Autism Spectrum Disorder - Research Paper Example

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Introduction Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered as a serious developmental disorder affecting children especially from the early months of life and the disorder often results in low intelligence. The term autism has acquired the solemn attention of researchers and psychologists. Generally, autism affects various aspects of children’s behaviour such as their social interactions and relationships, language and communication abilities, activities and interests. Studies have pointed out that there are number of factors responsible for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Even though researchers have become aware of factors such as genetic abnormality, metabolic disorders, and viral agents which promote autism, the actual cause of autism remains unknown. Autism, regarded as a major developmental disorder that has adverse impact on the development of a child, is now seen as an issue that has certain specific biological, mental or social impacts. Studies reveal that parents and doctors find it essential to provide their children nutritional supplements because of disorder in gastrointestinal system. Many parents have the misconception that ASD is a primary brain disorder and a psychiatric condition. Even though Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is generally regarded as a developmental disorder, it has some biological, mental and social impacts that cause adverse effects in the developmental process of a child. Is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) a biological issue? Unlike previous conceptions, autism is now viewed as a biological disorder due to organic than psychosomatic factors. Uncharacteristic biology and chemistry in human brain interrupt smooth functioning of human brain and its organs. Genetic factors or biological reasons are significant in the formation of autism among the children. It is a brain based developmental problem that promotes difficulty in communication, cognition and social interaction. The problem is that parents seek various treatments and practice various medicines without proper awareness. This causes various health problems such as nutritional insufficiencies, allergy problems, intestinal overgrowth and immunity crisis because of the use of various drugs and medicines. Stephanie Marohn argues that many suffer from “weakened immunity or autoimmune problems” (Marohn, 2002). Studies have identified the fact that Autism mainly affects many parts of the brain. Defective functioning of brain and its organs causes poor immune system. Medicinal reactions and allergies cause for frequent flu and it creates various problems to ear, eyes and nose among children who suffer from autism. Infections of eyes result in lack of proper eye contact and as Mary Tyrer remarks, “without eye contact, autistic children often will not develop skills such as eating properly, speech and other motor skills babies and toddlers must develop” (Tyrer, 2010). Excessive use of medicines makes an autistic child subject to various digestive problems and poor digestion causes overweight and defective immune system in a child’s health. . In some cases, children with autism show intolerance to food items such as wheat, milk, sugar, and fruits. The use of these food items makes frequent allergy problems among them. So it is clear that biological impacts of autism are crucial in the developmental process of a child in his early period. Impairments of organs in brain and the problem of eye contact pave the way for insufficient performance of motor skills and it leads the child to over strain and physical pain. Digestive problems lead children to poor health and recurrent health problems. Malfunction of eye contact results in low level of knowledge acquisition. Another biological problem is that an autistic child is often forced to consume more energy for motor activities and it creates over strain to his body. The symptoms of autism usually develops gradually; however practitioners have noticed that children who have the symptoms of autism cannot live independently after reaching their adult hood. Another important biological problem that an autistic child faces is his or her body’s inability in consuming vitamins and minerals properly. As a result of this impairment such persons feel excessive swatting, excessive thirst and fail to control temperature, and bloating Is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) a mental or social issue? Earlier researches and studies prove that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is only a developmental disorder and that it is not a disease or mental retardation. Medical professionals and practitioners suggest new interventions in the field of autism treatment like blending of behavioural therapies and biomedical treatments and many people have followed this for recovering autism. Researchers’ comprehensions about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) becomes more stable and clear when Gil Eyal suggests that “autism no longer needed to be a disease entity or to be restricted in to a rare syndrome, in order to avoid blending indistinguishably with mental retardation” (Eyal, 2010, p. 202) . People from different nations have believed that autism is a severe mental problem and the dreadful reality is that even parents of autistic children also have such kind of misconceptions and misbelieves. But it does not mean that autism is a mental issue among children. Misconceptions and beliefs about autism always make problems in the society and the need of proper awareness and knowledge is essential. These misconceptions act as a catalyst in the process of creating negative perceptions about autism among the people. Social service and health organizations can provide better contributions to overcome this issue. No doubt, children having the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face difficulties in proper eye contact and as a result of this impairment they may fail to develop motor skills properly. Examining various stages of development, one can comprehend that early childhood is more crucial and significant as a child starts language acquisition and cognition in his or