Autism
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of
the brain in the area of social interaction and
communication skills. It was first described by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943.
It generally appears during the first three years of life. It has been
estimated to occur in 1 out of every 500 children. Autism is four
times more preventable in boys than in girls; however, it occurs in a
variety of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Often
mistakenly referred to as a rare disorder, Autism is the third most
common development disability. It is estimated that 400,000 individuals
have some form of autism in the United States.
Autism is a
spectrum disorder in that it can present itself in a variety of
combinations, from mild to server. Children can exhibit any combination
of behaviors in any degree of severity; two children with autism can act
very differently from one another. It is also considered a
pervasive development
disorder because of its wide ranging impact on an
individual.
Features and Characteristics
The following characteristics may
occur in individuals with Autism:
- In infancy, arching of back to avoid physical contact and becoming limp when picked up
- Usually described as either a passive baby (requires little attention from parents), or an overly agitated baby (non-stop crying during wake hours)
- Difficulty in verbal and nonverbal communication- slow (or no) language development, use of words inappropriately, communication with gestures rather than words, short attention spans
- Difficulties in social interactions or play activities- spends time alone rather than with others, shows little interest in making friends, minimum eye contact with others
- Sensory Impairment- oversensitive to touch or under-sensitive to pain
- Atypical Play Activities- lack of imaginative play, does not imitate others' actions, does not initiate pretend games.
- Unusual Behaviors- Repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), aggressive and/or self injurious behavior, lack of common sense, frequent tantrums for no apparent, insistence on sameness (routines)
- Brain Abnormalities
- Dysfunctional immune system
- Inability to realize others have different thoughts and perspectives
- Narrow or focused attention spans
Individuals with autism may also have other disorders affecting the function of their brain such as epilepsy, mental retardation, or genetic disorders. Approximately 66% of individuals with autism will test in the range of mental retardation and approximately 25-30% may develop a seizure pattern.