Autism : A Neurological Disorder

1 in 68 people in the US have autism, this includes 1 in 189 girls and 1 in 42 boys. Autism is a difference in perception; technically it’s a developmental disorder that is the result of a difference in brain chemicals. Scientists don’t know what causes autism or why it’s stayed in the human gene pool for so long. People with autism could have a wide variety of symptoms, but some of the most common characteristics are fixations on things they like, reliance on routines,and lack of social skills. Autism can be formally diagnosed at ages as young as 3. There is no medical test to diagnose autism, rather a trained professional in the psychology field will perform a developmental screening and a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. When a child is diagnosed with autism, therapy is strongly recommended. The earlier treatment starts the better because certain aspects of the disorder can be lessened through therapy. Therapy helps the mind and the body, certain therapies can help rebuild your brain, so to speak.

There are several interventions that are available for those with autism. The interventions are separated into the

Many of us have heard about Autism, also knows as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Some have a family member, a friend, or know someone who has ASD. Increasingly it is becoming a more common disability. “Autism is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the U.S” (Autism Speaks). Autism has no respect for gender, race, social class and or ethnicity. “Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that involves abnormal development and function of the brain.” (Autism Center of Excellence) People who have autism have a lot of difficulties with social skills, communication and also will develop behavior issues. These behavior problems of an individual with autism can vary at times and can go from mild to severe. According to the Autism Science Foundation it says,” Many people with the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASD can vary—from gifted to severely challenged.” The causes and symptoms, as well as the diagnosis, and the treatments of autism vary.

Autism is a developmental disability that significantly affect a person's verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and educational performance. This developmental disability affects the brain, communication and interaction with others. People with this disability often have trouble relating and forming relationships with other people. Autism occurs very early on in the development of the brain. The most obvious signs can be found at the ages of two or three years old.

Autism is one of the most common disorders among children in the United States. Autism affects 1 in 68 children (Center for Disease Control, 2014). By comparison, this is more children than are affected by diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome – combined (Autism Speaks, 2012). Boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls. This disorder typically appears during the first three years of life.

Autism has become an increasingly important public health concern as the number of yearly diagnoses of the disorder has increased since the late 20th century. The National Institute of Health estimates that 1 in 88 children in the United States are classified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (NINDS, 2009), a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs children 's ability to learn and causes issues with social interaction and communication. Symptoms of ASD include delays in speech and language, issues with social interaction, and unusual behaviors/routines.

Although it is a fairly common and a treatable disorder, Autism cannot be cured. The majority of people with Autism develop it in the earliest stages of life, including birth and even life in the womb. Like there are many fields of ASD, there are many causes of it. Autism is formed when there is a combination of factors that stop or interject with proper brain development. Most causes can be categorized into two groups: genetic and environmental. Some causes may include the parents age during conception,

Autism can be defined as a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts (Merriam-Webster Online). Autism can have a wide variety of severity; there is the autism spectrum, which tells educators, whether the child is higher up or lower on the spectrum, or if they are in the middle. There has been a steady increase in the number of students who have been diagnosed with autism, according to Deris (2013); the number of children who have autism went from one in 150 in 2000, almost to one in 88 in 2008.

(4) Animal need constant attention and are often very playful. The playful nature of these animals allow autistic children to play with their pets without really understand that they are exercising. The benefits of exercising keep the child away from a computer screen and in a way force them to interact with something or someone other than themselves. “Simple tasks such as throwing and fetching a ball, going on walks, giving commands, and other things dog owners do allow children with autism to facilitate interaction that is often very difficult to do with another human.” Shared Katie R. Gabriel, experienced author. (1, Paragraph 1) Not only are these children engaging in outdoor activity, but one source also agreed that, “the children experiencing animal-assisted therapy were engaged at a much higher level, and therefore more responsive, than they were in traditional OT.” To which one mother that was interviewed completely agreed. (7, Ch.

Autism is a fairly new diagnosis in the healthcare industry. A rapidly growing number of children are being diagnosed annually. There have been many rumors about how children are developing autism, and many treatment options are being attempted. There is currently no cure for this condition.

Autism is a brain based disorder that causes social-communication challenges. Autism is often diagnosed when children are very young. They can be diagnosed as early as 18 months according to the Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many expecting parents will prepare for a pregnancy by the usual healthy diet to make sure that they have a healthy baby, however, many children are still getting diagnosed with autism every day. There is a statistic stated on the Autism Spectrum Disorder that about 1 in every 68 children in the United States currently has autism. There are many different beliefs people have for as to what causes autism, but there still has not yet been a found cure. There needs to be a stronger effort in the medical fields to find the leading cause of autism.

According to the article "Autism" the author stated that, " Early studies suggested that five children out of 10,000 had Autism Spectrum Disorder." Also, in the same article the author states that, " People with Autism have problems with communication and social interaction." I believe that people should be much more understanding and tolerant of people with Autism. Those people have disadvantages , such as : difficulty with language , which they make up with advantages , such as : putting clues together , and having the unique interest and talents , as my amazing brother Ted.

There has been an increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism or other autism spectrum disorders. It is likely as an educator that you will have at least one child with this diagnosis in your classroom. This paper explores some of the methods used to teach autistic children.

The disability Autism, is one of many that has no cure, however various therapeutic techniques have improved the understanding of the disability, as well as the various benefits that are associated with that. Equine Therapy is a fascinating therapeutic method and improves various aspects of an Autistic child’s life. The bond between animal and man is undeniably strong and beneficial. The use of horses in this technique teaches coordination, life skills, relationship skills and most importantly, Autistic children feel comfortable, understood and a major emotional bond is formed, benefiting many aspects of a child’s life. Children, being disabled or not, need affection, love and emotion in order to live a happy life.

Martin and Farnum conducted a study which involved the use of dogs. The purpose of the study was to find out if the interaction with dogs would help with social interaction of individuals with autism. Researchers in this study found that the participants that interacted with the live dogs engaged in more initiating behavior. Another study by Sams looked at standard occupational therapy versus animal therapy and its effects on social interaction and language use in individuals with autism. The study showed that the individuals that interacted with the live animals had significantly greater use of language and social interaction as compared to the traditional occupational therapy. This study’s goal was to examine the effects of a 12-week therapeutic horseback riding intervention on social functioning of children with