I have decided to do a presentation on the diagnoses and prognoses of a broad disorder. This is Autism Spectrum Disorder and the many levels that are alone in this disorder. The basics of which range from those that are non-verbal, low social and progress up to the high intelligence and low social variant. Classic autism is what most people see as the only form and those visual clues include: nonverbal communication, increased focus and concentration of the individual on a particular object, repetitive movements, such as hand flapping or rocking, even self-harm is an identifying characteristic of classic autism.
(Wikipedia/Autism, n.d.)
As early as 18 months to 3 years of age is when most children are diagnosed in one form or another under the Spectrum. Parents generally see the evidence of the child showing tendencies towards the Spectrum and therefore will reach for an assessment and eventually a diagnosis. A lot of the indicators towards testing and diagnosis is the child not hitting normal milestones that a neurotypical peer would reach at the same point. Generally, it is more delayed indicating a possible problem. Currently there is not a medical test that is used to reach a diagnosis. In the
diagnostic process they use a multidisciplinary approach. The approach to diagnose includes pediatricians, psychologist, speech and language pathologist, and an occupational therapist. Should there be other medical issues that arise such as sleep disorders it is possible that
A specialist will also check school and medical records for clues, to see if the child 's home or school settings appear unusually stressful or disrupted, and gather information from the child 's parents and teachers. Coaches, babysitters, and other adults who know the child well also may be consulted.
A psychologist or psychiatrist carries out interviews with the child and family and a review of the child’s past records, behavioural interventions, and developmental history are taken.
Autism has become one of the top disabilities in California’s developmental system. Today, the rise of autism is increasing by 10 - 17 percent each year. (Madeleine 3) "The disease was first identified by child psychologist Leo Kanner in 1943 at Johns Hopkins University" (Little 2). Autism is a disorder that is usually detected within the first three years. According to the Autism Society of America, 1 in 166 individuals are diagnosed with autism, making it more common than the pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Boys are four times more likely to have it than girls. People with autism have a hard time communicating verbally and physically. They have special ways of gathering and reacting to information presented to them.
Imagine living a life where you do not understand the world around you. Autism is just like this, children with this disability have a hard time expressing themselves, learning new things and interacting with others. Isaac has lived with autism for 12 years now, and that is exactly how he feels.
A thorough evaluation includes gathering information from a variety of sources. A thorough review of the person's medical, academic and family history is essential. In the case of a child this is done through a detailed, structured interview with the parents. Behavior rating scales should be filled out by parents, and teachers to provide information on types and severity of ADD symptoms at home and at school, as well as types and severity of other emotional or behavior problems. Depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders are tested through a comprehensive psychological screening. Intellectual and achievement testing is used to help screen for and then assess learning problems, and areas of strength and greatest struggle.
They can be given medicine such as Risperidone and Quetiapine. They can take vitamins and other nutritional supplements. Also they can get therapy. Such as Anger management, family therapy, applied behavior therapy, sensory processing animal assisted therapy. One of the main ones they should have online speech therapy to help them develop some kind of speech. Most of these programs build on the interests of the child in a highly structured schedule. An appropriate treatment program will greatly improve the outlook for most young children with (ASD). The testing process uses only the healthiest cells to enable the safest and most effective fetal stem cell treatment
Autism is a developmental disability that affects all areas of behavior and perception. Approximately 10 out of every 10,000 children are diagnosed with autism and four out of five are males. Autism is the third most common developmental disability, more common than Down Syndrome. Children with Autism are characterized by impairment in several areas of development such as: Cognitive, Language, Play/Socialization skills and exhibit many challenging behaviors. Behavior Patterns of Autism:
Autism Spectrum Disorder affects various aspects of an autistic child’s life. Many children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder every year, while others go undiagnosed for an extended time, or even for their whole life. A child exhibiting delays in language benchmarks or showing little interest in the surroundings should be examined for possible ASD. Language is often impaired and although the level of impairment can range from severe too unnoticeable in each child, a child is likely to have a delay in another area, like coordination of motor skills, if not in language. Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that causes impairments in various aspects of language development.
Diagnosis. Many times conduct disorder is first diagnosed when somebody, often a child in school, comes to the attention of the authorities (law enforcement, family Doctor, and others) most often due to their behavior (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The child may then be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist for assessment and diagnosis. Usually there is no specific test administered, instead, the person would need to meet the criteria listed in the DSM-5. Often there is a history of acting out in school, home, neighborhood, or other social setting. The child may be enrolled in a court-ordered treatment program if they have come to the attention of the police and if a crime has occurred.
Have you ever felt discriminated against what makes you unique? America is a country that has so many unique qualities, yet those who show their uniqueness get discriminated. A recent speaker, Carina Morillo, spoke on how to understand the people who are diagnosed with autism was by looking them in the eye or in other words, don’t look away from them. With the years to come, the cases of Autism will continue to increase to explain those who don’t fit in our society. Even with all the statistics, the autism disorder discrimination continues to grow. Thankfully, we live in generation where the world is one click away, making it easier to broadcast our thoughts and opinions. With technology, it was an easier way to communicate with family members or with people who were also diagnosed with autism. The media is a great way to combat this issue because we can share personal stories, spread awareness, and reach thousands of people while doing so.
In a study conducted in Phoenix by the Arizona Business Gazette, researchers concluded that one in every 68 children in the United States is diagnosed with Autism before the age of 3. Autism is described as a “range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication,” (“What is Autism?”). Because of how present Autism is in our society, the topic has been heavily debated for years. There are many contrasting opinions regarding different issues on the subject of Autism, but there has yet to be an agreement on one of the most important aspects of the topic, the cure. It is profoundly disagreed upon whether it is ethically and morally correct for our society to fund and conduct research to find a cure for Autism because some think that it sending the message that we are trying to ”change” these autistic individuals. In relation to the information regarding neurodiversity and the autism spectrum, society should continue to pursue research and funding to find a cure because of the numerous ways it could improve the quality of life for those affected by autism.
Autistic infants often show little or no interest in other people and lack typical social behaviors. For example, they may not smile at their mother's voice or make eye contact with caregivers. Autistic children fail to develop normal relationships with their parents, brothers or sisters, and other children. Often they seem unaware of the needs and feelings of other people, and may not respond if another person is hurt or in distress. They also fail to make friends.
Many times children with these diagnoses are referred to mental health treatment from their teachers or school counselors (Morrison, 2014). Before a child is of
The features of autism are difficulty in social interaction, lack of empathy and repetitive patterns of behavior. (American Psychiatry Association 53) These symptoms begin to show at early childhood and limit normal everyday functioning. (53) Autistic symptoms vary among affected individuals due to difference in environment and genetics. Treatments also, vary greatly depending on the severity of this disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder is divided into numerous sub-types which include childhood autism, Kanner’s autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.
As some may know, Autism is a disorder which makes communication and social interaction difficult for the one affected. Autism is commonly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is made up of different “levels” and the patient can be severely autistic or mildly autistic as with Asperger’s Syndrome. Since there is a variety of different “levels,” there is a wide range of possible reactions that can occur. These reactions can occur when dealing with autistic patient in any setting, but especially in a health care setting.