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Disability connections, dedicated to enhance the daily lives of those suffering from any forms of disability. We connect people to resources and services.

Autism Resources

Definition: Autism is one of a group of serious pervasive developmental disorders that is characterized by abnormalities in social functioning, language and communication. More specifically, autism affects many aspects of the child's interaction with his or her world.It involves many parts of the brain and is categorized as a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Symptoms: Many children exhibit signs of autism in early infancy. Other children may develop normally for the first few months or years of life, but then suddenly become withdrawn, aggressive or lose language skills they have already acquired. In most cases, symptoms typically appear in early childhood — usually before age 3. Although every child with autism is likely to have a unique pattern of behavior, these characteristics are common signs of the disorder.

Social skills:

Fails to respond to his or her name
Has poor eye contact
Appears not to hear you at times

Behavior:

Repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand-flapping.

Develops specific routines or rituals.

Becomes disturbed at the slightest change in routines or rituals.

Moves constantly.

Sensory Selectivity - May be fascinated by parts of an object, such as reflector on bicycle wheel.

May be unusually sensitive to light, sound and touch and yet oblivious to pain.

Young children with autism also have a hard time-sharing experience with others. When read to, for example, they're unlikely to point at pictures in the book. This early-developing social skill is crucial to later language and social development. Two crucial predictors of development are development of language skills and the child's IQ.

As they mature, some children with autism become more engaged with others and show less marked disturbances in behavior. Some, usually those with the least severe problems, eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Others, however, continue to have great difficulty with language or social skills, and the adolescent years can mean a worsening of behavior problems. The majority of children with autism are slow to acquire new knowledge or skills and some have signs of lower than normal intelligence. About 70% of children with aitism are diagnosed with mental retardation(MR). Other children with autism have normal to high intelligence. These children learn quickly yet have trouble communicating, applying what they know in everyday life and adjusting in social situations. An extremely small number of children with autism are "autistic savants" and have exceptional skills in a specific area, such as art, math or music.

Causes

Genetic errors
Environmental factors
Other causes

Risk factors:

Your child's sex. Studies show that boys are three to four times more likely to develop autism than girls are.  (See Rets Syndrome)

Paternal age. Research increasingly suggests that having an older father may increase a child's risk of autism. One large study showed that children born to men 40 years or older were almost six times more likely to have autism spectrum disorder than were children born to men younger than 30 years. Maternal age on the other hand, seems to have little effect on autism risk.

Other disorders. Children with certain medical conditions have a higher than normal risk of having autism. These conditions include fragile X syndrome, an inherited disorder that causes intellectual impairment; tuberous sclerosis, a condition in which benign tumors develop in the brain; the neurological disorder tourette syndrome; and epilepsy, which causes seizures.

When to Seek Medical Advice:

Babies develop at their own pace, and many don't follow exact timeliness found in some parenting books. However, children with autism usually show some signs of delayed development by 18 months. If you suspect that your child may have autism, discuss your concerns with your doctor. The earlier treatment begins the more effective it will be.

Your doctor may recommend further evaluation if your child:

Doesn't babble or coo by 12 months

Doesn't gesture — such as point or wave — by 12 months Doesn't say single words by 16 months.
Doesn't say two-word phrases by 24 months.
Loses previously acquired language or social skills at any age.

Tests and diagnosis:

Because autism varies widely in severity and manifestations, making a diagnosis may be difficult. Your child's doctor will look for signs of developmental delays at regular checkups. If your child shows some signs of autism, you may be referred to a specialist in treating children with autism. This specialist, working with a team of professionals, can perform a formal evaluation for the disorder. A formal evaluation consists of an expert observing your child and talking to you about how your child's social skills, language skills and behavior have developed and changed over time. To help reach a diagnosis, your child may undergo a number of developmental tests covering speech, language and psychological issues. Although the signs of autism often appear by 18 months, the diagnosis sometimes isn't made until age 2 or 3, when there may be more obvious delays in language development and social interactions. Early diagnosis is important because early intervention — preferably before age 3 — seems to be associated with the best chance for significant improvement. Treatments and drugs. Despite some claims, there is no proven cure for autism, and there is no "one-size-fits-all" treatment. In fact, the range of home-based and school-based treatments and interventions for autism can be overwhelming.

Treatment options may include:

Behavior and communication therapies

Educational therapies

Drug therapies

Creative therapies and Special diets

*Reference:

The Mayo Clinic

Available at: The Mayo Clinic Website

Accessed December 28, 2010.

Coping and support:

Links for Organization And Resources:

Autism Speaks