...Autism Spectrum Disorders constitute a major public health problem affecting 1 in 68 children in America. Autism Spectrum Disorders are brain development disorders and are typically diagnosed in children before the age of two. Some of the characteristics consist of impaired social interaction, communication issues, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Autism is more common in males than females. The development of communication and language skills is a very important milestone that most children should reach. Children with autism may never reach this milestone or reach it many years later. All depending on the severity of their Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children with Autism tend to have problems with conversations, verbal utterances, syntax,...
Words: 1247 - Pages: 5
...Autism Spectrum Disorder Introduction Imagine seeing and hearing a parents complain to doctors that they have been noticing their infant is not responding to their love and affection like other babies their age. This infant does not babble, make eye contact, smile, or show any interest or emotion to a happy game of patty cake, instead he is staring off fixated on something in the distance. The parent explains to the doctor that their child grunts, seems to just want to play by himself, and will not try to interact with others or show any type of emotion. Now imagine these same parents being told that there is nothing wrong with their child and the child is just lagging behind other infants their age. Unfortunately, these parents find out a...
Words: 1326 - Pages: 6
...Health problem Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a known to be a complex brain disorder found among children during their brain development stages. An individual having difficulties in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communications, and behavioral challenges can characterize autism spectrum disorder. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated the “1 and 68 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder and about 1 in 6 children aged 13-17 has developmental disability” (CDC, n.d.). Several children are not recognized to have a developmental disability until after entering grade school. The signs children that may not have been identified with developmental disability are shown when they have...
Words: 1357 - Pages: 6
...Research has found that children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at an exceptionally increased risk of developing comorbid mental health conditions, with the most common comorbid mental health conditions reported alongside ASD being anxiety disorders (Brereton, Tonge, & Einfeld, 2006; Skokauskas & Gallagher, 2011). In fact, previous studies have found that anywhere from 11-84% of individuals with ASD experience clinically significant levels of anxiety (White, Oswald, Ollendick, & Scahill, 2009). The ASD population experiences much greater levels of anxiety than typically developing children (APA, 2000). The symptoms associated with anxiety can severely impact a child’s ability to participate in a variety of school,...
Words: 873 - Pages: 4
...I love my job although there are some challenges within it, I work with students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) so every day is a new adventure. One of the concerns that I have experienced with my job is that there are quite a few staff that are stuck in their ways and it becomes challenging to advocate for the children they are supporting. I work with a variety of teaching staff, support staff and administrators that work with some challenging students and families. Another concern is that ASD is a disorder that can be extremely difficult sometimes and some of our students also have duel diagnosis that can make their lives and family lives tricky. Supporting the families and students is difficult when there are not enough...
Words: 1489 - Pages: 6
...In conclusion, it is evident that each independent variable offers benefits of their own in regards to the best practices for early autism intervention. Special education programs in schools have always existed and is a fairly consistent program for a child with a considerable support system beneficial for students with high-functioning ASD. For students with low-functioning ASD, a more appropriate program would include early autism intervention. A residential, center-based option would allow for more a more personalized program tailored to a child’s needs through an intense program targeting individual goals and developmental functionality. In contrast, an ABA-based classroom within a mainstream school has proven beneficial to improving social...
Words: 367 - Pages: 2
...National Autism Association website is extremely helpful for families that are searching for answers to the day-to-day challenges that are experienced when a loved one has Autism Spectrum Disorder. The website’s main goal is to assist families with improving and maintaining the personal safety and the quality of daily living for their loved ones that live with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Was the website easy to access and navigate? The National Autism Association website was extremely easy to navigate and access information regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder. Each tab contains up to the moment information regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Autism and Safety tab provides family members with information regarding wandering prevention and response, as well as, addressing bullying and swimming...
