...An Overview of Autism As a future Speech Language Pathologist and educator, it is important to consider a vast variety of mental disorders when dealing with patients or students. The importance is evident because disorders affect how your clients respond to treatment or social interaction in general. It is imperative to be aware of a disorder’s affect on children, short term and long term. In terms of speech development, the effects of such a disorder are even more important to note. In this instance, I will examine autism, a developmental disability that takes place on a lifelong basis. It has an influence on how patients communicate or interact with others in their multitude of facets of life. First, I will look into a general overview...
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...Autism is classified as a spectrum disorder. There are different degrees in the way it affects children who are diagnosed. However, every autistic child experiences symptoms, challenges, and unique abilities. One major challenge most of the children encounter are difficulties with controlling their behaviors. It is common for children with autism to irrationally react to a stimuli or situation that would not cause a typical functioning child to react. This is due to a dysfunction in their sensory processing system. There have been many studies conducted focusing on the sensory problems autistic children face. It is clear that many children who are diagnosed react much different to certain stimuli than other children. Tomchek and Dunn (2007)...
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...Critically evaluate the theory of mind hypothesis of autism Childhood Autism is a rare and severe developmental disorder that affects about 4 in every 10,000 children (Baron-Cohen, Leslie & Frith, 1985). Autism affects how an individual communicates, socialises and even how they make sense of the world around them. Many theories have tried to explain what causes autism in an attempt to achieve greater understanding of the disorder and potentially aid those with autism to live happier and more fulfilling lives. In this essay I will be focusing on the symptoms of autism, the ‘theory of mind’ hypothesis and its strengths and weaknesses. The three main symptoms of autism were outlined by Wing and Gould (1979) and are known as the triad of impairments. These three impairments were identified as communication, socialisation and imagination. Many studies have found a distinct lack of communication skills in autistic children. Prior et al. (1998) found that autistic infants don’t attempt ‘babbling’ and they don’t follow the usual patterns of language development displayed by most infants, such as being able to speak simple one syllable words by the age of one, which over half of autistic children don’t do. Then, even when they begin to form understandable sentences, they often make grammatical errors and fail to use or comprehend emotional tone. This impairment of communication, both verbal and non-verbal, most likely plays a part in a lack of social understanding and stable...
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...Autism http://aut.sagepub.com/ What can innovative technologies do for Autism Spectrum Disorders? Sven Bölte, Ofer Golan, Matthew S. Goodwin and Lonnie Zwaigenbaum Autism 2010 14: 155 DOI: 10.1177/1362361310365028 The online version of this article can be found at: http://aut.sagepub.com/content/14/3/155 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of: The National Autistic Society Additional services and information for Autism can be found at: Email Alerts: http://aut.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts Subscriptions: http://aut.sagepub.com/subscriptions Reprints: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.nav Permissions: http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav Citations: http://aut.sagepub.com/content/14/3/155.refs.html Downloaded from aut.sagepub.com by guest on November 12, 2010 Editorial What can innovative technologies do for Autism Spectrum Disorders? S V E N B Ö LT E , O F E R G O L A N M AT T H E W S . G O O DW I N L O N N I E Z WA I G E N B A U M autism © 2010 SAGE Publications and The National Autistic Society Vol 14(3) 155–159; 365028 1362-3613(2010) Technology deals with human usage and knowledge of instruments and techniques to help people control and adapt to their natural environments. The usage of technology is taking an increasingly prominent role in research and clinical practice related to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). At the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR), where the idea for this Special Issue on Autism...
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...historical figures who may have had Asperger Syndrome. Despite all these, it is important for people to understand that not all people with Asperger Syndrome are gifted and not all people who are extremely talented have Asperger syndrome. Asperger syndrome is categorized into a disorder called Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Other diagnostic categories include autistic disorder, Rett’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2010, p. 86). Individuals with Asperger syndrome tend to develop more sophisticated communication than individuals with any other pervasive developmental disorders, but they have difficulties with social interactions. Although autism is considered more of a communication deficit and Asperger syndrome is considered more of a socialization deficit, both of these disorders can have both symptoms because these two deficits are...
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...What is autism? Definition Autism is a severely incapacitating developmental disorder of brain function characterized by three major types of symptoms: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. The definition of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Children with autism are less able to interact with the world as other children do. To provide a comprehensive definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder, there are separate labels given to children with autism for different points on the Autism spectrum. At the least affected end, you may find labels such as "Asperger's Syndrome", "High Functioning Autism" and "Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified" (PDD-NOS). At the other end of the spectrum you may find labels such as "Autism", "Classic Autism" and "Kanner Autism". Description Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two...
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...Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social, communication skills, and restricted and repetitive behavior. It affects the processing and organization of information to the brain. But this is only one of the recognized disorders in the autism spectrum, the other two are Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder. Autism has a strong genetic basis, and in rare cases, is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder. Social deficits distinguish autism and the related autism spectrum disorders from other developmental disorders. People with autism have social impairments and often lack the intuition about others that many people take for granted. Some unusual social development becomes noticeable in early childhood...
