Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is the main form of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Autism is a developmental disorder that is manifested in problems with communication, impairment of social functioning, and repetitive behaviours. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), ASD diagnoses must meet four different areas of criteria. There are three symptoms of "deficits in social communication and interaction across contexts," four symptoms of "restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests, or activities," "symptoms must be present in early childhood," and the symptoms must "together limit and impair everyday functioning" (Carpenter, 2013). There are many theoretical positions on the causes of autism spectrum disorders. Some of which have been discounted by empirical studies that have been researched and performed.

According to the 2014 estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 68 children have been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD); a rate that has been steadily growing over the past 20 years (National Autism Association, 2015). Increases in reported frequencies for ASD are most likely due to a combination of factors including broader diagnostic criteria and increased awareness as well as a true increase in the number of people with ASD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Autism it self does not effect life expectancy and, in general, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can expect to live as long as the non-cognitively impaired population (National Autism Association,

Autism Spectrum Disorder, abbreviated as ASD, refers to a range of characteristics, signs, and symptoms that are unique. Autism Spectrum Disorder is an umbrella term and has five conditions, which are different but related. The five conditions of Autism Spectrum Disorder: 1) Autism, 2) Asperger Syndrome, 3) Rett’s Disorder, 4) Childhood Disintegrative (CDD), 5) Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). While each condition may have similarities there are primary differences in regards to their behaviors, social interaction, and ability to communicate.

With the rate of autism being diagnosed on the rise, the amount of research and interest in the disorder has risen as well. Some research suggests that over the past two decades the occurrence of autism has increased from approximately 2-5 per 10,000 births to about 1-5 per 1,000 births (Acosta & Pearl, 2004; Fatemi et al., 2012). Still others report that the occurrence is as high as 1 in 150 kids (Amaral, Schumann, & Nordhal, 2008). Even though the spectrum of autistic disorders has been studied since 1943, there have still not been any consistent nor persuasive causes or markers, either biological or clinical, identified with autism and its range of disorders (Santangelo & Tsatsanis, 2005). In fact, even with all of the advancements in genetic research technology and the increasing interest in autism, researchers can still only account for approximately 5-15% of autistic cases (Rogers et al., 2013).

Autism is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and it’s a neurological disorder that affects children at an early age, even at 2 years old. The misconceptions and controversies about the illness have caused a lot of backlash and hate towards the healthcare industry, especially doctors. Over the years, many people have believed and still currently think that vaccinations cause Autism. However, many tests and reports have been analyzed and studied through numerous scientists and they have concluded that this simply isn’t the case and vaccinations do not cause Autism. And this is extremely imperative for parents to understand the misconceptions about the illness and report to health professionals with any questions and concerns.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavior challenges and was first described by Dr. Leo Kanner in 1943 (Brown & Percy, 2007). Individuals with ASD can range from high functioning to low functioning in their ability to learn, think, and problem solve (Brown & Percy, 2007). Behavior problems are common among individuals with ASD (Hill at el, 2014). Kogan (2009) estimates that approximately 637,000 children in the U.S. alone have ASD and within those 637,000 children, Hagopian (2007) suggests that half of those children, who are diagnosed with ASD, also display problem behavior. According to Hagopian & Hardesty (2014), Applied Behavior

Alot plays into effect what happens before and during birth, this can come from mothers age, and maternal illness during the pregnancy. The reason why scientists think that genes play a role in the development of ASD is with twins. In some cases it is more likely for identical twins who are fraternal to have a risk at getting ASD, then identical (“What Causes Autism?”). From “What Causes Autism?” say that if a family with one autistic child, they have a 5% chance - or one in 20 - chance of having another child with autism. While pregnant with the child it can have an effect with what medication you take in. There is even some

Autism, as defined by the DSM-V, is the demonstration (either in the past or in the present) of deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and deficits in developing maintaining and understanding relationships (autismspeaks.org). Autism is a spectrum disorder with varying levels of severity. Some children may be highly functioning while others remain non-verbal. These deficits can negatively affect a child’s ability to learn and participate in extra-curricular activities. In the classroom, a disruptive behavior may even negatively impact the learning of the other students. Outside of the classroom, communication and relationship barriers typically result in children with autism not participating in sports or other physically demanding activities. Swimming can be a valuable addition to education programs as it is both enjoyable for the subject and contributes to motor development (Mosher 1975 and Wing 1976). A well designed and carefully implemented instructional aquatics program can be instrumental in promoting health and wellness (Auxter, Pyfer, & Huettig, 2001; Lepore, Gayle, & Stevens, 1998). A group swimming and aquatic exercise program has the potential for providing exercise in a social environment and this may have positive aspects on social development and self-esteem in addition to positive effects on health for children with ASD.

