The Facts About Autism

 

 

According to the data gathered by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is estimated to affect 1 for every 166 births. It is believed that about 1.5 million Americans are suffering from some form of Autism. It is the fastest-growing developmental disability that has a 10-17% annual growth.

In 1999, the US Department of Education had reported that there was a 172% increase on the prevalence of disability due to autism. Based on the study conducted by The Autism Society of America, the annual cost needed for the services related to autism will be $200-400 billion in 10 years as the number of people with the disorder reach 4 million in the next decade.

Autism can appear to any race, social background, class, gender, and to any child. It is four times more prevalent in males than in females.

What is Autism?

Autism is a cognitive disorder that affects the developmental or learning ability of an individual. The manifestations of the disorder usually appear as early as the first three years of life. As a result of the neurological disorder, it disrupts the normal functioning of the brain affecting the development of the communication skills and social interaction skills of the person.

Difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, leisure activities, and social interaction are seen in both children and adults with the disorder. One should take note however, that there are varying degrees of autism for different individuals. For this reason, an early diagnosis is highly recomme nded. This is crucial so that the child can immediately benefit from the available specialized programs catering for the care of someone with autism.

 

What are the characteristics of a person with autism?

People with autism are also individuals. Like any other individual, a person with autism has his distinct characteristics. Some may respond mildly to an external stimulus, while others may become more aggressive. Some may have the initiative to make a conversation; meanwhile others totally lack the ability to have one.

Here are some of the traits that you may find in someone who has autism:

They resist change.

They have difficulty expressing their needs either verbally or non-verbally.

They repeat words or phrases.

They laughing or cry for no reason at all.

They seem aloof and prefer to be alone.

They have tantrums.

They have difficulty in interacting with others.

They have little or no eye contact.

They are unresponsive to a typical teaching method.

They want sustained odd play

They keep on spinning objects

They are obsessive attached to objects

They have a low threshold to pain.

They don’t manifest fears or suspect danger.

They are passive.

They are non responsive to verbal and act as deaf in conversational voice.

How can autism be diagnosed?

There are no laboratory diagnostic tests known for autism. There are only diagnostic tools and screening tests available but this is done by consulting a trained specialist on the disorder. It is diagnosed through careful observation done for a series of occasions in a given period of time. Studies have shown that early diagnosis gives a great benefit since it allows for early intervention and treatment that will enable the child to learn vital skills especially in communication.

Autism is a disabling condition that needs understanding. By understanding the disorder, the barriers that hinder many people from doing something about the problem will gradually dissolve. Thus, more people afflicted with it will be given the appropriate care they need.

 

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Author: Jonathan Mayheart

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Five Strategies For Coping With Autism and Anxiety On Socialization

Though no parent wants to hear that their child has any of the five types of autism, it can be somewhat of a relief to put a name to what is going on. The best thing about a diagnosis is that the child can get treatments that are meant to help with both communication and socialization. These are both problems for those who have this condition, but with help, they can be overcome. There are some things that parents can do to help, and it begins with finding out how to cope with autism and anxiety on socialization.

Early intervention often means good results can be expected for some children. Before therapies can be started, a thorough examination must be done. The child should be evaluated in all areas they are struggling with due to autism to see what areas need the most immediate help, and what might not need to be addressed at all. Usually one or two behaviors will be singled out as the most pressing, and those are the ones that parents need to concentrate on first. These therapies should always be done with positive reinforcement, and with endless amounts of patience.

1. Speech Therapy: Though there are some children with autism that speak rather well, they can still have communication problems in one form or another. They may have a large vocabulary, but they don’t know how to use it. Some children with autism are very bad at forming relationships because of speech-related communication problems. Speech therapy can help them learn to communicate their feelings and thoughts in a more mainstream fashion.

