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Autism Spectrum Disorders Paper

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In contrast to help received as an ASD child, services and overall well-being as an ASD adult are lacking. In the article “Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders,” the authors describe that there is limited support and interventions for individuals with Autism who are over the age of 18 (Howlin and Moss, 2011, p.275). Howlin and Moss state, “The findings indicate that, as adults, many people with ASD, including those of normal IQ, are significantly disadvantaged regarding employment, social relationships, physical and mental health, and quality of life” (2011, p. 275). What makes the situation worse is there is little research being conducted to aid Autistic adults, especially ones over the age of 30 (Howling and Moss, 2011, p. 275). It is …show more content…

However, there are many other symptoms that can be exhibited based on severity. For instance, an individual with Autism may have repetitive behaviors, frequent temper tantrums, and sensitivity to light, sound, or touch (DSM-5, 2013, p. 50). Severity is based on the needs of the individual, but the majority of Autistic traits will be present early on in development (DSM-5, 2013, p.50). Recently, there has been a rise in the number of people diagnosed with ASD and researchers speculate this is because of new technology and environmental factors (What is Autism?, 2015). The new technology that has been developed, has allowed for more research to be dedicated to the causes of Autism. A major finding is that gene mutations have been determined to account for at least 15% of ASD cases (DSM-5, 2013, p. 57). The environmental factors that can impact development and may result in Autism are: parental age at conception, illness during pregnancy, and oxygen deprivation of the fetus (What is Autism?, 2015). Once, an individual is suspected to have Autism, they must be evaluated and diagnosed officially by a psychiatrist or specialist for the best treatment procedures. Unfortunately, there is a limited number of medicines specific for ASD, but Risperidone and Aripiprazole have shown to improve mood and irritability in Autistic children (Medicines, 2015). However, the best treatment outcomes usually are a combination of medication and behavioral therapy (How is Autism Treated?, 2015). Within the public school system, schools are required by law to provide appropriate education to suit the needs of the child. Whether these accommodations are by pull-out, extra classes, or extra attention is based on the resources of the district, but every disabled child is entitled to help (Hallahan et. al, 2015). On the other

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