Individuals with Autism Cannot Learn New Skills - Report Example

Individuals with Autism Cannot Learn New Skills Due paper Autism is a medical problem thatrelates to the hearing ability of children. The myth selected for review for this paper was that individuals with autism cannot learn new skills. Some credible and peer reviewed scholarly journals were used to support and refute the myth. The supporting sources about the myth revealed that autism is characterized by qualitative impairments in social interactions and repetitive pattern of behaviors. On the other hand, the sources refuting the myth revealed that autism is a curable medical problem and autistic individuals can learn new skills using different methods of treatment. The findings about the myth were summarized at the end of the paper and a recommendation was given about what should be stated about the myth in future. Introduction Autism is one of the most critical medical problems that affects the hearing ability of individuals and makes it difficult for them to communicate effectively and interact with others. As Blanc and Volkers (2008) state, “Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects social and communication skills” (p. 5). Autistic children are unable to communicate effectively with peers and family members. Typically developing peers learn quickly than autistic children because they possess higher learning potential and quick learning reflexes. On the other hand, autistic children feel difficult to operate on their own and require continuous assistance to learn new things. However, the learning potential and learning capability of autistic individuals can be improved using some effective treatments and therapies. There are different myths about autism that can be proved correct or incorrect. The myth selected for review for this paper is that individuals with autism cannot learn new skills. Scholarly journals will be used to support and refute the myth. At the end of the paper, the findings will be summarized and a recommendation will be given about the myth discussed in the paper. Support for the Myth Autism is a behaviorally defined medical problem characterized by qualitative impairments in an individual’s ability to interact, image, and communicate (Baird, Cass, & Slonims, 2003). This statement shows that autism is a big problem as people with autism cannot interact with other people around them in the way normal individuals do it. The main symptoms of autism, which determine the presence of autism in a child, include poor eye contact, less interaction with family members, inability to speak a single word for a long time after birth, and inability to make non-verbal gestures (Baird, Cass, & Slonims, 2003). These symptoms show that individuals with autism have some sort of social isolation emotions that hinder their ability to interact with others in an appropriate manner. Their mind and feelings are attached to some particular things because of which their learning skills and abilities do not increase. As the result of this, they feel it difficult to learn new skills, whether they are social skills, judgment skills, or cognitive skills. Another scholarly reference that supports the myth that autistic individuals cannot learn new skills is that people with autism show repetitive patterns of behaviors. As Wing (1996) states, “Autistic spectrum disorders share a triad of impaired social interaction, communication, and imagination, associated with a rigid, repetitive pattern of behavior” (p. 327). This statement again supports the myth as it terms the behaviors and actions of autistic individuals as repetitive pattern of behaviors. Repetition occurs only when a person finds it difficult to learn new skills or new knowledge regarding anything. For example, if a person does not know or cannot know the way to interact with the strangers, he/she will always hesitate to do so and will show reluctance as a repetitive behavior because of not knowing the way to manage conversation with the strangers. This happens because of the inability of the autistic individuals to learn new behaviors and actions. On the other hand, normal people start conversations confidently because they know the way to deal with strangers as it is a learned behavior. Social interaction skills are affected due to autism that creates a number of problems for the autistic people both in personal and professional lives. Effective interaction and communication with other people in society is essential for a person to achieve success in life but autistic individuals cannot make a good use of this essential skill. They cannot learn new skills easily because of which they show recurrence in their behaviors and actions (Wing, 1996). Evidences against the Myth The first scholarly reference to refute the myth is that people with autism can learn new skills through some effective treatments and therapies. According to Barry and Burlew (2004), social story telling can be used as an effective tool to make autistic individuals learn new skills and knowledge. This statement refutes