Words: 518 - Pages: 3
...Do Childhood Vaccinations Cause Autism? Jennifer Jones XBCOM / 275 August 24, 2014 Kristine Dunn Do Childhood Vaccinations Cause Autism? The idea that autism is caused by childhood vaccinations has been influencing public policy, even though rigorous studies do not support this hypothesis. Legislators are right to take into account the concerns of parent groups and other individuals who are directly affected by autism, but policy decisions should be based on hard evidence rather than unproven ideas. The hypothesis is based on the observation that the number of autism cases increased in the years of the 1980s, coinciding with a push for greater childhood vaccinations, which increased above recommended levels of a child’s exposure to mercury in the vaccine preservative, called thimerosal. The autism diagnosis continued to rise even after thimerosal was removed from the United States childhood vaccines in the year of 2001. A review by the Institute of Medicine, of over 200 studies concluded that there were no links between vaccines containing thimerosal and autism. Autism is no more common among vaccinated children than those children who are unvaccinated, and its incidence has not varied with the presence of thimerosal in vaccines across different times and locations. These findings have not persuaded supporters of the mercury autism link, whose strategies have become more extreme as the evidence against the hypothesis have mounted. Mercury is a known neurotoxin,...
Words: 1805 - Pages: 8
...Autism Spectrum Syndrome is a term used to describe abnormalities in neurological and brain developments. People affected by Autism suffer a wide range of symptoms with varying severities. Autism is characterized by symptoms such as social impairments, difficulties in emotional connection and communication, and repeated stereotyped behaviors such as hang flapping and rocking (as cited in Uno, Y., Uchiyama, T., Kurosawa, M., Aleksic, B, and Ozaki, N, 2012). Since the discovery of the fist vaccines up until now, thousands of lives have been saved. Contagious diseases speared so rapidly and the effects can be devastating and sometimes irreversible. Infectious diseases spread quickly in communities; in the past some of these diseases effected large...
Words: 937 - Pages: 4
... Autistic Spectrum Disorder Clinton T. Ashe Professor: Dr. Janice Spagenburg February18, 2013 AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2 Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism is a disorder that use to affect an estimated 3.4 out of every 1,000 children ages 3-10. And now research suggests that autism now affects 1 out of 110 children. These types of Disorders can cause disruption in families and unfulfilled lives for many children who have this disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorders range from a severe form which is called autistic disorder to a mild form known as Asperger syndrome. The risk for this disorder is higher for males than females. In 1942 while working at John Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Leo Kanner conducted a study with a group of 11 children and at the end of the study introduced the label of “early infantile autism” into the English language. During that same time frame and half way around the world, Dr. Hans Asperger described a lesser form of the disorder that became known as “asperger syndrome”. These two disorders have been described and are currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as two out of five pervasive developmental disorders and are often referred to as autism spectrum disorders. These disorders are categorized by the variance in the degrees of impairment in communication skills, social...
Words: 995 - Pages: 4
...Introduction Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s) are disabilities that affect social and communication skills, and cause behavioural changes (CDC, 2012). There are three types of ASD’s; Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Autistic disorder (autism). Autistic disorder will be the focus of this study (CDC, 2012). Children develop autism before the age of three years and struggle with it throughout their lives (CDC, 2012). “Autism creates many challenges in the child’s life and it negatively impacts; intellectual disabilities, language delays, social and communication difficulties and unexpected behaviour and interests” (CDC, 2012). Autism does not segregate between racial and ethnic groups, nor does it relate to socioeconomic status; however it has been proven to occur more often in males than in females (CDC, 2012). Over the past decade there has been a significant increase in the number of autistic diagnoses (CDC, 2012). Evidence has shown that the development of autism occurs during the pregnancy phase (Schmidt, 2011); which leads this study to analyze the association between intake of iron, and zinc during pregnancy and preventing autism in the offspring. Specific Aims The proposed study will be focused on whether women who take iron and zinc supplements during the three trimesters of the pregnancy will reduce the risk of autism in their offspring. The goal of this study is to develop an association between vitamin exposures and the outcome of prevented...
