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.

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 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.

The U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention says autism is four to five times more common among boys and girls. An estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls diagnosed with autism in the United States. More children diagnosed with autism each year than Aids and cancer combined. Autistic Spectrum Disorder occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic. In the

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.

One in every eighty-eight children in the United States is born with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (“What Is Autism?”). ASD is a neurological disorder of the brain that affects how a person behaves, social interactions, and how they think and learn. Several different therapies exist for ASD; Equine Assisted Therapies being the most beneficial for children with ASD. There are two different types of Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT), physical and psychological. Although critics say that traditional therapies and medications should be used for ASD, alternative therapies such as Equine Assisted Therapy should be used and covered by insurance companies because of the unique benefits it provides. Equine Assisted Therapy provides positive results because it is multi-sensory and the patient becomes more in touch with their feelings.

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 is defined as a group of complex disorders of the brain. The autism spectrum contains many other disorders within itself, and each of them have different symptoms. These disorders include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and Asperger syndrome (Frequently Asked Questions, 2015). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that around 1 in 68 American children are on the spectrum, with the statistics in other countries being even higher. This number has increased in the last 40 years and could partly be because of the improved diagnosis and awareness, all because

Statistical evidences. ASD’s gender proportion suggests that the autism is sex-linked, and the statistical evidence convincingly shows that genetic factors are playing key role in the prevalence of ASD. To begin with, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the relationship between the number of autistic boys and girls. The statistical evidence shows that boys are more inclined to become autistic than girls. CDC states that 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls were identified as having ASD. This observation shows that ASD is likely a sex-linked inheritance. Sex-liked inheritance is defined as a pattern of inheritance characteristic of genes located on the sex chromosomes of organisms having a chromosomal mechanism for sex determination (Sadava et al., 2014). If the ASD was sex-linked inheritance, the ratio between male and female exhibiting the phenotype would result in 3 to 1 under the normal curve. The ratio between boy and girl is approximately 5 to 1, which shows that there is a strong association between sex-linked inheritance and ASD. For this reason, it is reasonable to conclude that ASD is primarily influenced by the genetic factor, which is prenatal.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered one of the most challenging symptoms to deal with. Per the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke, ASD showed high percentage among children of age eight year old. One of every eighty-eight child has ASD while boys are four times higher than girls at the same age group [1]. It is important to mention that ASD is highly researched in North America, Europe, and Asia [2]. Yet, the Middle East does not have as much research in the ASD area. Being from the Middles East, one was surprised the importance of ASD and the challenges that parents, caregivers, and teachers have to face when dealing with students who are diagnosed with ASD.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental and neurological condition that affects individuals in the areas of social communication and social interaction, and it is also characterized by the presence of repetitive behaviors and language difficulties. Other characteristics include delays in reasoning and self help skills (Smith, 2011) p. 1037). Individuals with ASD vary widely in level of intelligence and may also exhibit other co-existing conditions such as intellectual disability, depression, and phobias (Nozomi, 2009). The disorder begins in early childhood, but is usually not diagnosed prior to the age of two to five years old or when a child enters school. In 2013, the Center for Disease Control reported that there was a major

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a life long brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate with others. This disorder is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication. Researches have found that all autism disorders were merged into one diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder and Asperger syndrome were recently recognized as distinct subtypes of ASD. Autism Spectrum Disorder can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention, and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbance. Putting aside the negative effects of autism,

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered one of the most challenging symptoms to deal with. The National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke(2014) indicates that one of every eighty-eight child has ASD while boys are four times higher than girls at the same age group.. ASD is highly researched in North America, Europe, and Asia (Elsabbagh el at., 2012). Yet in the Middle East not much research on ASD has been conducted.. Being from the Middles East, this is surprising given the challenges that parents, caregivers, and teachers have to face when dealing with students who are diagnosed with ASD in the Middle East.

Autism is the most prevalent childhood disease in North America today. According to the latest research, the number of children being diagnosed is sky rocketing. Autism is affecting more and more children and two of them are mine. This issue is close to home for me, and because knowledge is power, I decided it would be a great opportunity to learn more about this disorder. As a parent of children with autism, at times I take it day by day, I don 't want to see the future, but am prepared for today. At times its been hard but it has mades us stronger as a family which is not always likely in this situation. This number of diagnoses continues to rise with better detection, better assessment and better research to determine markers of the disease. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication that begins at a young age, which commonly exhibits repetitive behaviours and restricted interests. (Xiao et al., 2014) As research advances, experts have now grouped all variations which include Aspergers, PDD-NOS, autistic disorder and childhood disintegrative disorder have now been categorized under the umbrella term of ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder. The rise in prevalence is attributed to early detection and kids that are functioning at a higher level being diagnosed. Early intervention is key for these children to have productive lives and to succeed. But wait times for