According to DSM-5’s classification, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to various types of autistic disorder, including Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett’s Disorder (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Although all ASD patients may have the same inability in performing certain skills, they suffer from different degree of sth .ASD are the lifelong neurodevelopmental severity of the impairments that affect humans’ communication skills and social skills but the degree are varied amongst different patients (). Since the early life of autistic children, they started to display behavioural disturbances in social and emotion level (e.g. lack of interest in socializing), delay in language

Autosomal recessive loci are assisting scientists in understanding the inherited factors related to autism. Scientists are hopeful that the discovery of these mutations will offer them an opportunity to detect neurodevelopmental mechanisms in disease; thus, providing researchers with some amount of convergence that may be responsive to treatment intervention.

ASD stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder and since the early 1900’s; it has been a mystery to many researchers and psychologists. Autism is usually noticed in the first three years of life but there are many theories on which it comes about. Before the 1940s, children who showed signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder were labeled schizophrenic, emotionally disturbed, and psychotic (Kartemquin, 2008). Not until about 1943 did Leo Kranner give a clear definition for autism, by writing Autistic Disturbances of Effective Contact, describing his research of autism cases. The paper descriptively addresses the behaviors of the children, describing them as self- satisfied, showing no apparent affection for others, oblivious to their surroundings as if they live within themselves (Kranner, 1943). From this, many other scientists like Bruno Bettelheim pinpointed the main cause of autism as psychodynamic; meaning the mothers of autistic children were the root cause (PBS, 2002). This became known as the “Refrigerator Mother Theory.” Bettelheim stated that children with autism have an emotional disorder developed from psychological distress brought upon by their mothers (PBS, 2002). Previously, Bettelheim spent ten months in a Nazi concentration camp and wrote his book The Empty Fortress: Infantile Autism and the Birth of the Self. He stated his experience paralleled the experiences of autistic children, as if their parents were Nazi prison guards wanting

9. It has been discovered that boys have a higher risk in getting ASD than girls though the reason has yet to be found. Boys may have a different DNA that could cause ASD than girls. Since genetics is the main cause of ASD, that could be the case.

According to Peterson (2013), “Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, repetitive behaviors, and stereotyped interests and activities” (p. 748). However, symptoms and their severity vary greatly in each child. There are three types that have been identified: Classic Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. The cause of autism is unknown. According to Lockwood (2013), “Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) studied preschool children with autism and has shown the roles of prenatal vitamins in early pregnancy” (p.748). The findings predict that ASD might be prevented with the intake of folic

There are a wide variety of symptoms that have been associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD, the name adopted in 2013) including, repetitive movements, emotional difficulties, sensory problems, etc. The exact cause of these symptoms is a widely debated topic. In this paper, I will discuss the overall prevalent causes for Autism as well as the different variations and subgroups. People are familiar with other disorders such as Down syndrome or Trisomy 21. These types of disorders are discussed frequently because of the knowledge and commonality of them. However, not everybody is familiar with a disorder such as Autism. This is due to the uncertainty of the cause of Autism and isn’t non life-threatening existence. The overall concept

Being a parent of a 13 year-old Asperger’s child has taught me a great number of things. Traditionally, male gender, low birth weight, low level of education of the mother, social, behavioral, language, psychomotor and eating problems significantly predicted ASD problems (odds ratios (OR) between 1.34 and 2.41). ADHD problems were also predicted by male gender and low level of education of the mother and by maternal smoking during pregnancy, good gross motor skills in first year, early attention and hyperactivity problems, and absence of parent-reported positive behavior (ORs between 1.36 and 1.74). (2013) Considering the only thing he has in common with the above stated statistics is that he is a male, demonstrates how there is no clear cut “norm” with the identifying