What is Autism?
How many children are diagnosed with Autism?
How are individuals with Autism different from others?
Why do individuals with Autism often have problems with speech and language in general?
What are the typical intellectual functions of an individual with Autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong developmental disorder marked by significant deficits in communication, social skills and cognitive impairment, which usually surfaces in children between the first 18 and 24 months of life. Autism is the fastest-growing disability or disease today and has an annual health and educational cost between $20 billion and $60 billion.
What is Autism Spectum Disorder?
Individuals who demonstrate some, but not all of the classic symptoms or present with subthreshold severity fall within the autism spectrum and diagnosed as having Autism Spectrum Disorder which, in addition to Autism Disorder includes, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), Not Otherwise Specified NOS and Aspergers Disorder.
Although numbers vary slightly, approximately one out of 150 children is diagnosed on the autism spectrum -- a number that increases up to 17 percent each year.
Once thought to be a relatively rare condition, a review of studies conducted between 1992 and 2001, indicated a median prevalence rate of 1.3 per 1000 with rates as high as 7.3 per 1000.
There is no known cause or cure of Autism. While researchers work on learning more about this disorder, ACES is focused on helping individuals realize their full potential through treatment and support in the home, school and community.
Those with autism see, hear, and sense differently. As a result, they experience severe difficulties concerning social relationships, communications and behavior. The degree of severity varies from person to person, but typical characteristics involve severe delays in language development, severe delays in understanding social relationships, and inconsistent patterns in sensory response.
For those with autism, language is slow to develop and usually includes peculiar speech patterns or the use of words without attachment to their normal meanings. Those who are able to use language effectively may still use unusual metaphors or speak in a formal and monotone voice. These limitations often create frustrations, which are typically manifested behaviorally. Individuals with autism also often avoid eye contact, have sensory defensiveness, and seem unaware of their surroundings, which results in lack of cooperative play with peers and an inability to understand others’ feelings (known as the Theory of Mind). Individuals with autism can at times appear deaf and fail to respond to words or other sounds, or may be extremely distressed by everyday noises.
The degree of behavioral challenges for individuals with autism differs from person to person. Autism constitutes irregular patterns in intellectual function, marked restriction regarding activities and interests, and other related features. Individuals with autism have varying levels of developmental delays. Some but not all may possess dexterous skills such as drawing, music, computations in math, or memorization of facts. Furthermore, those with autism may perform repetitive body movements such as hand flicking, twisting, spinning, or rocking, as well as repetition in their daily routines. They also often exhibit unfitting emotions such as crying or laughing for no apparent reason, a lack of fear in dangerous situations, and self-injurious behaviors such as biting or pulling their own hair.
The term Aspergers Syndrome refers to individuals within the autism spectrum who do not necessarily experience severe intellectual impairments but do face a range of social impairments. They retain normal or near-normal cognitive and communicative development and their verbal skills are usually relatively strong. Those afflicted with Asperger’s Syndrome display deficits in social interaction and unusual responses to their encompassing environment. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest.
