Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd ) Essay

Autism is a developmental disorder, which is characterized by a dyad of difficulties in a) communication and social interaction and b) restricted interests and imagination (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Individuals on the Autism Spectrum might find it challenging to understand what other people think or what the reasons for their behaviours are, as their ‘theory of mind’ may not be well developed (Schuwerk, Vuori & Sodian, 2015). It is possible that this is why they might behave in socially inappropriate ways, being unable to differentiate between different contexts, while they might also find it difficult to make friends. Moreover, it is likely that they are fond of routines, repetition and structure (Carnahan, Musti-Rao, & Bailey, 2009), as they might be nervous with unknown, new situations. In addition, some of them might not do eye contact with other people, whereas some others might not endure to be touched and might have a difficulty developing speech (Jordan, 2005). Individuals on the Autism Spectrum might sometimes be prohibited to initiate conversations and might struggle with finding different ways to play and behave, due to the possible deficit of imagination, which in some cases might result in them having a narrow sphere of interests. Nevertheless, it should be noted that this group of people is rather heterogeneous, as characteristics of autism may differ from one individual to another (Gwynette, 2013). Another point is that people with Autism

The goal of this review was to examine ASD and how it has impacted families. The literature was consistent in its findings, which stated that, Autism is a complex disorder that is diagnosed in childhood and has a wide range of symptoms. Many of the studies showed that children with ASD have the same symptoms such as hyperactivity, anxiety and self-injurious or aggressive behavior. The initial autism diagnosis leaves parents and siblings confused and they may have a hard time accepting that the child/sibling they were anticipating is not the child/sibling they expected. This transformation in their family can impact the relationship in the family, as feelings of fear and worry overwhelm the family system. ASD impacts parents and siblings as it changes the dynamics of the family. It is significant for families to find coping mechanisms that work for them as they

Autism is a form of neurodevelopment disorder in the autism spectrum disorders. It is characterized by impaired development in social interactions and communication, both verbal and non-verbal. There is an observed lack of spontaneous acts of communication; both receptive and expressed, as well as speech impairments. A person diagnosed with Autism will also show a limited range of activities and interests, as well as forming and maintain peer relationships. The individuals will display limited interests, which are often very focused and repetitive. He or she is likely to be very routine oriented and may show behavioral symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and self-injurious behaviors.

Autism spectrum disorder has become the most common neurological and developmental disorder diagnosed in children today. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012) estimate that 1 out of every 88 American children have been properly diagnosed. There is no known cure for autism, and the inconsistencies of the symptoms of autism in each case make it difficult to target a particular set of effective treatments. However some behavior management therapies, specifically physical therapy, may help to significantly control the unwanted symptoms in young children with autism spectrum disorder.

     Autism is a developmental disability that affects all areas of behavior and perception. Approximately 10 out of every 10,000 children are diagnosed with autism and four out of five are males. Autism is the third most common developmental disability, more common than Down Syndrome. Children with Autism are characterized by impairment in several areas of development such as: Cognitive, Language, Play/Socialization skills and exhibit many challenging behaviors. Behavior Patterns of Autism:

Scientifically, autism and autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD, are commonly used names for difficult disorders that have to do with brain development. Disorders like these are grouped by someone’s difficulty in social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and nonverbal communication. To the people who are diagnosed with this disorder and the families it affects; it is so much more than just science.

Sandra L. Harris, PhD; Topics in Autism Siblings of children with autism, A Guide for

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.

Neurological disorders are complex in nature and often the least understood. Given the recent boom in imaging technology and other diagnostic methods, it is now possible to see more clearly into the scope of neurological development and accurately determine the etiology of these diseases. One of such disorders is Autism; a multifactorial condition impairing normal brain development. It affects many aspects of development, including social behavior, cognitive ability and communication skills1 and is commonly diagnosed in children before the age of three1. The symptoms of this condition can vary greatly between individuals; hence its classification as a spectrum disorder. Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome and pervasive

Over the past 40 years, the rate at which diagnoses for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occur has seen a dramatic growth in numbers. With diagnoses for ASD increasing, more siblings are also being found to have grown up with a sister or brother with autism spectrum disorder. Previous studies have shown no consensus on whether or not siblings of persons with ASD are at risk for negative effects. However, patterns of anxiety among these siblings are being examined to see if characteristics of a child with autism spectrum disorder and their parents can predict anxiety. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychological disorders found in childhood and research has shown that they can have a negative impact on a child’s current and future development if left untreated (Cartwright-Hatton et al. 2006; Johnson et al. 2000; Visu-Petra et al. 2010; Vitiello and Waslick 2010). About 80% of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder have one or more concurrent anxiety disorders (de Bruin et al., 2007). Research suggests that they may be a link between anxiety disorders and impairments in daily living skills (Drahota et al., 2010). Anxiety does not just put children with ASD at risk but also has an impact on family members as well.

Being a sibling of an individual with Autism can be difficult. Not only does the sibling feel

In summary, Professionals should consider families as an important element of providing care for their child and focus should be on family support, early diagnosis, finance, training and collaboration to devise appropriate services for children with autism. It is also imperative to support and address sibling’s emotional needs. Because, siblings who grew in a better socioeconomic environment have better chance of progressing well in life compared to children who are born in poverty. It is because opportunities are less for people with disadvantaged background. Children with autism are dependant on their parents to care for them. It is imperative for parents to manage their own worries, depression and anxieties about their autistic child.

Krupa et al.[5] developed a wrist band for acquiring physiological signals and physiological reaction is found by variation in parameters like GSR and HRV. This paper focuses on the emotion recognition of autistic children so that it may help care takers to provide them proper care during the early developmental stages.

Family plays an important role in the environment and development of a child with autism. This study suggests that family with a child with autism must make significant adjustments to cope and function adequately. Previous studies have focused on the effects family have on the child, but few have focused on the effects the child have on the family. Furthermore, the majority of research done on families with a child with autism has focused on the relationship between the mother and the child and only a very low percentage have assessed the relationship between father-child relationships. This suggests that a study on fathers is important to better understand family functioning. As suggested in the current study a well-functioning family has a good balance of cohesion and adaptability (

While observing my 3-year-old son at the park, I started to notice he wasn’t playing like the other children. Children were playing and having conversations among themselves. During my observation my son was withdrawn refusing to socially interact with other children and seemed as if he was in his own little world. At that moment, I soon began to recollect in my mind other strange behavior’s and actions he has been displaying. Fast forward to our visit to the pediatrician and that’s when I heard it. The words that changed my life from that exact moment on. Your son has “Autism”. “Autism” what is that? I did what any mother would do grabbed my phone and turned to internet for answers. As I began my journey to educated myself, my goal is to raise awareness in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and be an advocate for my child and other individuals with Autism. Raising awareness in Autism increases understanding of the condition and change the perspective of the negative stigma of individuals that lack empathy, provide essential information for families and helping medical researchers crack the code to the discovery of causes and advance treatments. Just like building a puzzle, each piece has its own unique shape and design, alone the pieces have no meaning but when you start connecting the pieces together that is when you discover the whole