Words: 2188 - Pages: 9
...Introduction Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s) are disabilities that affect social and communication skills, and cause behavioural changes (CDC, 2012). There are three types of ASD’s; Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Autistic disorder (autism). Autistic disorder will be the focus of this study (CDC, 2012). Children develop autism before the age of three years and struggle with it throughout their lives (CDC, 2012). “Autism creates many challenges in the child’s life and it negatively impacts; intellectual disabilities, language delays, social and communication difficulties and unexpected behaviour and interests” (CDC, 2012). Autism does not segregate between racial and ethnic groups, nor does it relate to socioeconomic status; however it has been proven to occur more often in males than in females (CDC, 2012). Over the past decade there has been a significant increase in the number of autistic diagnoses (CDC, 2012). Evidence has shown that the development of autism occurs during the pregnancy phase (Schmidt, 2011); which leads this study to analyze the association between intake of iron, and zinc during pregnancy and preventing autism in the offspring. Specific Aims The proposed study will be focused on whether women who take iron and zinc supplements during the three trimesters of the pregnancy will reduce the risk of autism in their offspring. The goal of this study is to develop an association between vitamin exposures and the outcome of prevented...
Words: 2188 - Pages: 9
...Vaccines, Do They Cause Autism in Children? Michael L Eisenmenger Western Governors University Vaccines, Do They Cause Autism in Children? Vaccinations have been used for centuries to prevent the spread of some of the most dangerous diseases in humans. In 1998, a research study from Dr. Andrew Wakefield was published in the journal Lancet, suggesting common vaccinations were the cause of autism in children (Brink. 2013). That study has since been retracted by the Lancet and Dr. Wakefield has had his medical license revoked. However, the rates of vaccinations have declined because of the study and new outbreaks of diseases once considered eradicated are killing children. Research has shown that vaccines are not a cause of autism in children because the preservatives suspected of causing autism have been removed from them, research studies have shown no link between the two, the original research has been proven false, and the diagnosis of autism has changed. Ever since the debate of vaccines being a cause of autism has started, the ingredient thimersol has been one of the focus’ of study. Thimersol is a preservative that was used in vaccines until 2001. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated, “In 2001, thimersol was removed or reduced to trace amounts in all childhood vaccinations except one type of influenza vaccine, and thimersol-free alternatives are available for influenza vaccines.” (CDC, 2014) Thimersol contains the type of mercury...
Words: 1938 - Pages: 8
...The Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Treating Children with Autism: A Literature Review Abstract This literature review explores the use of music therapy in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and its degree of effectiveness in helping children to better develop social and communication skills. All of the sources discussed used improvisational music therapy to conduct different types of studies that address the usefulness of music therapy. Researchers used different methods of measuring children’s responsiveness to music therapy. A majority of the authors claim music therapy has a considerably positive effect in treating children with autism; however, some results indicated there is not enough evidence to confirm music therapy has a significant impact or that it is the best form of treatment for autistic individuals. There is a need for further research in order to determine whether or not music therapy is the most effective form of therapy. Future studies may be more strategically designed to minimize the difficulty in analyzing such complicated results. In addition, there should be studies that have clinical value and contain a larger number of participants so that the results may be better generalized. Introduction For years, scientists, doctors, psychiatrists, and several others have been trying to determine the cause of autism as well as a cure for the disease. Autism is a type of Pervasive Developmental Disease that is characterized by an inability...
Words: 2904 - Pages: 12
...April BEH 225 May 19, 2012 Diagnosis and Treatments Autism is a psychological disorder that affects approximately one in five-hundred children (Morris & Maisto, 2002). It is a significant disorder that is characterized by deficits in social impairments and abnormal motor behaviorisms. While there is no known cause to this disorder, it is believed that autism may stem from biological factors. Over the years Autism was speculated to have a link between vaccines that were administered to the children because of possible mercury exposure containing Thimersosal (Love to Know Everything You'd Love to Know, 2011). However, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims Office of Special Masters determined that the measles, mumps, and the rubella vaccine were not the cause of autism. In another perspective, a study done thru John Hopkins University and the Broad Institute of Harvard found a genetic code that is associated with Autism. The research studied the genetics of 1,031 families that had a minimum of two autistic members of the family. It was found that all the families exhibited the same pattern on the fifth chromosome near the gene semaphorin 5a. This gene’s expression was at a lower rate in the study with participants (Love to Know Everything You'd Love to Know, 2011). Additional studies have found that there may also be a link between Autism and autoimmune diseases. While most would advocate that Autism is a biological circumstance it is also believed that there...
Words: 854 - Pages: 4
