Autism Persuasive Essay

Being a babysitter of Autistic children and understanding their social and physical abilities, I feel that this disorder can be controlled. As a parent, I challenge you to research more about your child’s disorder and health and choices in general. Autism makes your child special and unique, so don't compare them to others. Some situations may become better or worse. Just believe in

Research suggests that children as young as 1 year old can show signs of autism. Some of these signs are, no speaking or limited speech, difficulty in expressing wants and needs, crying, laughing, becoming angry, or screaming for no apparent reason, no babbling by the age of one, having random tantrums, and little or no eye contact. During the time I have spent with David since he was born, I have noticed many of these signs, especially the tantrums and the screaming or crying. He screams and cries when there is something he wants, but because of the lack of speech we do not understand him. There are also some symptoms that accompany autism. Some children may have a sensitivity to light and loud sounds. Others may experience insomnia, or, like my nephew, may take a very long time to fall asleep at night.

The diagnostic criteria requires that symptoms of autism be apparent before the age of three, but it is roughly around that age that a child can be given an autism disorder diagnosis. In order to receive a diagnosis for autism the child must meet several criteria listed in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. At least two qualitative impairment in social interactions such as: failure to develop peer relationships, lack of social or emotional reciprocity, impairment in the use of non verbal behaviors (facial expressions, body posture, eye to eye gaze) and lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests or achievements with other people. They must also show at least one of the qualitative impairments in communication, such as: stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language, delayed or

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.

“Don’t think that there is a different, better child ‘hiding’ behind the autism. This is your child. Love the child in front of you. Encourage his strengths, celebrate his quirks, and improve his weaknesses, the way you would with any child. You may have to work harder on some of this, but that’s the goal,” Claire Scovell LaZebnik wrote of living with a child who has autism. Autism has been made to look like a grand epidemic. Autism is nothing of the kind. There are plenty of people with autism that are high-functioning and can live on their own, and autism is made to seem like a bigger deal than it is. Many would argue that medicines are needed to treat autism, that autism needs to be ended. There is always a better way.

Diagnosis. The earliest indicators of autism are impairments of verbal and nonverbal communication. A child with autism will have difficulties responding to their name, smiling and making eye contact, babbling or cooing by twelve months, and using single or two word phrases by twenty-four months (NIMH, n.d.). A proper diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is a two part process. The child is first given a general screening to check for developmental issues. If the child is not making satisfactory developmental progress according to his or her age group, the child would be referred for additional screening. At this stage, the child will need to be screened to check for specific symptoms of autism. The screening can be based solely on the parent’s observation of the

Every child or adult with the disorder can experience the symptoms differently. Some of the most common symptoms of autism are; showing little social interaction skills, lack of interest in physical contact, little eye contact, echolalia, and has rituals or requires routine. The symptoms can point to other conditions or medical problems so it is important to consult a physician for a diagnosis. New guidelines help diagnose children with autism early for a more effective treatment for the disorder. Once diagnosed, there are many treatment options such as behavioral therapy, special education programs, and medications which are used to treat some symptoms of autism in children. (chw.org,

Autism had many different names and age when it occurs depends on the multiple symptoms. Before they were all combined into one, they were grouped as autistic disorder, pervasive development disorder, Asperger syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. Most people do not realize that some people affected by ASD surpass in visual skills, art, math, and music. Most signs of autism or symptoms start to occur between the age of two and three (Autism Speaks ).

Children With Autism Children with autism have the possibility to improve greatly, and some even overcome the effects of autism if appropriate therapies are begun early enough. A multifaceted disorder, autism has long baffled professionals and parents alike. At a point in time, doctors gave parents absolutely no hope for the recovery of their children. But recently, new treatments and therapies have shown that improvement is possible. With early intervention, intensive care, some children have if not fully recovered, improved, and have been integrated into schools, indistinguishable from their peers.

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,

Autistic infants often show little or no interest in other people and lack typical social behaviors. For example, they may not smile at their mother's voice or make eye contact with caregivers. Autistic children fail to develop normal relationships with their parents, brothers or sisters, and other children. Often they seem unaware of the needs and feelings of other people, and may not respond if another person is hurt or in distress. They also fail to make friends.

If you or someone you love has autism, you know how frustrating it can be. You sometimes feel as if you are at the end of your rope and that nothing can be done other than leave that person or child on pharmaceutical medications that have some devastating side effects. Until now.

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.

Although there is no cure for and the cause of ASD is unknown, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that early diagnosis and treatment of ASD has the potential to improve the child’s development and minimize the symptoms of autism.

Autism is on the rise. Many researchers feel the reasons isn’t because there are more kids being afflicted with it, but the increased public awareness has allowed this disorder to be more easily recognized and diagnosed at a earlier age.