The Autistic Spectrum Presented by Julie Castle

Diagnosis on the rise According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007), 1 out of every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism each year. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2007), 1 out of every 150 children is diagnosed with Autism each year. We have many more cases that go undiagnosed, especially when it comes to the adult population. We have many more cases that go undiagnosed, especially when it comes to the adult population. Many people fail to realize that the spectrum is very wide, and that Asperger’s Syndrome is included on the spectrum, yet these individuals are basically in a category of their own. Many people fail to realize that the spectrum is very wide, and that Asperger’s Syndrome is included on the spectrum, yet these individuals are basically in a category of their own. ASA calculates that the annual cost of autism will increase to $ billion in 10 years. (February 2003) ASA calculates that the annual cost of autism will increase to $ billion in 10 years. (February 2003)

Video regarding autism awareness bs.dayport.com

Autism Vs. Asperger’s Syndrome (Definition) Autism: Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that typically appears during the first 3 years of life, with the exception of those who are high functioning, in which case a diagnosis may not occur until later in life, and in some cases, never at all. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The characteristic behaviors for a autism my not show up until early childhood (between 2 and 6 years old). Asperger’s Syndrome: Asperger’s Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder that includes a severe and sustained impairment in social interaction. Those with Asperger’s Syndrome usually develop restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and activity. Unlike those who suffer from Autism, those with Asperger’s Syndrome do not have any clinically significant language delays, cognitive development, or in the development of age- appropriate self-help skills, adaptive behavior, and curiosity about the environment in childhood.

Early characteristics of Autism The NICHD lists 5 characteristics that signal a need for further evaluation, preferably by a multidisciplinary team that is knowledgeable about Autism. Does not babble or coo by 12 months Does not babble or coo by 12 months Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age Has any loss of any language or social skill at any age Does not say single words by 16 months Does not say single words by 16 months To watch a video regarding early signs, see below. bs.dayport.com

Typical behaviors displayed by children with autism During childhood, dysfunctional behaviors may start to appear in a child with autism, such as self- stimulatory behaviors (i.e., repetitive, non-goal directed behavior, such as rocking, hand-flapping), self-injury (e.g., hand-biting, headbanging), sleeping and eating problems, poor eye contact, insensitivity to pain, hyper-/hypo-activity, and attention deficits Autism Research Institute

Treatments for autism There are many routes that can be taken to help an autistic individual, which include: -Altering their diet -Behavioral Interventions (such as applied behavior analysis) -Vitamin supplements -Speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy -Biomedical therapy -A good educational program -Social Interventions Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments” by Jon Pangborn, Ph.D., and Sidney Baker, MD,. published by the Autism Research Institute

Regressive Autism Approximately one-half of autistic children develop normally until somewhere between 1 1/2 to 3 years of age; then autistic symptoms begin to emerge. These individuals are often referred to as having 'regressive' autism. Some people in the field believe that candida albicans, vaccinations, exposure to a virus, or the onset of seizures may be responsible for this regression Autism Research Institute (Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D)

Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome *It is not uncommon to see students with AS in mainstream educational settings, although often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, so this is a topic that is very important for both educational personnel and parents. (Maap Services, Inc.) *Asperger’s Syndrome is more common in boys than in girls. *Characteristics include: *Social impairment with extreme egocentricity, which may include difficulty interacting with peers, lack of desire to interact with peers, poor appreciation for social cues, and socially and emotionally inappropriate responses.

Characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome Cont’d *Limited interests and preoccupations *Repetitive routines and/or rituals *Speech and language peculiarities *Nonverbal communication problems *Motor clumsiness

It is important to remember that both Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are spectrum disorders, meaning that they range from mild to severe, and the level of delay is different for each person affected by the disorder.

Hopkins study, from April 2006, finds that only 8% of primary care pediatricians routinely screen for Autism. Lack of familiarity with the screening tools was the primary reason. J Dev Behav Pediatr Apr;27(2 Suppl):S88-94.

Causes of Autism While there are many theories as to the cause of the increase of autism such as genetics and an overproduction of the yeast Candida within the body, the Autism Research Institute believes environmental factors—including unprecedented exposure to toxic substances and over-vaccination of infants and young children—are the key factors triggering this devastating epidemic.

Helpful Websites

I hope that the information that I have provided in powerpoint presentation has been helpful to everyone. I chose to focus on autism because I think that it is an extremely important issue within our society today, and I feel that everyone, especially educators, needs to be better informed about its characteristics, as well as possible interventions. This will allow all of us, both those affected by autism and those who are not, to function together within society.