Children With Autism Research Paper

Autism now effects one in every 110 children. Also, more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined. To understand autism, think of the most complicated aspect of our universe, and then multiply that by infinity. Autism affects the brain's ability to develop social and communication skills. The way the media presents it, you would think that autism is autism, but that is not true. In fact, autism is actually a collection of diagnoses, each a little different from the others. It is one of five developmental disabilities known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD includes Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD-NOS), autistic disorder, Rett's syndrome, and childhood disintegrative
disorder. The cause of autism spectrum disorder is still unknown. However, this topic is rather controversial. Autism spectrum disorders cut across all lines of race, class, and ethnicity.
Autism impacts millions of children, adults, and their families around the world. There is a genetic link, siblings of a child with autism have a greater chance of being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorders affect not only the person diagnosed with the disorder, but also has s significant impact on the entire family with a variety of social, financial, and other practical demands. Autism is characterized by what is clinically described as “deficits in social reciprocity.” Social reciprocity may include a range of back-and-forth actions, such as gestures, sounds, play, attention, and conversation. Further, ritualistic and obsessive behaviors are often present. In addition, a child with an autism spectrum disorder may have uncontrollable temper tantrums, an extreme resistance to change, and over- or under-sensitivity to sights and sounds. The symptoms are varied, but one thing is clear: the earlier a child is diagnosed and begins receiving services, the better the prognosis for the
child. Asperger's Syndrome was not made an official disorder until 1994. Asperger's was discovered by Hans Asperger in the 1940's.Asperger Syndrome is different from other disorders on the autism spectrum, in part, because it is often diagnosed in older children and adults as opposed to very young children. That is because, Asperger Syndrome is a relatively mild form of ASD which does not include problems with basic language skills. Many people with Asperger Syndrome are very bright and capable. The issues that emerge for people diagnosed with Aspergers are related specifically to social and communication skills, skills that only become significant as people get older and need to negotiate complex social situations. Autism can have both positive and negative effects on a person's life. Like other autistic spectrum disorders, Asperger's includes repetitive behavior patterns and impairment in social interaction. Sometimes speech is affected as well as gait and motor skills. A person with Asperger’s are more likely to desire social acceptance, but may be unable to mediate social interactions due to not being able to read social cues, or body language from people around them. People with Asperger's often develop a obsessive interest in a hobby or collection. Usually their interest involves arranging or memorizing facts about certain subjects. Some children with Asperger's may also be very precise while playing with tops and find it hard when other children try to join in and move objects from a certain place. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, and children do not "grow out" of it either. It is likely that your child will always find social situations and personal relationships to be challenging, but with the right support and encouragement, people with Asperger's can lead full and independent lives. Experts believe that Aspergers and autism have underlying biological causes, but are not clear yet on what those causes are. They do know that there are certain brain structure abnormalities, but do not know why they occur. Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) is one of the autism spectrum disorders and is used to describe individuals who do not fully meet the criteria for autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome.
Generally, children are 3 to 4 years old before they show enough symptoms for parents to seek a diagnosis. There is no set pattern of symptoms and signs in children with PDD-NOS. Strange behavior is not always clearly visible. PDD-NOS comes in a severe form and in a milder form. Children with milder PPD-NOS symptoms often want to make friends or interact with them. However, they often act a bit strange compared to their peers and do not know how to make new friends. They do not develop typical attachment behavior, and there may seem to be a failure to bond. Generally, they do not follow their parents about the house. The majority do not show normal separation or stranger anxiety. These children may approach a stranger almost as readily as they do their parents. When they grow older they often stay close to their parents and other people that are around but they are not well able to make new friends. Communication is frequently the biggest problem for children with PDD-NOS. They can also have problems with recognizing facial expressions and emotions. They don’t know how to act when someone is laughing or crying because they don’t fully understand the meaning of that behavior. Just like in autism, children with PDD-NOS symptoms often stick to one topic
when they are communicating. They will speak of a topic that they know off. Although these children have difficulties adapting and grow up normally, a lot is achievable with proper education and treatment. Autistic disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that usually appears during the first three years of life. A child with autism appears to live in their own world, showing little interest in others and a lack of social awareness. The focus of an autistic child is a consistent routine and includes an interest in repeating odd and peculiar behaviors. Autistic children often have problems in communication, avoid eye contact and show limited attachment to others. A child with autism may resist cuddling, they play alone, be resistant to change, and have delayed speech development. Persons with autism tend to exhibit repeated body movements, such as flapping hands, rocking, and have unusual attachments to objects. However, many persons with autism excel consistently on certain mental tasks including counting, measuring, music, and memory. The cause of autism is still not known. Research suggests that autism is a genetic condition. It is believed that several genes are involved in the development of autism. One theory is the possibility that autistic disorder is a behavioral syndrome that includes several distinct conditions. However, parenting behaviors are not the cause or a contributing factor to the cause or causes of autism. When a person is diagnosed with any type of syndrome or disorder, they immediately go looking for a cure. Unfortunately, there is no cure for autistic disorder. There is however, treatments that help the person function better in everyday life. Doctors may prescribe medications to help some of the symptoms. Symptoms that can be relieved with medications include but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Therapist use intensive skill oriented training to help the patient. They work on developing social and communication skills. Counseling can also help the family with the challenges of living with someone with autistic disorder.