Lauren Shaak
July 17, 2015
Autism
Overview
Autism encompasses a wide range of development disorders. Therefore, defining what autism is is a distinct challenge. It is no one thing; it may be many things. A puzzle piece stands as the apt and indelible logo for Autism awareness.
What Autism Is
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) merged all forms of autism into the overarching diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Earlier editions of the DSM separated autism into several categories. However, the more accurate view of autism is as a wide spectrum. Autism is no one thing. Rather, autism is a disorder of degree, with each diagnosis marking a unique imprint on the spectrum.
Autism is a developmental disorder, but autism is not easily categorized because it is not fully understood. Autism is an intellectual disability thought to be rooted in early neurological development. Research is not definitive, but some evidence points to improper synaptic function as a possible cause of ASD.
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Autism is not a disease. Not to parse words, but disorders and diseases are distinct categories. While the terms are often used synonymously, the truth is that, in the medical community, disease implies a process with characteristic signs and symptoms. A disorder, on the other hand, is the term given to functional abnormalities. The difference, then, is that a disease has a clear causality—mutating cells become cancerous, for example. A disorder, meanwhile, points to something that is working improperly. With ASD, the classification is
Autism is a developmental disability caused by neurological dysfunction. It affects the way a person understands and responds to the world, how they hear, see, feel, sense, perceive and interpret everything around them. This may affect how they eat, sleep, dress, work, spend leisure time etc. They are likely to have repetitive behaviour
Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because symptoms and severity vary from individual to individual. Autistic people express differently from each other. Autistic spectrum describes a range of conditions classified as pervasive developmental disorders.
Autism is a brain disorder that can affect a child’s development in the sense that they would have trouble with verbal and nonverbal communication, repetitive behavior, or social interaction in general. Autism can be detected in children ages two to three years old and 1 in every 88 children in America are diagnosed with autism yearly.
Autism can be defined as a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts (Merriam-Webster Online). Autism can have a wide variety of severity; there is the autism spectrum, which tells educators, whether the child is higher up or lower on the spectrum, or if they are in the middle. There has been a steady increase in the number of students who have been diagnosed with autism, according to Deris (2013); the number of children who have autism went from one in 150 in 2000, almost to one in 88 in 2008.
Just imagine your child was diagnosed of having autism. The realization of your child perhaps being autistic may be lurid. You now know that your child will be found with many challenges, and may have a severe difficulty making sense of the world. Autism is an illness that can affect your communication, socialization, intelligence, and you may act in many unusual behaviors. To try to help an autistic child is being very courageous. Having a child will who is autistic will be a struggle throughout both of your lives.
According to Webster’s Compact Dictionary, autism is defined as A mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. I define autism as always unique totally interesting sometimes mysterious disorder. B. Audience Relevance: Autism is a learning special need that impacts children worldwide. According to WebMD Health News, autism hits 1 in every 88 children
Autism is a developmental disability that presents at an early age (typically under the age of three years) that can affect a child’s educational performance. Child and adults can have deficiencies in communication, social skills, and using language. People with autism tend to engage in motor/vocal stereotypy. The spectrum for autism has a wide range from mild to severe. To determine where a child falls on the spectrum many assessments can be administered.
Autism is described as a neurodevelopmental disorder that inhibits characteristics like impaired social interaction, difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, cognitive disorders and repetitive behavior.
Many people don’t know, or understand what Autism truly is. Autism is defined as, according to (What is Autism?) “Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.”
Autism is a neurological and social communication disorder that typically emerges and can be diagnosed during ages 2 and 3 years. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. “These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors” (Autism Speaks, 2014).
Autism- is a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before the age of 3, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.
Autism is a disorder characterized by significant problems in communication and social functioning. Autism is actually called Autism Spectrum Disorder and encompasses a broad range disabilities such as Asperger syndrome, Rett’s Syndrome, and Pervavasive Development Disorder (Dunlap & Fox, n.d.). There are also varying degrees of the disorder from low-functioning (no communication and no social interaction) to
Although autism is a common disorder, many people are under educated. Autism is a shorter term for autism spectrum disorder or ASD. Both are “general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development” (What). ASD can involve many brain development issues, including “intellectual disability, difficulties with motor coordination and attention and physical health issues” (What). Individuals afflicted by autism can have a range of development problems from mild to severe. Unlike some other conditions, no two cases of autism spectrum disorder are the same.
Autism is mostly defined by and impairment in speech/communication. It is made of other other things, but it mostly is that. It comes in a scale, or spectrum, called the autism spectrum and consists of high functioning and low functioning, with more complications. Most of the statements are common generalizations, and don't mean that autism isn't autism without these qualities.
ASD and Autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development (What Is Autism, n.d.). Prior to 2013, patients could be diagnosed under Autistic Disorder (AD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD). In 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) merged all Autism Disorders under one umbrella termed ASD so that it will improve the diagnosis of ASD without limiting the sensitivity of the criteria or substantially changing the number of children being diagnosed. (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).