Etiological Theories Of Autism Spectrum Disorder Essay

Autism spectrum disorders are a class of developmental disorders that impair social skills, behavior, and communication (Center for Disease Control). ASDs are considered ‘spectrum’ disorders because each patient has a unique experience in the nature and severity of their symptoms (Center for Disease Control). Under the umbrella of ASDs, there are three types of disorders, including Autistic disorder, Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (Center for Disease Control). Autistic disorder is the most severe of the three, and patients exhibit significant problems with language, communication, and behavior (Center for Disease Control). Furthermore, people with Autistic disorder often have some intellectual impairment (Center for Disease Control). Asperger Syndrome is a milder form of autistic disorder where patients have some developmental delays, but their language and intellect are not affected (Center for Disease Control). The mildest of the ASDs is the pervasive developmental disorder. These patients usually don’t meet all of the criteria for autistic disorder, but do show some signs of social and communication problems (Center for Disease Control). The number of children diagnosed with ASD is growing, and currently 1 in 88 children fall somewhere on the spectrum (Mari-Bauset et al., 2013). Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism, and while the exact cause of these disorders is unknown, both genetic and

While genes play a role in the development or triggering of autism, they do not occupy the entire picture. Many other factors, termed as “environmental factors”, also play a significant role in the early development of autism. What the term “environmental” includes may be debatable. What falls into the category of environmental factors must be identified in order to prevent misleading pretenses. Throughout the research of autism, the word “environmental” refers to any influence beyond

Autism is defined as the brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood. Autism affects three areas of human development: (1) verbal and nonverbal communication, (2) social interaction, and (3) creative or imaginative play. Autism is considered a severe disorder and developmental disability that prevents individuals from properly understanding what they see, hear and sense. The cause of autism remains unknown. Current theories indicate a problem with the function or structure of the central nervous system. This essay overviews the history of autism and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It provides an idea of the population and causes of autism. It takes about the program services and the current operational issues related to autism.

Autism is a syndrome that is characterized by the impairment of social interaction skills, verbal and nonverbal communication, and a decreased interest in participating in a variety of activities. In 1943, Kanner, the man who is attributed with the identification of this disease, hypothesized that autism might be a biological disorder as opposed to a psychological one. Numerous studies have been conducted supporting Kanner’s hypothesis. These studies have ranged from examining the effects of rubella to investigating certain purine metabolic disorders as possible etiological agents. Recently, the areas of neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and genetics have played a crucial role in developing a clearer picture into

Autism is a neural development disorder that affects a person’s ability in socializing, communicating, and repeating behaviors. In this paper, the working mechanism of neutrons is first described and then the organization of the human brain is illustrated. Finally, autism is analyzed with respect to its causes from bio-psychological perspectives.

There are many theories on the autism spectrum condition. People believe that certain types of injections such as the MMR jab can cause autism although there is no hard evidence to say it does. Some people think that it runs in a family gene or can be cause by premature birth or even someone’s diet.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex disorder of brain development characterized by early onset difficulties in social communication, behavior, and sensory processing (Webb, 2009). Although, based on the child, symptoms can vary widely within each of these areas. Characteristics of autism often begin to surface between the ages of 8-10 months old, and continue to become more apparent as the child ages. Symptoms of ASD in infants include, failure to respond to their names, delayed babbling, and lack of social interaction. Other red flag characteristics include failure to meet normal milestones, and low muscle tone. As the child grows, characteristics of autism spectrum disorder may become more prominent, and include symptoms such as lack of eye contact, sensory difficulties or self-stimulatory behavior (Webb, 2009). Based on the severity of the diagnoses, children with autism could have other medical conditions including intellectual disabilities, seizures, anxiety disorders, and issues pertaining to the gastrointestinal tract. Autism is referred to as a spectrum, because not all people will experience, or exhibit the symptoms in the same way.

The diagnostic description of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes disorders that were distinct diagnoses under the “category pervasive developmental disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), including autism, pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder. The new classification system in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental

Autism has been on the rise in the past 20 years, and is getting dangerously close to reaching epidemic proportions (Zelan, 1). Statistically, Autism rates have been rising in the United States with Autism now effecting 1 in every 150 children ages 10 and younger (Zelan, 1). Autism can occur in any race and does not gender discriminate, though boys are four times more likely to have Autism than girls (Castrogiovanni). The causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Autism are the main aspects that most interest researchers today. If studies continue to have good results, the quality of life for Autistics could improve exponentially. Autism is a developmental disorder that has baffled researchers for

Autism is a behavioral syndrome usually presenting behavior abnormalities before the child is thirty months of age. These behavioral abnormalities include marked social deficits, specific language abnormalities and stereotyped, receptive behaviors. Although the exact etiology of autism is not known it is now believed that it is a dysfunction of one or more unidentified brain systems and not the result of parental and environmental influences. Variations in symptomology and in prognosis among autistic persons depend on both the severity and the extent of the underlying brain dysfunction (Parritz, Troy 136). Several studies have been conducted including neuron anatomic imaging, microscopic neuroanatomic observations and positron emission

Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the United States. As such, the medical community has a clear interest in learning about the nuances and subtleties that characterize ASD. Learning about the myriad causes and influences that characterize ASD is helpful. In elucidating the things that tend to underlie ASD, it is hoped that more can be learned about the disorders that fill the spectrum.

Young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), have struggled to obtain employment after completing high school or college. In many studies of young adults with ASD, low rates of employment are reported (4.1 and 11%) despite their intellectual abilities. Moreover, research on interventions for adults with ASD is scarce, and only 4% of all studies of ASD in 2010 were longitudinal studies.

One the biggest psychological disorders in our society is childhood autism. Childhood autism is defined as “A pervasive developmental disorder defined by the presence of abnormal and/or impaired development that is manifest before the age of 3 years, and by the characteristic type of abnormal functioning in all three areas of social interaction, communication, and restricted, repetitive behaviour.” (MHresource.org). Furthermore, boys are three to four more times likely to develop childhood autism than girls (MHresources.org). Statistics also show that the prevalence of childhood autism in births is one in fifty-nine and has grown 119.4 percent from 2000 to 2010 (CDC). Now, researchers are looking into what causes childhood autism. They are

(The) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD),commonly known as Autism, revolves around an abnormal development of the brain. The Centers for Disease Control describe it as (a) “development disabilities that cause substantial impairments in social interaction, communication,and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests”. Some of the common impairments include avoiding eye contact and holding a conversation; it also affects executive functioning tasks such as reasoning and planning. In addition, the disorder correlates with disabilities such as an attention deficit, lack of motor coordination, and physical health issues, such as sleep disturbance. (The) ASD has no single known cause, but it might relate to two factors:genes and environment. It initiates before the age of 2 to 3, and it lasts throughout a person’s life span. It affects (the) boys four times more than (the) girls, which holds true for all racial, ethnic, and social groups.

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.