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...LECTURER: SUBMISSION DATE: Introduction It is right to say that autism is a disability and wrong to say that it is a mental disorder. However much people may think that autism appears to be a mental disorder, it is not. Autism occurs when there is a problem in the central nervous system. Autism is only a mental deficiency. Some autism victims clearly communicate and interact with the rest of the community while others need a lifetime of specialist support. It is a spectrum condition which means that while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition affect them in different ways. Autism victims experience over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colors. People with autism are more likely than the general population to have accompanying problems such as dyslexia (difficulty with reading, spelling and/or writing), dyspraxia (severe difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor skills such as drawing or writing) and digestive problems. They are also vulnerable to developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Causes of Autism Autism can be caused by a variety of physical factors all of which affect brain development. The abnormal blood vessels functioning in the body causes ineffectual oxidation throughout the nervous system and this causes autism. Genetics is another cause for autism. Evidence suggests that genetic factors generate some form of autism. Combination of genetics from previous generations has created...
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...Autism PSY340 xx-xx-xxxx Instructor Autism From A Neuropsychological Standpoint The neurodevelopmental disorder autism and autistic spectrum disorders in general impair a child's learning, communication, and socialization. One common feature of autism is the individuals lack of understanding that other people's way of seeing things can be different than their own (Murray, 2011). For instance, telling a story from a point of view other than their own. Autism is currently recognized at three distinct levels that are nevertheless linked: it is a neurological disorder that is linked to brain development; it is a psychological disorder of cognitive, emotional and behavioral development; and it is a relationship disorder which demonstrates a failure of normal socialization. Autism is within a group of disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (Fritson, 2008). This disorder is usually clearly apparent by age three, and generally has reached it's full severity at that point. Common early indications of autism include delayed onset of language ability and delayed onset of social interaction. Autism is heterogeneous, with children being normal in some respects and severely impaired in others. Of individuals with the disorder, about 80% are male, about 60% have significant mental retardation, and approx. 35% have epilepsy. Autistic individuals tend to show savant abilities (Pinel, 2009). Autism is associated with widespread damage in the brain, with the...
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...reading, not all children develop adequate reading, with children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being one group identified at risk of reading difficulty. According to Autism Canada,...
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...Mock Treatment: Autism Aleksandr Drebskiy Queens College at City University of New York I. Diagnostic Criteria A. Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts as manifested by the following, currently or by history: 1. Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity ranging from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing interests, emotions or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions. 2. Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction ranging from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understating and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication. 3. Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understating relationships ranging from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social context; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers. Specify current severity: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 B. Restrictive, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history: 1. Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases). 2. Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to...
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...Autistic spectrum disorder, otherwise known as autism, is a complex disorder of the central nervous system and a developmental disability that comes from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. (Dowshen, 2008). It is not something one can catch or pass along to someone else. It makes interacting with other people incredibly difficult. Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital. Autism spectrum disorder can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, however new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as six months. Autism is a developmental disorder that makes it very difficult for one to communicate with others and live a normal life. (What is Autism? An Overview, 2008) The cause of autism remains undiscovered, however many researchers believe autism is linked to differences in brain chemicals and neurotransmitters. No one has yet to have a definite answer as to where these differences come from, however; many believe the differences are in our genes. Some also believe that maternal rubella, PKU, encephalitis, and meningitis may predispose a child to it. It is somewhat more common in particular families, but not inherited in any recognizable pattern. Doctors often tell families who have one child with autism that research shows they have a very high risk of having another child with autism or a similar disorder. (eMedicineHealth, 2009). According to the statistics provided by the...
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...the past decade or so, people have become more aware of autism, yet we still don’t talk about it like we should. Autism Spectrum Disorder, better known as autism, is a complex disorder of the brain that affects development and impairs the ability to socialize and communicate. It’s a disorder that affects about 76 million people across the globe, and 1 in 68 children born in the US are affected (“Autism Facts and Statistics”). People across the world suffer from this disorder, and yet half the population doesn’t know what autism really is. Autism is unique to every person affected by it, and the universe as a whole should be more educated on Autism and how this disorder works. Usually when people hear the word ‘autism’, they think of one...
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...Asperger’s Disorder, as it has become known, is a disorder that is a part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is no longer recognized as a separate syndrome under DSM V but instead those who exhibit Asperger’s like syndromes receive a diagnosis of ASD. Those with Asperger’s are sometimes thought of as a “high functioning autistic,” this is because they do not struggle with development the same way others with an ASD diagnosis do. ASD symptoms are divided into three categories: deficiencies in social interaction, communication deficiencies, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped behaviors and interests. While children with Asperger’s regularly struggle with social interaction and display repetitive behaviors, they don’t exhibit a delay in their language. In fact, a lot of the time a child with Asperger’s may have above average intelligence. Because of poor social interactions, a child with Asperger’s can go on to develop many other syndromes if he/she doesn’t receive proper therapy. But even with therapy, a child with Asperger’s is more likely to experience anxiety and depressive disorders. These two conditions can have a profound effect on a child’s development and functioning, especially when the same child has an Asperger’s...
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...Assignment 2 Term paper By Nicole Alonso CDD 2251-04 Speech Language Hearing Disorder Kean University November 26,2011 Introduction Detailed overview of disorder “Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. ( 1.PubMed Health, 2010)” Autism is also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD). “ Health care providers think of autism as a “spectrum” disorder, since it is a group of disorders with similar features. (National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, 2011 paragraph)” A child who has autism may have symptoms that span from mild to severe. There are several types of autism that fall under the spectrum. They include Aspergers Syndrome, RETT Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD-NOS). “These disorders are characterized in varying degrees, be it difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non- verbal communication and repetitive behaviors.” ( Autism Speaks, 2011) Aspergers syndrome is a high functioning form of autism. A child with Aspergers might have difficulty interacting with others, awkwardness, and display repetitive behaviors. “Rett syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use.” (2.PubMed Health,2010) Childhood...
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