the myth by presenting story telling as a way to teach suitable behavioral skills to autistic people. One point to consider here is that autistic children possess the same learning capabilities as of typically developing peers. The only difference is that people with autism need some special modes of education to learn new skills and knowledge. Social story telling is a method that can really motivate the people with autism to speak and react to actions properly. Another reference that refutes the myth is that skills of autistic individuals can be improved through inclusive settings-based training. According to Laushey and Heflin (2000), social skills of people with autism can be improved through adult-directed interactions between autistic students and typically developing peers. Another reference to refute the myth is based on the parent-child interaction based therapy. Vismara, Colombi, and Rogers (2009) found that parent-child interactive education program can serve as an effective tool to improve the social communication skills of children with autism. Another study, “Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Children with Autism: Four-Year Outcome and Predictors”, by Glen O. Sallows, Tamlynn D. Graupner, and William MacLean show that clinic-directed settings can also be used as an effective way to improve social behavioral skills of people with autism. Well-trained supervisors at clinic-directed settings can play a considerable role in improving learning skills and classroom performances of autistic children (Sallows, Graupner, & MacLean, 2005). Similarly, a research study by Miriam Silver and Peter Oakes revealed that computer intervention can also be used to make autistic individuals learn new knowledge and develop social interaction skills. Computer-based teaching can result in improving the social and emotional perception skills of children with autism (Silver & Oakes, 2001). This shows that autistic individuals can also learn new skills provided that they are given some effective treatment or technology-based education in inclusive settings. Conclusion and Recommendation Summing it up, autism is a medical problem associated with the hearing ability of children. It is a neurological disorder that adversely affects some key functions of the brain. Learning is one of those functions that are directly affected by autism. People say that autistic individuals are not able to learn new skills. Some scholars believe that autistic individuals have qualitative impairments that block their memory to learn and store social interaction and communication skills because of which they start showing repetitive behaviors (Baird, Cass, & Slonims, 2003; Wing, 1996). On the other hand, some scholars are of the viewpoint that learning skills of autistic children can be improved by making a careful use of autism related therapies and special education programs. They also believe that the role of parents and teachers along with medical professionals is very critical in making autistic individuals learn new skills (Barry & Burlew, 2004; Laushey & Heflin, 2000; Vismara, Colombi, & Rogers, 2009; Sallows, Graupner, & MacLean, 2005; Silver & Oakes, 2001). The recommendation about what should be stated about the myth in future is that autism is definitely a severe medical problem but it can be cured to a great extent through care, therapeutic treatments, and special education and training programs. References Baird, G., Cass, H., & Slonims, V. (2003). Diagnosis of Autism. BMJ, 10(1136), 413-488. Doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7413.488 Barry, L., & Burlew, S. (2004). Using Social Stories to Teach Choice and Play Skills to Children With Autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 19(1), 45-51. Doi: 10.1177/10883576040190010601 Blanc, R., & Volkers, H. (2008). What You Should Know about Autism Spectrum Disorders. U.S.A: Cranendonck Coaching. Laushey, K., & Heflin, L. (2000). Enhancing Social Skills of Kindergarten Children with Autism through the Training of Multiple Peers as Tutors. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 183-193. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1005558101038 Sallows, G., Graupner, T., & MacLean, W. (2005). Intensive Behavioral Treatment for Children with Autism: Four-Year Outcome and Predictors. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110(6), 417-438. Retrieved from http://www.aaiddjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1352/0895-8017%282005%29110%5B417%3AIBTFCW%5D2.0.CO%3B2?journalCode=ajmr.1 Silver, M., & Oakes, P. (2001). Evaluation of a New Computer Intervention to Teach People with Autism or Asperger Syndrome to Recognize and Predict Emotions in Others. Autism, 5(3), 299-316. Vismara, L., Colombi, C., & Rogers, S. (2009). Can One Hour Per Week of Therapy Lead to Lasting Changes in Young Children with Autism?. Autism, 13(1), 93-115. Doi: 10.1177/1362361307098516 Wing, L. (1996). Autistic Spectrum Disorders. BMJ, 312(7027), 312-328. Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.312.7027.327 Read More