Autism, Brain Development Disorder

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Autism is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old.[2] The autism spectrum disorders (ASD) also include related conditions with milder signs and symptoms.[3]

Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by multigene interactions or by rare mutations.[4] In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects.[5] Other proposed causes, such as childhood vaccines, are controversial, and the vaccine hypotheses lack any convincing scientific evidence.[6] The prevalence of ASD is about 6 per 1,000 people, with about four times as many boys as girls. The number of people known to have autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved.[7]

Autism affects many parts of the brain; how this occurs is not understood. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. Although early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help children gain self-care, social, and communication skills, there is no known cure.[3] Few children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, but some become successful,[8] and an autistic culture has developed, with some seeking a cure and others believing that autism is a condition rather than a disorder.[9]

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Saturday, 18 April 2009

Bad Apples on the Family Tree

The announcement that a child in the family is autistic is most usually met with a cipher of reactions. Pace all family members, commensurate extended, would appear as productive in an paragon world, the miserable authenticity is that several are disgusted or disappointed. Does a family item rebuke the autistic child recurrently? Does he or nymph eyeful at your autistic child unfairly? Does this family parcel insist on treating your autistic child the alike road he or nymphet treats all the other children in your family, horizontal when authentic is damaging? These are cipher that this relative is not flexible to either your autistic child or the where. This may often imitate the situation when discovering a child is autistic, consequently whereas a parent, buy for aware and prepared for this to happen.

Ofttimes, unreceptive kin smartly do not explain what autism is or what sincere means for your child and your immediate family. Though various penetrate autism due to a mental retardation, multifarious autistic children and adults are highly bright; they are ethical unable to communicate this in the alike ways that others would. Fling explaining what autism means to this family ration, and own him or her spend some second with you and your autistic child. Avow them to sight the effects of autism and the methods you can avail to cope.

If the family bit continues to speak for unsupportive or refuses your explanation, ask why this family item is consequently unreceptive to the position. Are they scared of hurting the child? Are they worried about the other boundness when spending instance with the child? Perhaps they feel in control or are embarrassed. If you can pinpoint why a family bite is unreceptive, you can fitter directions the matter and hopefully help him or her blown away their embryonic perceptions.

Conceivably no amount of speaking or spending month together will help this family portion blown away their prejudice. If this person has stubbornly fictional up his or her mind, you will never be able to show him or her how beautiful your son or daughter is - autism and all. If this is the case, eliminating this person from your life may be difficult, but it will also rid you and your child of this family member ' s negative energy and personality. In this developing situation, you need the best positive support available. Remember that other family members have been supportive; that your children are adjusting well and are a source of strength for you. Strengthen your support network by participating in parent support groups for autistic children. And remember that you can surround yourself with those who do accept and love your child - family or not.

Tuesday, 14 April 2009

How Brothers and Sisters can Cope with Autistic Family Members

When a family atom is diagnosed with autism, there is a expanded amount of dirt teaching parents how to cope with an autistic child, and there is and clue for parents about dealing with an autistic child ' s at variance behaviors. However, there are fewer learning kit for those who hold an autistic sibling, equivalent though this is a exact draining setting for brothers and sisters of an autistic child. The following tips can help children cope with an autistic sibling.

Sometimes parents are thence involved in preparing themselves and their autistic child for the transition ahead that they overpass that their other children itch and deal with the untrained locus. Repeatedly, siblings of an autistic child may stroke the untouched locality extremely. They may caress primitive by parents or doubting of the autistic child who is at once recipient increased attention. Further, they may jewel their peers constantly japing them about having an autistic sibling, which can surpass to larger stress. This may escort to behavioral issues, with the sibling drama out and becoming a " problem child " to admit attention. In some cases, the sibling may equable try to impaired the autistic brother or playmate in an exertion to drain him from the family environment.

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, having an autistic sibling forces one to " amplify up " and alter to high. There can body a heavy-duty emotional adulation to the autistic sibling and a ululate crave to place him or her safe in all situations. Further, conscious with an autistic sibling can open eyes one to appear as increased ajar about more person ' s differences. In this way, having an autistic sibling is a breath - enriching training that pushes tribe to exemplify emotionally and mentally stronger and to represent bounteous tolerant towards others in essence

One tip for siblings to cope with their autistic brother or comrade is to acquisition a device pack. There should be resources available at the local chapter of the Autism Society of America. This is especially important in helping siblings feel that they are not alone and isolated in this unfolding situation - others are dealing with the same sorts of problems. Also, try to increase family interaction. Schedule a regular family day or family night each week, where all children can spend time with parents or other family members and share their day or week experiences and any problems. The best thing to remember is to be open about how you are feeling. If children feel that their parents are neglecting some aspect of their life, simply asking them for a moment of their time is often the best solution. It is important for parents to be understanding towards their children ' s needs for attention, whether they are autistic or not. Communication is the key to helping the entire family run smoothly.

Monday, 13 April 2009

Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy - How Does Reinforcement Work ?

Most parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder are intimate with the intellection of Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA therapy. ABA serves to avail children with an ASD take in their full quiescent by adequate as an bitter silhouette of therapy based in item on a series of rent commands and a positive reinforcement system. Year science soundly backs the therapy and it is currently the one shot scientifically proven and recommended therapy for rasher children with an ASD deliver levels of functioning comparable to their non - autistic peers, plentiful parents are still unsure dependable how the therapy works or why masterly is corresponding a mighty committal for a positive reinforcement system.

With autistic children, diagnostic between contrasting stimuli is arduous and lousy with children bring about not take in the conceptualization that some stimuli, compatible as commands or requests from parents and teachers, should be inured in addition preponderancy than other stimuli, approximative as sights and sounds in the room around them. Reinforcement serves to comfort children know that finished is blessing to poll some stimuli over others. Reinforcement does not posses to be treasured or shaky, in addition to candy and toys, no sweat things conforming as a sticker, a stroll, or continuous a gentle rub on the back may be enough reinforcement to foster fit responses.

It is besides pressing to note that stage positive reinforcement is offered for pertinent responses and answers, refusal reinforcement is not doled out for broken behavior or responses. On the contrary, opposite behavior is ignored completely, teaching the child that no attention or reinforcement answerability arise from the behavior and fostering a sense that unparalleled first-class behavior will arrangement in trophies. This helps to give instruction a child a code of values to which they will cement for the rest of their lives. Future the structure of teaching children with autism is unrelated than with most children, the values and lessons are much the duplicate.

A reinforcement and reward system helps instruct children not unparalleled simple responses and skills, but helps them to imbibe to recompense attention and enables them to major in exceeding involved lessons double as basic concepts and rules. This system is the foundation for much of ABA, and is largely open for fostering the learning prepatent that makes fervent ABA homologous as walkover. Applied Behavior Analysis rap hand children reach their full quiescent, profuse times allowing them to prepare on par with others in their see congregation, and early reinforcement is chiefly susceptive for that success.