2.Desensitization to New Environments:

Therapy focused on this area is done when a child always acts out with screaming tantrums away from home. It can be used for tantrums in any situation. The idea behind is to take the child to an area that they struggle with, and when the tantrum ensues, they are removed and they go home. The next time they visit the spot, they only go in for a short amount of time, usually less than a minute. The time is slowly upped in duration and when paired with positive feedback and rewards, this form of desensitization can be a very useful tool. This can help a child cope with new places such as entering a classroom setting.

3. Self-Awareness:

These skills will help children learn to relate to themselves and that in turn helps them relate with others. When they can learn to manage their emotions, they can learn more about the same emotions in others. That helps them in understanding what the other person may be saying or feeling, and once that is accomplished, communications are better managed.

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:

This therapy also helps a child understand and manage their emotions, and can go a long way towards helping them express themselves rather than having no other way to express emotion except through a tantrum. It can help them relax in certain situations that are normally anxious, and can also help with obsessive behaviors of all types.

5. Medication:

Some parents will refuse to put their children on medications to help anxiety during socialization, but there are times when it can greatly benefit the child so it is worth being open minded about this option. Some children with autism can suffer from deep bouts of depression or may have ADHD. So, medication is something that can be discussed at length with your child’s physician or you may wish to investigate alternative forms of treatment, such as natural supplements or complimentary therapies to reduce autism and anxiety on socialization.

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Rachel Evans Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans

Autism and the Teenage Years

It is difficult for autistic children at any age, but the teenage years can be especially challenging. Autism is a disorder that manifests itself with the individual having trouble communicating and managing a variety of social situations. Coupled with this, there are the repetitive behaviors and  difficulty with emotional control. The teen years are perhaps the most social time of our lives.

It is a time where teenagers are learning about themselves, and are moving rapidly toward adulthood. This is an incredibly social time where what you say and how you act are very important in the eyes of your peers. This is also precisely the time where autistic teens face some of the most stressful situations of their young lives. Like any teenager, they need help in dealing with their increasing sexuality. Some people find that as they reach their teenage years their behaviors improve.

However, for others their behavior can worsen as a direct result of the tension and confusion associated with this difficult time It can be at this age that most teenagers become aware how different they are from their peers. They may notice that they don’t have many or any friends and that they aren’t dating or planning for a career. For some, these feeling of not fitting in can motivate them to learn more social skills to better fit in, for others it means they retreat into themselves even more.

There are different levels of autism. Many people believe that the depiction of an autistic man by Dustin Hoffman in the movie ‘Rain Man’ pretty much sums up all people with autism. There are cases of autism that are along the lines of Hoffman’s character in the film, but there are just as many, if not more, cases of high-functioning autistic people.

High functioning autistic people can be difficult to detect at times. In many cases, unless you know them personally, you may not be able to tell that they have autism. So what is life like for an autistic teen? This is a difficult question to answer. Again, it depends heavily on the severity of autism present in the teenager. High-functioning autistic teens attend regular and honors classes, are involved in school activities, and despite some social difficulties, are often difficult to distinguish from other kids their age.

On the other hand, severely autistic teens have a much more difficult time. Many require special schooling and individual care. The vast majority of severely autistic teens are unable to take care of themselves and rely on others to meet their basic needs. Since autism causes a problem in communication, most autistic teens do not learn how to behave according to sociological norms through experience. They need to be taught the proper way to behave. The inability to fit into proper social situations can be traumatic and lead to a tendency to disengage from a certain situation, whether it is related to play, school, or work, and simply leave the situation. This can make it difficult to raise an autistic teen, especially if they display severe symptoms.

There are tons of resources on the web and in libraries that can provide you with more information on autism and the teenage years. If you have an autistic teen living at home, you know what a challenge it is to deal with the tremendous problems in communication. Oftentimes, it may seem like your own child does not want to be close to you, but you need to realize that it is the result of their autism rather than a reflection on you as a parent.

Clearly, having autism as a teenager can be extremely difficult. If your child is either low or high functioning, there are a variety of resources available through your local school system. Schools are mandated to provide services for autistic and other developmentally challenged individuals.

It is a good idea to discuss the routines and procedures you have in place with officials from school so that the transition between home and school goes as smoothly as possible to provide your teenage with as much help and support as possible during this time.

