Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders - Research Paper Example

Autism affiliation Annotated bibliography Volkmar, F. (2007). Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. New York: Cambridge University Press. In the book, autism is introduced as a neurological deformity that affects children below the before the third years after birth. The author recognizes that detection of symptoms that depict autism cannot be done until a child develops to be able to perform minimal activities. However, the author also cited discontent on that even with early detection there is no assurance of recovery. This is based on that no cure has been created that has been able to provide a definite cure for the disease. The author directs their discontent to stakeholders who have minimized financial resources provided to enable research on the disease. The trend has also caused increased autistic cases since the last century. The book also dwells on understanding the causing factors and symptoms of the disease. However, the author does not provide a particular causing factor. This is based on that numerous factors have been cited to be responsible for the disease. For instance, genetic inheritance, exposure to birth complications, childhood vaccinations and exposure to metals can be cited as causing factors. The book also cited numerous symptoms that are associated with autism. The main focus is, however, done on the repetitive nature of autistic people. In addition, other symptoms are associated with neurological disorders. Autism As a child develops, numerous health challenges are experienced before they reach full development. The development of a child should require their participation in social activities. In addition, the ability of a child to use their physical abilities should also be monitored. Malfunctions of these activities may depict a weaknesses or suffering from an illness. Volkmar (2007) is of the assumption that the health of a child is determined by their ability of fit their environment without many complications. Medical complications may be evidence of an existing illness of health complication. For instance, autism affects children below three years. Autism distorts the ability of the child to socialize effectively as well as take part in physical activities. Volkmar (2007) defines autism as a neurodevelopment disorder depicted by poor social interaction behavior, nonverbal and verbal communication. This medical illness makes it impossible for a child to fit in their environment. Volkmar (2007) points out that, autism has been existence for years but no certain cure has been created to curb the illness or ensure recovery of children affected. Autism is depicted by numerous characteristics and causing factors. The causing factors affect children below the age of three. In addition, symptoms can be physically detected. Numerous theories have been created to explain the existence of the disease. This has created negative perception of the people affected by the disease. What is the history of autism? What are the main factors that cause autism? How do children affected by autism react in their environment? What medical strategies have been created to the diseases and its effects? Autism is a neurodevelopment dysfunction that minimizes the ability of a child to interact, communicate either by verbal or nonverbal signs (Volkmar, 2007). In addition, it makes a child act in a repetitive behavior. The disease mostly affects children before the third year after birth. Parents may the defects in their children after two years. However, the symptoms can be easily detected after 3 years. Volkmar (2007) is of the assumption that at the age of three a child is required to portray significant social and interacting skills. A child with autism does not display these social skills. They have difficulties in communicating with people. They have difficulties creating verbal and nonverbal communication signs. In addition, information or communication signs provided to them are not comprehended. This is caused by neurological defects that minimize the ability of the ability of the brain to interpret sensors received. Volkmar (2007) asserts that autism distorts information processing in the brain. This is done by interfering with how nerve cells communicate and organize their synapses (Volkmar, 2007). This process cannot be understood regardless of many years of research. Autism is a part of the Autism Spectrum (ADS). Other illnesses in ADS are Asperger syndrome and the pervasive development disorder (Volkmar, 2007). The three disorders are closely related to neurological dysfunctions. However, autism bears the most significance since its cause and cure have never been determined. For this reason, children diagnosed with autism are not provided with a certain cure. However, a small percentage of them have recorded recovery. Autism is also strongly connected to genetics. Considering that the cause of the disease has never been understood, scientists have cited that genetic inheritance may cause future cases of victims. The same argument is supported by Volkmar (2007) who asserts that children likely to be affected with autism have at least one parent who has suffered from the disease. This enables medical practitioners to develop a pattern that would interpret the development and causing factors of autism. However, the argument on the connection to genetics has not been proven sufficiently. Volkmar (2007) provides an argument that points out that the most logic explanation that would explain the origin of autism is birth complications. Autism is not directly caused by birth complication but it is greatly influenced by agents that cause the complications. Agents of birth complication can be referred to challenges that affect both the mother and the infant during and after birth. Their effects could be either physical or psychological. On most occasions, physical deformities are detected immediately after birth. This enables treatment at an early stage. On the other hand, neurological effects can only be detected after the child has developed. For instance, a child with autism does not portray symptoms that would enable detection of the disease at an early stage (Volkmar, 2007). In addition, the neurological abilities of a child do not fully develop until they are two years and older. This minimizes the ease at which autism could be detected and treated. However, the early detection of autism cannot assure its treatment. In an argument by Volkmar (2007) autism since its first detection, autism has never been successfully treated. Medical practitioners