Treatment Options Used for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Today, we are seeing a rising increase in the occurrence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. What once used to be a rare disorder is now commonly recognized in the medical field as well as in the community. Not only is autism a health issue in itself, but many health issues come along with the disorder. This paper will discuss the description of the population, the top health issues and their relevance, and interventions and outcomes that can help reduce these health issues in this specific population.

Speech therapy is also a commonly used therapy with children who have been diagnosed with ASD. Every educator interviewed included speech therapy in the list of therapies they incorporate into educating students with ASD. Speech is helpful

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 spectrum disorder is an umbrella term used in diagnosing a collection of developmental disorders of the brain that vary in severity1. People with ASD may have trouble with social interactions, problems with different types of communication, may practice repetitive actions or behaviors1,2, struggle with paying attention, and suffer from motor disfunctions1. ASD is usually diagnosed in children between the ages of 2 and 3, this early diagnosis is very beneficial because it leads to intervention which intern leads to more positive outcomes later in life1. ASD affects 1 in every 68 American children1 and is 4-5 times more common in boys than girls1. Prevalence of this disease is on the rise, with a 10-17% increases in cases per-year1, which could be due to improved diagnostic methods, environmental factors, and other reasons that are unknown1. One well established diagnostic tool is the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) which is 15-point rating scale3 used to diagnose children with ASD and determine its severity2. Another less accredited, but still informative diagnostic tool is the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC)2 which differs from the CARS because it is a parent rater form of measurment2. ASD has no cure, but there have been studies that show behavioral outbursts can be reduced with the use of certain movements and breathing techniques4. This encourages confidence that more aspects of ASD can be improved with similar methods.

The original version of CARS emerged from some of the very early studies on ASD. For many years CARS was extensively adopted in both clinical and research settings. The

Every case of autism is different. Symptoms and behaviors vary in severity and often change over time, thus, the method of treatment is specialized to the needs of that child or adult. It is said that early diagnosis can help these individuals develop to their full potential as the primary goal of treatment is to improve their overall ability to function. Individuals with autism positively respond to highly structured treatments that help improve communication, social, behavioral, and learning aspects of their lives. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that strategies such as; specialized therapies, behavioral training and management, medicines, and community support and parent training are the best ways to help individuals with

Some forms of the methods include inclusion and exclusion criteria, search procedures, inter-rater agreement, data extraction, and lastly inter-rate agreement. The results based off of these methods look at the participants, animal, dependent variable, measurement, study outcomes, and certainty of Evidence. The article shows a chart on the 20 different studies and their review and outcome out of the 20 8 had positive outcomes and the rest had mixed outcomes in regards to different animals being used for AAI intervention with different depend on variables. The article is summed up by saying that there is not enough concrete evidence to support AAI as a therapeutic intervention for children with ASD.

Autism is a word that every modern parent is aware, and even afraid of. This word autism, however, has become common quite recently. It first appeared in 1943-1944 when Leo Kanner in Baltimore and Hans Asperger in Vienna, published articles describing a childhood disorder named “autism”. They actually borrowed this term from Kraepelin and Bleuler, who used it to “describe the escape from reality and withdrawal seen in schizophrenia” (Catherine and Frédérique 2431-2443). Now the term “autism spectrum disorder”(ASD) refers to a “condition of early childhood characterized by multiple impairments in socialization and communication, as well as unusual interests and repetitive behavior”(Lawrence and Karen 51-53). According to Dr.Jose Cordero, director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, autism has become an “urgent public health issue”(Caroline). It is a global phenomenon occurring in industrialized countries. Statistics shows a huge increase of autism in children: in 2000 every one in 150 children was autistic compared to one in 68 now(Alice). The most well known causes of autism are the use of vaccines, the increasing age of parents, and genetically modified foods. In addition, most researchers now believe that autism is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental triggers and possibly the use of

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

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that develops during a child’s first few years of life (Lesack, Bearss, Celano, & Sharp, 2014). This disorder occurs significantly more often in boys than girls (Goldstein, Naglieri, Rzepa, & Williams, 2012). Autism is part of a group that is known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which also includes Asperger’s disorder, Rett disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) (Sunita and Bilszta, 2012).

As difficult as it has been to find the origin of autism, it has also been quite a task to study the various treatments. Researchers have realized that autism can never be narrowed down to one treatment which can be applied to all of the symptoms. With every symptom that has been discovered in individuals with autism, there has been a different treatment along with it. Not to mention that nearly all treatments have not been supported by most empirical investigations. From children to elders, all have shown different symptoms of autism. Even within children with autism, they all vary from each other in significant ways. Therefore many investigations have been researched from an individual source patient. There are, however, a few approaches

Autism is a mental condition that presents from early childhood; this condition is a complex neurodevelopment disorder that characterized in different degrees, such as difficulties in social interaction, both nonverbal and verbal communication, repetitive and patterns of behavior. These symptoms are always being a challenge for affected child’s daily functioning. The behaviors in autism children can range in impact from mild to disabling. Autism show up with different characteristic and its severity are not equal in affected children; the symptoms may go unrecognized for some period of time especially in mildly affected children. There isn’t certain about the causes of autism, but it’s possible that genetics and environment play

According to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Autism is defined as a spectrum disorder (ASD). It refers to a wide range of complex neurodevelopment conditions characterized by repetitive and distinctive patterns of behavior and difficulties with social skills, communication, and interaction. The symptoms start from early childhood and affect daily functioning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximates ASD’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Autistic disorder, Rett’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS)

“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.” Those with autism may have a number of developmental difficulties such as problems with social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. It is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with impairments that have lifelong consequences. This paper will discuss how it is found in people, what the effects are, the levels of autism, and how you can help those with the disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, as well as behaviors (e.g. movements, interests and activities) that are restricted and repetitive1,2. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which was updated in 2013 (DSM-V), is used in the United States to diagnose ASD. DSM-V converts previously separate diagnoses (autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified, and Asperger disorder) into one single diagnosis3. There is significant clinical heterogeneity within ASD in both presence and severity of symptoms, which can lead to confusion and difficulty determining proper treatment. This paper will serve as a guide for healthcare practitioners and will examine ASD in detail, including general information, subjective and objective findings, diagnostic information and treatment.