As teenagers with autism transition into young adults, they have several options. Navagating the maze of transition services can be confusing. For parents of these austistic teenagers, the question is no longer a matter of which autism intervention to try, but helping their child make the transition to youn adulthood.

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Author: Rachel Evans Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans

10 Great Toys For an Autistic Child

Toys for Autisic Children

Have you considered a toy for autistic child? Regardless if a child has autism, another disability or not, all children love toys. Of course, no child is alike. Therefore, what may be enjoyed by one child may not hold the interest of another. Thus, the trick is to figure out which toys your autistic child will enjoy playing with, and will help them develop skills.

Observe the child at play. Many children with autisim spectrum disorder tend to play with parts of toys rather than the toy as a whole. However, they provide clues as to what appeals t them as far as color, texture and movement. The following are 10 great toys for autistic children. The first 5 are suggestions are for children age 3-7 and the second 5 are for children age 8 – 12. Following each basic toy description is examples of where you can find them -

Ages 3-7 1.Paints and/or coloring pencils with large paper – This is a great way for an autistic child to express him/herself in color. Knowing what colors your child responds to may be helpful when it comes to learning. Check Toys R’ Us, Sears, or Wal-Mart.

2.Building blocks – Any toy for autistic child that can be stacked helps them improve their motor skills. Great toys to consider include ‘Lego’, alphabet blocks, colored shapes, etc. Check Toys R’ Us, Sears, or Wal-Mart

3.Stories with Repetition and/or Rhyme - These books help in the development of speech skills. Good book examples you can consider include ‘Dr. Seuss’ and ‘Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes’. Book stores, online at Amazon.com, or your local library.

4.Mix and Match toys – Toys that involve sorting and grouping together matching numbers, colors, shapes, etc. help improve cognitive skills. One interesting toy for autistic child is ‘Match & Spell 3 – Letter Word’. This game teaches a child how to spell basic words by putting together matching colored cards that create a picture of the word. This game can be found online at the autism toy store stars4kidz.co

5.Toys that light up - Toys such as the ‘flashing molecule ball’ are good for visual stimulation. When the ball is squeezed, the colorful balls light up and flash. Check online at stars4kidz.com or Toys R’ Us.

Ages 8 – 12 1.’Calculator Cash Register’ – This is a perfect pretend toy for autistic child. This particular toy comes with a working calculator, pretend money (bills, coins and credit cards). This toy encourages creativity and math skills. Check online at Stars4kidz.com or local toy stores.

2.Musical toy instrument – If your child has an interest in music, consider getting a toy instrument such as drums, guitar, recorder or piano with sheet music. These toys teach cognitive, motor, creative and sensory skills. Check local toy stores, Toys R’ Us or Wal-Mart

3.Picture books – Picture books such as ‘I Spy’ are great ways to engage your child’s imagination. ‘I Spy’ has a collection of picture riddle books based on different themes. Check your local bookstore, online at amazon.com, or librry.

4.Classic board games – There are many classic board games to choose from including ‘KerPlunk’, ‘Scrabble Jr.’, ‘Monopoly Jr.’, ‘Trouble’, ‘Yahtzee’, etc. Board games can be a toy for autistic child that helps to improve social skills, and depending on the game, may help to develop cognitive and motor skills. Check Toys R’ Us, Wal-Mart and Sears.

5.’Stretch-Eze’ – This is a unique sensory toy that is ideal for stretching, exercise, and making creative movements. The ‘Stretch-Eze’ is a stretchy circular band that comes in different sizes and colors. Look for it at Stars4kidz.com Keep in mind that the toys listed above are only toy for autistic child suggestions. You don’t need to base the toys you give your child on their age. In fact, many parents of autistic children find that any toy is acceptable if their child responds to it regardless of the age specifications on the box. Note: The only exception is choking hazard age warning.