have failed on numerous occasions failed to create a cure of disease. Since the 1980s cases of autism have increased significantly (Volkmar, 2007). This is because involved stakeholders have significantly minimized the funding directed to research on the disease. For this reason, medical institutions have limited resources to research and create a diagnosis for the disease. Prior to this decision, numerous research frameworks were created with an objective of finding a successful treatment for autism. However, they were not successful as practitioners failed to identify mechanism to eliminate or reduce the effects of disease. In addition, all the testing attempts failed (Volkmar, 2007). To date, autism is approached by a more personal approach. Similar to patients with mental instability, children with autism are required to take part in tests that are aimed at improving their ability to interact and communicate. Volkmar (2007) is also of the assumption that children with autism should be subjected to self-practice test that would increase their ability to develop like normal children. The author further points out that, children with autism should be allowed to interact with their peers under normal conditions. This would allow them adapt to their environment under normal conditions. Considering that they would not completely heal, adapting to the normal environment would increase their coping abilities. Over the years, only few autism patients have recovered. Their recovery is based on their ability to develop interpersonal and interacting skills. Volkmar (2007) is of the assumption that recovery to autism patients refers to their ability to develop interacting and social skills. The author further points out that their ability to communicate without a repetitive mode can also be considered as recovery (Volkmar, 2007). Regardless of the strides made, children with autism still display signs of deformity when they reach adulthood. In most cases, they remain under care as they advised not to reside alone. Family members are also required to monitor the even in their adulthood. One major symptom accompanied with autism is the repetitive nature during communication. For a normal child, verbal communication is done fluently. In addition, at the age of three children are able to construct correct sentences without repetitive instances. This is enabled through training and practice. A child with autism however does not have the ability to construct a complete sentence. Volkmar (2007) cites that they create one word which they repeat before they could create another word. The same could be said of nonverbal communication. Normal children are able to effectively communicate with children of their peers through accurate nonverbal signs. Autism distorts this ability. Apart from repetitive in their behavior, a child with autism displays different forms of repetitive behavior. They may include; (Volkmar, 2007) Sameness- this refers to the ability to avoid and refuse change. For instance a child may refuse interruption. Restricted behavior- this behavior creates limited focus to one activity. For instance, a child may only be willing to play with a particular toy or watch one television program. Self-injury- a child with autism may cause harm to their body by repeating a harmful activity like poking their eyes, banging their heads and pinching of the skin. Stereotypy- this is behavior characterized by repetitive movement such as flapping of arms and rolling of the eyes. Compulsive behavior- this refers to the ability of a child with autism to imitate the notion of following the rules. For instance, they tend to arrange objects in one straight line or a single stack. Ritualistic behavior- this behavior refers the ability of the child to adhere to one timetable or way of daily activities. A child may stick to one code of dressing or preference to one type of menu. This behavior is almost similar to sameness. Another major autism symptom is the ability of a child to have exemplary memorization skills. Considering that a child with autism is not easily distracted, they tend to capture information and knowledge they are exposed to. In addition they are able to memorize the information very effectively. Volkmar (2007) points out that 0.5 to 10 % of persons with autism have this exceptional memorization skill. This ability also enable them to have good attention and perception skills that normal people. This abilities come involuntarily as their neurological abilities are equipped in way that allows them to pay keen attention to a particular activity. 90% of children with autism also record symptoms of sensory abnormalities (Volkmar, 2007). Children with the illness tend to walk into things and bump into objects while walking. Under this symptom, autistic children have an over responsive sensory system. Some children react violently to touch and loud noise. If they are exposed to loud noises they tend to scream or hide. In addition, the sensory abnormality affects their muscle tone and motor planning. This deformity is caused by distortion of their motor coordination nerves. When compared to a normal child, autistic children have below per motor coordination. Autistic children also have eating disorder. Considering their repetitive nature, autistic children on numerous occasions resist change in their menu. For this reason, they tend to avoid a new choice of meals when presented to them (Volkmar, 2007). However, regardless of this behavior they rarely suffer from malnutrition. Myths and beliefs on the disease are misguided and inappropriate. Autistic people have the ability to have emotion and feelings like normal people. Regardless of their neurological deformities, they are able to interact with normal people and under the same environment. On numerous occasions, there is the perception that autistic people are socially unfit. This perception is based on the assumption that they have an inability to communicate, think and interact with other people (Volkmar, 2007). In addition, they are assumed to be violent and offer violent resistance when angry. In an argument by Volkmar (2007) the society needs to address these myths and create a society that is supportive of the affected people. The author further points put that autistic people tend to be superior that normal people considering their exceptional neurological abilities. For this reason, the society needs to embrace them and help them recover and acquire social skills. Reference Volkmar, F. (2007). Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders. 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