her early childhood. Effective cognition requires proper functioning of brain and other organs. Children in their early childhood practices different sound gestures and movements and these prove to be instrumental in their mental or cognitive development. Autistic children are always troubled with low level acquisition and response. In family and schools an autistic child is forced to confine to his own world and this lead him to be aggressive or become a social nuisance. In this respect, Fred R. Volkmar states that children who suffer from autism “may not enjoy the social aspects of jobs, in fact, social interactions at work might be experienced as stressful, and albeit necessary, parts of their daytime life” (Volkmar, 2005, p. 300). Similarly, there are family members who treat an autistic child without proper awareness. In the same way, improper attitude of the fellow beings also force an autistic child to engage in aggressive behaviour and become a social trouble maker. Defective social interaction and communication impairments often create interference in the life of a child in his early childhood. A frightful fact is that autism adversely affects the child’s ability to develop various skills such as speaking, cognition, and motor skills. Physical problems and other biological impairments can lead to social harms. Communication failures often create inferiority complex and a kind of withdrawal can be seen among the children with Autism. Poor interactive performance becomes a barrier between the child and his or her family members and others. Repeated failures and inefficiencies force the child to show signs of bullying and aggressive behavior. Developmental disorders in a child with autism pave the way for social alienation. In this respect, social workers and activists play a significant and responsible role in the developmental process of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The need of empirical support in ASD treatment Medical researches and studies have identified autism as a disorder of neural development. This disorder of neural development is mainly characterized by damaged social dealings and communication, and by constrained behaviour. Because of this communicative problem the attitude of doctors, relatives of the infected children and family members play pivotal roles in dealing with developmental problems in the life of autistic children. Ozonoff et al clearly comment that autism is an “important state unequivocally to every family seen in diagnostic setting that is not caused by poor parenting or any other social-environmental variable” .( Ozonoff, Rojers & Hendern, 2003). Children who have autistic symptoms suffer from social interaction and communication problems with verbal and nonverbal and contracted compulsive interests. Here one can see that social and empirical support from the part of doctors, social workers and other social organizations is essential for the children with autism, caregivers and parents recovering autism. The book entitled Clinical assessment and intervention for autism spectrum disorders offers fresh insights into the relevance and need of empirical support in ASD treatment. Johnny L. Matson remarks that “social support, and even the perception of social support, is critical for parents, in terms of reducing stress and selecting treatments” (Matson, 2008). It is better to practice or encourage a new perspective about the issue of autism and this call for proper care and cooperation for children with autism. Doctors and medical practitioners have prescribed an antidepressant meditation to handle the signs of anxiety, behaviour disorder, and depression. Medical experts identify the significance of family involvement and union with a variety of speech professionals and communication partners, the facilitation of group learning, and the importance of corresponding service delivery to meaningful results. Through effective care and support one can strengthen the developmental process of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Conclusions To conclude, it is easy to comprehend that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a kind of developmental disorder, characterized by defective interaction that cause barriers for the developmental process of a child in his early childhood. Even though autism is considered as a developmental disorder, it has some biological impacts among children with autism. Defective immune system props up frequent diseases and ill health. This disability leads the child to a world of alienation and this prompts the child to display signs of aggressive nature. Autism is not mental retardation but people have always shown their willingness to believe that autism creates mental or social issues. Poor interaction and communication act as a barrier in developmental process of a child in his early childhood. Empirical support from the part of doctors and social organizations and social services can play a vital role in the rehabilitation of autistic children. Proper care and emotional support from the family and society can promote the formation of structured cognition, language acquisition, motor activities and speech in the life of an autistic child. As a developmental disorder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has its own biological and mental or social impacts that have adverse effects in the developmental process of a child in his/her early childhood. Reference Marohn, S. (2002) Excerpt (Chapter 1) fromThe Natural Medicine Guide to Autism. Retrieved 31 October 2010 from: http://www.stephaniemarohn.com/autismch1.pdf Tyrer, M. (2010). How autism affects a childs development. Retrieved 31 October 2010 from Helium, Inc. website: http://www.helium.com/items/1147534-autistic-children-and-their-development Volkmar, F. R. (2005). Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Assessment, interventions, and policy. Illustrated 3rd Edition: John Wiley and Sons. Ozonoff, S., Rojers, S.J & Hendern, R.L. (2003). Autism spectrum disorders: a research review for practitioner. Illustrated Edition: American Psychiatric Pub. Eyal, Gil. (2010). The Autism Matrix. Polity. Matson, J.L. (2008). Clinical assessment and intervention for autism spectrum disorders. Illustrated Edition: Academic Press. Read More