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Author: Rachel Evans Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans

The Basics of Melatonin Autism Therapy

Recent research – such as that performed by Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D. Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH – demonstrates that the melatonin autism sufferers produce in their bodies has an impact on the degree and the appearance of their symptoms as well as their ability to achieve a quality sleep.

The body’s natural clock is based upon a twenty-five hour cycle which, clearly, does not line up with the twenty-four hour solar clock on which the world functions. In order to make up for this lack of alignment, the human brain releases a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, located at the very base of the brain.

This is the gland most commonly linked to the various nerve and neural pathways between the visual center in the brain and the eyes which take in the images. The pineal gland begins releasing melatonin when there is a lack of signals from the eyes to the visual center of the brain; that is, when it becomes dark. The greater the levels of melatonin in the blood, the less capable the brain stem (which is responsible for keeping us awake) is to keep us awake, and sleep results.

The way in which melatonin actually functions remains a mystery, as only rough details of the process are understood. What is known is that the body depends on melatonin in order to become synchronized with the solar day, and to regulate the times in which we work well, eat, and sleep, as well as when the majority of the body’s other hormones should or should not be present.

Melatonin is considered to be a safe enough substance that it is readily available without a prescription, over-the-counter at local pharmacies. It is commonly used to treat sleep disturbances and is usually most effective when taken a half hour before bedtime and when complimented by a “bedtime routine” such as dimming the lights and keeping calm.

Now, evidence is beginning to emerge that melatonin may also influence behavior in autism, as per an article by Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D. Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH. Autistic children often have sleep disturbances, which suggests that there may be some problem associated with the melatonin system. Melatonin seems to be an effective sleep regulator, not only for autistic children but also indirectly for their overworked parents.

Autistic children receiving melatonin regularly exhibit benefits that cannot be explained in simple terms like better sleep. It may be a combination of better sleep, better control of biological rhythms and high Anti-Oxidant effect.

When it comes to melatonin autism therapies, the aforementioned Dr. Jaak Panksepp described in an article that autistic children frequently suffer from sleep disorders, suggesting a melatonin-system related issue. As melatonin is the body’s natural sleep regulator, Panksepp finds that autistic children are better capable of achieving the quality sleep they need, and for adequate periods of time when melatonin is supplemented.

Further to this finding, improved biological rhythms are also achieved through melatonin application and a high anti-oxidant effect is witnessed. This anti-oxidant effect is explained through the body’s natural sleep functions within which certain chemical reactions occur to counteract the day’s collection of harmful free radicals. Anti-oxidants slow down the degeneration of tissue, hypertension, cataract, atherosclerosis, macular degeneration in the eyes, and other results of high free radical levels in the body.

Those free radicals are neutralized by anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and body-generated chemicals such as melatonin. With melatonin supplementation, autism sufferers can gain not only improved sleep but also powerful antioxidant performance, leading researchers to believe that this safe and useable hormone can greatly assist in the reduction of autism symptoms that may have been aggravated as a result of lack of sleep and from free radical damage.

With melatonin treatments – under the proper supervision and recommendation of the child’s physician – many autistic children (and their parents for that matter) can sleep better and minimize the impact of their condition. Admittedly, further data is required before a final statement can be made about the success – or lack thereof – of melatonin autism therapy. However, it has produced high hopes in many parents who are eager to be able to reap these very appealing and easy-to-achieve rewards.

Speak to your child’s physician if you feel your child would benefit from melatonin supplementation. Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter – Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out more about alternative treatments like melatonin autism theraphy.

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Author: Rachel Evans Article Source: Ezine

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Autism vs Sibling Rivalry

There’s always tension between siblings, but when one child has a mental or physical developmental disorder, this sibling rivalry can become even more pronounced. As a parent, dealing with disorders can be stressful enough without worrying about having to balance your time between two or more children. A number of things can be done to improve relationships between brothers and sisters when one or more child suffers from autism, but remember that children of all ages will quarrel, so time apart is important too.

