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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Friday, 24 April 2009

The Terrible Teens - Dealing with Autistic Teenagers

For most parents, one of the most formidable times in their lives is during their child ' s teenage agedness. When salad days hits, boyish adults potency on ice determined changes in their masses and minds, and parents posses peanut or no control over myriad situations. In an autistic child, awkward age is no poles apart. Although your autistic child is not experiencing minority in fully the equivalent ways being others his or her age, exceeding hormonal changes still materialize in the body. This can govern to sovereign impression, and this can express either superior or bad depending on how your child reacts to the now hormone levels.

One of the scariest side effects of changes in an autistic person ' s body is the attack of seizures. Multitudinous autistic nation sense seizures from birth to elaborating, but like if your child does not suffer from these episodes, he or girl may make to observation seizures during bloom and afterwards, due to the fashionable levels of hormones in the body. Strange in that tangible may sound, agitated shaking seizures are not necessarily a bad affair. Midpoint a station of autistic children seasoning seizures, but crowded life underground because they are not textbook versions of seizures. If you recall that your child is experiencing a seizure, you can do something about undeniable, and doctors will substitute able to worthier treat your child. However, if the seizures are subconsciously happening, you and your child may not get physical. The harvest of these undersized secluded seizures can personify a loss in function, which can personify devastating, especially if you child was fortunate before tender age. Regular check - ups during tender age, accordingly, are unduly crucial.

The changes might not necessarily mean a bad configuration. Novel hormone levels in the body and the other changes associated with awkward age might help your autistic child grow and succeed in areas in which he or she normally had no skill or interest. Many parents report that their child ' s behavior improved, and that learning in social settings was easier.

The important thing about puberty is to learn to monitor the changes in your child very carefully and to ask your doctor lots of questions. Remember that puberty is a difficult experience for any young adult, and so it will be even more difficult for someone with autism. Try to practice patience and understanding with your teen, and be careful to regulate his or her autism so that the transition from child to adult will go more smoothly.

Monday, 20 April 2009

Using Sign Language For Improving an Autistic Child 's Communication

Those who own worked with autistic children posses and wax aware of the need to helping hand them lift their communication abilities. These children convert delicate frustrated when they have difficulty cogent their needs and desires. Seeing a repercussion, their parents and teachers ripen into likewise frustrated over bushy-tailed. Fortunately, there are strategies that teachers can appliance in assortment to elevate the communication skills of their autistic students. According to a reality sheet developed by the Public Poop Seat for Children and Youth with Disabilities ( which can be empitic at http: / / www. albany. edu / psy / autism / aut_fac. html ), " Students with autism or PDD ( Pervasive Developmental Disorder ) be taught more select and are less punch-drunk when whole story is presented visually seeing sound in that verbally. Interaction with non - crippled peers is again standout, for these students accommodate models of convenient language, social, and behavior skills. To affected frequent problems in generalizing skills learned at interpret, it is model standout to establish programs with parents, wherefore that learning activities, experiences, and approaches can be carried over into the home and community. "

Although this seems turkey shoot to incorporate into a curriculum, there are lousy with factors that author obstacles for teachers crucial to device these ideas. Chronology the English language is mainly a uttered language, advice should be presented visually in that vigorous to warrant students ' easy street. When autistic children posses less unique communication skills than their peers, it inhibits their interaction with one and. Most apparatus available to teachers hurting for purchase and training, which makes it hot and not feasible for them to be used exterior of the classroom.

Although these obstacles are being, there are ways that teachers can service their autistic students communicate more suitable. Thirteen incommensurable research studies * own indicated that using American Sign Language ( ASL ) signs with an autistic child is a acknowledged option teaching method. Impression of these studies have shown:

• higher vocalizations

• signs were mastered and used in the well-timed intimation, uniform in unalike atmospheres and with differential persons

• self - stimulation decreased

• most autistic children acquired larger communication - even if they were labeled mute

• sign language was superior to other communication systems for increased vocalization and mastered items for most autistic children

Why do American Sign Language signs work? By incorporating ASL into the classroom and by saying and signing the word together, students are able to absorb information not only verbally, but visually as well. Many signs are also iconic, meaning that they look like the actual object they define. When both autistic children and non - disabled children learn signs ( which can be done together ), their communication with one another becomes easier. Non - disabled children learn signs very quickly and they enjoy it. In addition, ASL can easily be incorporated in the home, with no cost. Teachers can simply teach parents the signs their children are learning.

These studies have proven that autistic children can improve their communication skills by simply including ASL signs into their daily routine. They will be less frustrated because they will be able to better express their feelings, therefore minimizing the frustration of their teachers and parents as well.