Breast Cancer
Louder Than Words
Tammy L. Fallin
Eng-101
September 2012
Rosemary Harty
If you have ever asked yourself “How will we deal with this diagnosis?” you are not alone. As with any disorder, you need to know the etiology, biology, diagnosis, and treatment to help understand how autism will be a part of your family and your everyday life. Autism is a developmental disorder that is increasing among children. Families need to be aware of the facts and treatments available for this disorder.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects social and communication skills in the brain (American Psychological Association). In the United States, the children affected by autism are 1 in 88 children and one in every 54 is boys while only one in 252 is girls. “By way of comparison, more children are diagnosed with autism each year than with juvenile diabetes, AIDS or cancer, combined. “ASD affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide (Autism Speaks, 2012, p. 4.” There are five distinctive types of autism, Rett syndrome, autistic disorder, childhood disintegrated disorder, persuasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, and Asperger syndrome (What Is Autism). To establish which type of autism a child has the psychologist will look at the severity of the symptoms. Motor skills, social skills, and physical issues are all associated with autism (How Is Autism Diagnosed). Autism usually surfaces when the child is at least two years old. To determine if an evaluation from a pediatrician is necessary the following signs should be recognizable by the parent in the child: By six months old shows no big smiles, By nine months old does not smile or make sounds back and forth with you, by 12 months old the child does not babble, point, reach, or wave, by 16 months does not cay any words, by 24 months old not saying two word phrases, any loss of social skills or speech at any age (Learn the Signs of Autism, 2012).
Tammy L. Fallin
Eng-101
September 2012
Rosemary Harty
If you have ever asked yourself “How will we deal with this diagnosis?” you are not alone. As with any disorder, you need to know the etiology, biology, diagnosis, and treatment to help understand how autism will be a part of your family and your everyday life. Autism is a developmental disorder that is increasing among children. Families need to be aware of the facts and treatments available for this disorder.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects social and communication skills in the brain (American Psychological Association). In the United States, the children affected by autism are 1 in 88 children and one in every 54 is boys while only one in 252 is girls. “By way of comparison, more children are diagnosed with autism each year than with juvenile diabetes, AIDS or cancer, combined. “ASD affects over 2 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide (Autism Speaks, 2012, p. 4.” There are five distinctive types of autism, Rett syndrome, autistic disorder, childhood disintegrated disorder, persuasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, and Asperger syndrome (What Is Autism). To establish which type of autism a child has the psychologist will look at the severity of the symptoms. Motor skills, social skills, and physical issues are all associated with autism (How Is Autism Diagnosed). Autism usually surfaces when the child is at least two years old. To determine if an evaluation from a pediatrician is necessary the following signs should be recognizable by the parent in the child: By six months old shows no big smiles, By nine months old does not smile or make sounds back and forth with you, by 12 months old the child does not babble, point, reach, or wave, by 16 months does not cay any words, by 24 months old not saying two word phrases, any loss of social skills or speech at any age (Learn the Signs of Autism, 2012).
References: Autism Speaks. (2012). What Is Autism. Retrieved from http://autismspeaks.org/what-autism Bright Tots. (2012). Autism and Vaccines. Retrieved from http://www.brighttots.com/autism/autism_and_vaccines.html Ketcham, S. (2012). Impact on families of autistic children. Retrieved from http://autism.lovetoknow.com/Impact_on_Families_of_Autistic_Children MayoClinic.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sutism/DS00348 Medlineplus. (2012, May 16). Autism. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001526.htm Winnerman, L. (2004, December). Effective education for autism. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/dec04/autism.asp.aspx What we know about the causes of autism. (n.d.). Association For Science In Autism Treatment. Retrieved from http://www.asatonline.org/about_autism/causesautism