First and foremost, it is important to educate your children about autism. Starting from a young age, your children who are not diagnosed with the disease should learn that their brother or sister has a different understanding of the world. This is especially important because when you and your spouse pass away, your other children will most likely have power-of-attorney over their autistic siblings, even if they do not have direct responsibility for them on a day to day basis.

It may be beneficial to explain this to them as they mature, but even as a child, the sense of responsibility for a sibling who needs help can create more understanding. Get you child involved with taking care of your autistic child by learning fun educational games to play together or helping with everyday tasks such as dressing and eating. However, remember that your non-autistic child needs plenty of care and attention as well.

Plan family outing which all of your children can enjoy, but also treat your non-autistic children to other events as well. They may feel resentful because they cannot do all of the things with their family that a typical child and his or her family can do, so try to counteract this with other events. For example, perhaps your family cannot travel to the beach because your autistic child can’t handle the stress of the sand, water, and crowds.

Instead, plan a family trip to a less-crowded lake destination or, if you live close enough, plan a day trip to the beach while your autistic child visits with grandma or does another activity. Remember that your non-autistic children need attention at other points in the day, not just every once in awhile for special events.

Schedule some time every day to provide these children with your undivided attention. Think of this kind of sibling rivalry as similar to the rivalry that occurs when a new child is born. Although the new baby needs your attention the most, you cannot ignore your other children. The same is true when you have an autistic child.  Lastly, take advantage of programs and organizations aimed at helping families through difficult situations.

Many groups are formed specifically for siblings of autistic children to help them cope with the stress that this causes in their lives. If your child does not enjoy these groups, do not force him or her to go, but usually these meetings are fun and inspiring. Consider joining a family counselling group. This not only helps parents deal with the stress of raising an autistic child, but also helps children, both autistic and non-autistic, learn to interact peacefully with one another.

When there is a level of understanding between children and between a child and his or her parents, the family can work together to help their autistic member, as well as help one another be successful in life.

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Author: Rachel Evans Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans

Diagnosing Autism and the Differences With Sensory

Is your little one austic? How doyou know? Learn the early signs of autism and what to about tem. When it comes to diagnosing autism, there are many different factors that need to be considered. This is because the autism spectrum disorders have such a vast range of potential symptoms and no two cases are alike. Therefore, it is very easy to mistake autism for another condition.

Among the most common mistakes when diagnosing autism is not understanding the difference between being on the spectrum, and sensory integration disorder. This leads to the question of whether autism spectrum disorder and sensory integration disorder (also known as sensory processing disorder) are the same condition, or at the very least if they are related. Does one exclude the other?

To begin, they are considered to be completely separate disorders, but to further understand them, Dr. Lucy Jane Miller performed a study “Quantitative psychophysiologic evaluation of Sensory Processing in children with autistic spectrum disorders”, involving 40 high functioning autism or Aspergers Syndrome children who were tested for sensory integration disorder. Dr Miller’s results showed 78 percent of the participating children also displayed notable signs of sensory integration disorder.

While, 22 percent of the participants did not show signs. However, a secondary study by the same researchers, “Relations among subtypes of Sensory Modulation Dysfunction” looked into children diagnosed with sensory integration disorder and tested them to see how many also had autism. Within that experiment, zero percent of the participants had autism.

The reason that this is interesting is that while children with autism can exist without having sensory integration disorder, the majority show signs of the condition. On the other hand, there is no inclination toward autism in children who have only sensory integration disorder. Children with both disorders demonstrate challenges with high-level tasks that involve the integration of different areas of the brain.

This can include emotional regulation as well as complex sensory functions. However, the key to diagnosing autism as opposed to sensory integration disorder usually lies in the fact that autistic children experience greater problems in the areas of language, empathy, and social skills. Sensory integration disorder children do not experience the same connective breakdowns for controlling emotional empathy and social interaction.

In both disorders, children experience difficulties in tasks that require their brains to make long-distance connections, for example, between the frontal lobes (which coordinate the activities of the brain) and with the cerebellum (which regulates the perceptions and responses within the brain). If you think that your child may have one or both of these disorders, it is important to speak to your child’s pediatrician for autism diagnosing or identification of sensory integration disorder on its own or in combination with autism.

