremely diverse disorder, ranging greatly in severity and outward manifestation. No two people with autism display exactly the same symptoms in exactly the same way. There are endless combinations of impairments as well as ability levels. Every person with autism acts differently, with varying strengths and weaknesses.

One of the hallmark symptoms of autism is the display of stereotyped, rigid behaviors and repetitive mannerisms such as hand-flapping, finger movements, and rocking. In more severe cases of autism, head-banging is also a common behavior. Autistic individuals display what one might refer to as OCD-like behaviors. They may develop certain rituals, such as counting things, or arranging items in a very specific way. People with autism also need extreme consistency in their environment. They become very upset if their ritual activities are interrupted, or at any other slight change in their daily routine. Often times individuals with autism develop strong attachments to odd objects, for example they may carry a sponge with them wherever they go. Autistic children also often take great interest in topics that children their age are not typically interested in, for example they may develop a great interest in vacuum cleaners and will proceed to learn everything that can possibly be known about vacuum cleaners, including every model ever produced and its year of production.

Another universal trait of autistic individuals is their apparent lack of a theory of mind, which greatly impacts their social interactions. Having a theory of mind is how people are able to understand and predict the feelings, thoughts, and actions of others. Because people with autism lack this ability, they have a very difficult time expressing their feelings, and understanding the feelings of others. Not having a theory of mind also explains why people with autism cannot lie. As children, individuals with autism do not usually engage in pretend play, or in play with others. People with autism are poor at interpreting social cues, facial expressions, and body language, and lack knowledge regarding social etiquette. Autistic people also have problems with eye-contact and often do not engage in this action. They seem to prefer being alone, and do not always display signs of affection.

In addition, people with autism have both verbal and non-verbal communication difficulties. Many children with autism have delayed speaking, and refer to themselves in the third person. Some with severe autism do not develop speech at all. People with autism also may have difficulty creating meaningful sentences, engaging in conversation, and inferring language by listening to others. Conversely, some children display what is called echolalia, where they repeat words and phrases over and over again. Many children with autism do not know how to ask for things, and instead may scream or grab. Many of them do not have an understanding for colloquial phrases or sarcasm. People with autism also have difficulty using intonation in their speech, as well as identifying it in the speech of others. It is also common for kids with autism to speak in sing-song like voices.

Many children with autism also have sensory problems. Many children are extremely sensitive to sound, taste, touch, and smell. Things that may not bother a non-autistic individual, or sensory experiences they may not even be consciously aware of, can be painfully extreme or unpleasant for a child with autism. In addition, some autistic children also seem to have an extremely high threshold for pain, due to the fact that the brain does not evenly balance out the senses. Seizures are also very common for people with autism. Medication is often provided to curb their epileptic tendencies.

Signs and diagnosis of autism

There are certain behaviors, or a lack of behaviors, that children with autism may exhibit, starting at as young as just a month or so old. Some parents may notice that their babies seem unresponsive to touching or cuddling, and may not smile. They may also stare off for long periods of time. As the child gets older, more apparent deficits in communication and social behavior will begin to manifest. Some language deficits that are possible signs of autism include not babbling, pointing, or gesturing by one year of age, being unresponsive to their name, not speaking one-word phrases by 16 months, and/or two-word phrases by 2 years. Some other general signs include poor eye contact, excessive attachment to one particular toy, problems hearing, not smiling. Often time between 12 and 36 months of age is when the differences become the most apparent. In addition, some children may begin development normally, but suddenly regress or just stop progressing all-together. This usually happens sometime between birth and the second year.

Early diagnosis is important in autism, since treatment can then be provided. Also, it has been shown through research that early diagnosis is associated with far better outcomes then for those who are diagnosed later in life. There are a few diagnostic tools and tests used when assessing a child for autism due to the fact that the characteristics vary so greatly and also because there may be an underlying problem, or other developmental disorder(s) the child may have that mimic some of the symptoms of autism. Some of these tools include the CARS rating system, a 15-point scale used to asses a child's