Autism Spectrum Disorders - Essay Example

Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism is a collection of disorders in brain development that are all together referred to as autism spectrum disorder. The term spectrum is used to encompass the variety in which the disease presents itself. This can be the symptoms, skill level of the patient, the impairment level or the disability shown by children suffering from autism spectrum disorder. The effects of the disorder range from mild to severe depending on the patient. They interfere with a person’s behavior and the ability to socialize and communicate. Individuals suffering from autism deal with information in their brains differently (Fredericks, 2008). Due to this wide range of autism disorders, they are diagnosed using a system published in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition - Text Revision. This is the most up-to-date method of classification and it puts the disorders into five groups. These are: Autistic Disorder or Classic Autism When talking about autism most individuals always have autistic disorder in mind as it has a highest occurrence. This type of autism is characterized by challenges in language, social life and communication, strange interests and behaviors. Asperger’s Syndrome The symptoms exhibited by people with Asperger’s syndrome are usually mild compared to those with the classic autism. They experience challenges in communication and socializing and have unusual interests. However, they have little or no problems with intellectual capability or language. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified This is also referred to as atypical autism. This category is for people who meet some characteristics of the Asperger’s or classic autistic syndrome but not all. They display fewer symptoms than those with classic autism. Their symptoms are mild and might only cause communication and social challenges. Rett’s syndrome or disorder Childhood disintegrative disorder Additional information on the disease can be obtained from the center for disease control and prevention website or the website for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development The exact cause of autism spectrum disorder is yet to be identified. Scientists, however, have come up with theories as to how they arise. Some argue that their origin is genetic while others argue that it is environmental. Tests have been carried out in using identical twins to see whether the condition is related to the gene. Researchers found this fact to be true because when one twin came out with autism, chances for the others getting autism is very high. 9 out of every 10 cases they tried turned out to have autism. This is because identical twins share almost the same genetic code. Only recently have scientists begun identifying specific genes that increase the risk of a person to suffer from Autism spectrum disorder. People suffering from autism usually have no history of the disorder in their families. This shows that the disease attacks at random and is likely to be caused by mutations. These mutations can be inherited or can be unique to the individual. Environmental factors are everything we see, feel and perceive to be around us. This includes the air that we breath and the water we drink among others. The surrounding in our mother’s wombs also counts as an environment. Scientists are looking into ways these factors influence the occurrence of autism in an individual. These factors can be exposure to toxins or even complications during child birth. For example, when a woman is pregnant, taking drugs with valproic acid and thalidomide have been shown to increase the risk of getting autism. A few children who are born with low weight also stand a higher risk of getting the disease. Center for Disease Control is currently working on the largest study ever conducted into the development of children called Study to Explore Early development. This study is looking into all factors that are said to increase the risk of contacting autism (Zimmerman, 2008). The diagnosis of such a disease can be difficult since it cannot be done using methods such as looking at the blood sample. Instead, the child has to be observed over a period to see the behavior and development. The disorder may be detected from as early as 18 months but by the age of 2, an experienced professional should be able to tell whether or not a child is autistic. Children whose conditions are not discovered in time usually end up with severe symptoms later in life (Stillman, 2009). One of the diagnosis methods is developmental screening. This method is critical in identifying whether or not a child is learning the basic skills that they are supposed to. During these sessions, the doctors sit with the child and ask them questions, plays with them or just talk. Through this, they are able to detect problems in their speech pattern, learning capability, behavior and movement. All children should be taken to a specialist regularly for developmental screening. Parents should also take their children, regularly, for autism spectrum disorder screening especially those at higher risk. Another method is comprehensive diagnostic evaluation. This is a more thorough review and might involve a sit-down with the parents as well as examining the child. The doctor may also perform neurological tests, vision tests, genetic tests and hearing among many other tests. These tests can be performed by child neurologists, child psychologists, and developmental pediatrician (Oller & Oller, 2010). Children or people with autism spectrum disorder do not show all the symptoms as they are all unique in their own way. The most common symptoms seen in autistic patients include: 1. Poor social skills: They lack eye contact and might react violently to touch. They also do not recognize personal space among others. 2. Poor language development: Speech may be abnormally loud or very quiet. They do not use proper intonations among others. 3. They show unusual behaviors like obsession with objects, ideas or desires. 4. They might lack sensitivity to sound, texture, tastes or smell 5. They might have unusual gait as they walk 6. They are not the sharpest in class and take longer time to learn. A good case example is John who is a healthy three years old but his parents are worried because he is not doing most of the things his elder sister was doing at that age. His speech is unclear and he tends to drool a lot. he is unable to follow simple instructions and he cannot explain himself in complete sentences. He is unable to complete simple puzzles and shows very little interest in toys. He loves playing alone and lacks enough creativity to play pretend. He finds it hard walking up and down the stairs. He seldom makes eye contact with those around him. He should be checked by a specialist. The best way to handle children with autism is to provide them with good teachers. Those that will care for them and give them their undivided attention. John should be taken to speech therapy classes at his tender to allow him time to practice and be as good as the rest. The teacher or guardian should constantly engage them in games and ensure they are trained on good manners and behavior (Veague, 2010). Instructions given to autistic children should be brief and to the point. The teachers should find ways of encourage the natural talents of the autistics like art. When a student becomes fixated on a certain object, the teacher should try and incorporate it in teaching. For example, making math questions using trains such as how long it will take a train to move from point a to b. Autistic students love pictures, therefore, pictures should be incorporated in everything they do. The use of computers can also be of great help to those children frustrated by writing. They usually have poor motor skills; therefore, typing on the computer will help them a lot. There are so many methods that can be used to teach these children, these are just a few. The parents should show lots of love to their child even in his condition. They should make sure he has everything that he requires to ensure picks up on what other kids are doing. They should buy toys and engage the children in games. They should also take the child to the doctor regularly to monitor progress (Dawson, 1989). References Dawson, G. (1989). Autism: Nature, diagnosis, and treatment. New York: Guilford Press. Fredericks, C. (2008). Autism. Detroit: Thomson Gale. Oller, J. W., & Oller, S. D. (2010). Autism: The diagnosis, treatment, & etiology of the undeniable epidemic. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett. Stillman, W. (2009). Empowered autism parenting: Celebrating (and defending) your child’s place in the world. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Veague, H. B. (2010). Autism. New York, NY: Chelsea House. Zimmerman, A. W. (2008). Autism: Current theories and evidence. Totowa, N.J: Humana Press. Read More