If autism or autism alongside sensory integration disorder is the diagnosis, then you will be able to begin talking about the possible treatments available.  These treatments can include various medications as well as alternative therapies and may overlap in terms of addressing aspects of both conditions simultaneously. For example many children with autism benefit from sensory integration therapies that also work well for children with sensory integration disorder.

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Author: Rachel Evans Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Evans

Teaching Children With Autism Better Verbal Communication Skills

Children with autism commonly face problems with verbal communication. This is usually due to the frequent speech and language problems associated with the disorder. Though the actual reason that these problems are faced by autistic children is unknown, many experts believe that they are the result of several conditions occurring before, during, or after the child’s birth that have had an impact on the development of the brain. The inability to properly communicate verbally can make interpretation and interaction with the child’s world much more diffiult.

The communication problems experienced vary from child to child, depending on the individual’s social and intellectual development. While some may not be able to speak at all, others may maintain extensive vocabularies and can express themselves regarding complex topics. However, most children with autism experience some form of communication difficulty usually with the appropriate use of the language, for example difficulty with intonation, rhythm, and word and sentence meanin

Autistic children who are able to speak may say things without true information, expression, or content. They are only words with no meaning to the situation. Others will use echolalia, where they simply repeat what they have heard, even if they have been asked a question. And yet other autistic children will use delayed echolalia, using the question previously posed in order to ask for what they want. For example, a child who had earlier been asked “are you hungry?” may say “are you hungry” at a later time to express his or her hunger.

Many autistic children will have a stock of phrases that they use in specific conditions. For example, a child may introduce him or herself at the beginning of every conversation. Some autistic children learn scripts from television shows, commercials, books, or other recorded dialogs.

Autistic children able to speak can frequently speak extensively about a topic without the ability to actually converse with others. They may also make up a voice to use other than their own such as a robot voice, a deep voice, a squeaky voice or another similar type of alteration.

It is possible to help an autistic child to better his or her verbal communication skills with improvements made through the use of appropriate treatments.

The first step is to consult a speech and language pathologist in order to have your child’s communication skills evaluated. Specific treatments suitable for your child may be recommended during this evaluation.

An intriguing way of helping those with autism is known as facilitated communication. A facilitator lightly holds the hand or arm and the autistic person moves a finger forward to select a letter on a keyboard and spells out their thoughts and wishes. The facilitators are always quite sure that the choice of letter belongs to the autistic person. The increased communication helps to gain the trust of the autistic person and helps remove their inappropriate behaviour.

No single method of communication treatment has been universally found to improve all autistic children, but starting early increases the chances of significant improvements. Try to target your child’s specific communication strengths and weaknesses. Different forms of goal orientated therapy for useful communications are the most successful techniques, though not guaranteed to work for all children. Periodic in-depth evaluations from a specialist are recommended for perfecting and altering the therapy to best work for your child’s unique needs.

Many parents find that consulting physical and occupational therapists can also be very helpful for helping to reduce unwanted behaviors during communication, which are common hindrances to the development of skills.

Find out what your child best responds to: a structured behavior modification program, an in-home therapy program, or another type of therapy that utilizes reality-based situations as a foundation for the therapy.

It may surprise you to discover that music therapy and sensory integration therapies may have a large impact on your child’s ability to use verbal communication. This is because stimulation of the senses often helps to improve the child’s ability to respond to sensory information, and therefore helps him or her recognize what he or she is hearing through verbal communication and seeing through non-verbal communication. The goal is to help improve the effectiveness of sensory understanding.

Medications may also improve an autistic child’s attention span, which in turn can help to improve verbal communication in your child. However, with long-term medication use there is the possibility of undesirable side effects.

To be certain that your child is at his or her fullest potential, mineral and vitamin supplements, as well as a tailored diet, psychotherapy, and overcoming sleep challenges may greatly assist in focus and attention, which should help improve verbal communication.

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Author: Rachel Evans

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