Autistic Adults : Children With Autism

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 is a brain disorder that is characterized by slow and difficult comprehension of spoken and non-verbal communication and repetition of behaviors. Autism is normally noticed in the first two years of a child (Myers & Johnson, 2007). Asperger syndrome is an autistic disorder that has almost the same similarities with autism. People with Asperger syndrome have little comprehension of the world and its surroundings and poor communication with other people. People with Asperger syndrome are hard to recognize, as they do not show on their outward appearances. They are average or above average intellectually and have fewer problems in terms of speech and specific learning disabilities unlike in autism. These difficulties include dyslexia, epilepsy, and attention

Many people have dreams and aspirations for the future. Some want to be rich, have their dream home, be famous or travel the world. While these are all great goals and aspirations, they are not a wish of mine. My dream is to open a non-profit organization that assists in finding employment for disabled adults, specifically autistic adults. Before beginning this establishment I must have a solid vision, the mission of the non-profit, the goals I am aspiring to reach and a firm set of policies in place all while ensuring the correct management style is utilized.

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 is a mental condition, which becomes apparent in the early stages of childhood. Autism is often characterized by the difficulty in connecting and establishing relationships with other people and in the use of language and intangible ideas. Autism is fast becoming a very familiar disorder. Many people across the nation have been trying endlessly to find a treatment for it. There have been limitless establishments which have been continuously trying diverse ideas and ways to bring funding for further research for Autism as well as bringing more awareness towards it. To become more familiar with Autism one should first understand what symptoms can be linked with autism. Some of those symptoms more common to Autism is difficulty with social interactions and relationships, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and limited interests in activities or play. Although most of these symptoms can seem similar, Autism is continuously changing through the different stages of life; the childhood years, teen years, and adulthood.

In this paper, I will be discussing the disorder of Autism, a sever disorder that affects the function of the brain. It causes problems in such areas as social contact, intelligence, language and speech impediments, along with ritualistic or compulsive behaviors, as well as different responses to the environment that an autistic individual may have different than individuals not having autism would exhibit. I will be discussing generally about the history and description of autism. Also I will be discussing the charactistics that mark an autistic individual, the actual treatment that an autistic person may receive, risk factors that an autistic person may encounter, and interventions/treatments activities that an individual who has autism may take part in. I feel that by doing all of this that I will gain a greater sense of understanding for individuals with autism. I will be giving this information to you by going through each topic that I have outlined in the introduction and explaining what each means and how they affect an individual with autism.

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.

Autism disorder is an issue facing many people today. It’s an issue widely discussed in the news and social media. In Gale’s data from 2015 defines autism as a general term for a group of complex disorders of the brain development that are grouped together under the broader term of autism spectrum disorder also known as ASD. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2014, about 1 in 68 out of 1,000 children were diagnosed with ASD. This was a dramatic increase from 1 in 150 children in 1992. The CDC also

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 affects 1 in every 110 children today (NICHCY, 2010). This statistic reveals a considerably large ratio of children and adults who have Autism. In society, everyone is diverse and unique in his or her own way. These differences are apparent in appearance, interest, and abilities. Differences are what shapes individuals into who they are, and who they want to become. Individuals learn differently, and the same is true for children with Autism. Autism is a neurological disorder that affects children up to three years and older. (Autism Speaks, N.D.)

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

Throughout the study and examination of the disease, Autism, I came to the conclusion that the older the ones diagnosed with it get, the harder it is for them to live their lives alone. The research and treatments available range from all ages, but there is more focus and support for those of a younger age. The treatment available provides medication and therapeutic support. Together or individually, individuals can benefit from them. However, once these individuals reach 21-22, they no longer receive support and care as they leave the aid they had grown up with.

In the United States today, the fastest-growing disability that deals with development is autism(Facts). Autism Spectrum Disorder can be described as “a condition or disorder that begins in childhood and that causes problems in forming relationships and in communicating with other people(Webster).” Although the number of children diagnosed with autism is on the rise, there are many different levels of autism, which can affect how the cases are dealt with. Autism has no cure, but by informing the world, it can help to prepare an autistic child for the future that they hold.

The condition, “Autism Spectrum Disorder(A.S.D.)” is now seen as an epidemic in the present evolved society. Oxford Living Dictionary defines autism as “A developmental disorder of variable severity that is characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior.” (Oxford Living Dictionary) The dictionary is in total concordance with the American Psychiatry Association, as it is clearly implied that autism is a mental illness. The prospect of this research is to let in on the symptoms of autism, the reasons why it is not a total disadvantage and how to cultivate the best traits in autistic children.

Autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental mental health disorder. Most autistic patients show some of the symptoms at a very early age. Around 1 in 68 children in the world are autistic and it is more frequent in males than females. ("Facts About ASDs", 2016) Those who have autism spectrum disorder mostly have restricted hobbies or activities, repetitive behaviours and lack of imagination; many of them have shown signs of low intelligence. Also, they do not understand social cues, sarcasm, others’ emotions, intentions and have difficulties in socializing and communicating. (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders IV, 2013) At present, there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder. However, due to the uniqueness of this illness, where the symptoms and severity of each patient can vary tremendously, treatments have to be tailored to the needs of each individual with care. There are now different kinds of methods strategically targeting different types of needs in order to lower the impact of symptoms and aid autistic individuals at different ages in adapting to the “outside world”. Interventions can differ in terms of involvement and commitment of parents and caregivers; cost of time (how many hours of training a week); the theoretical background; and some even require a change in patient 's’ dietary habits. (SEIDA et al., 2009) “Despite the different method of the interventions, it tend to incorporate a mix of behavioural, developmental, and