What Are the Most Common Symtoms of Autism in Children?
By Rachel Evans
It would seem that the numbers of children diagnosed with autism is going up all the time. This might be because the higher functioning types of autism are just now
being diagnosed and understood. Many children who were once labeled as shy and awkward are now being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. The lower
functioning types of autism are easier to spot, and they are often not hard to diagnose. A parent that knows more about the symtoms of autism in children will have an
easier time deciding if their child needs evaluation or not.
Social Issues: One thing that seems to plague all children with autism is social awkwardness and problems interacting with peers. They don’t seem to be able to
relate to anyone, have problems with eye contact, and tend to show signs of agitation rather easily. They also seem to prefer to play alone rather than rise to the
challenge of making friends. They tend to show no emotional reaction to anything or anyone, and shy away from group activities.
Communicating: Those with autism might start out talking fine, but then regress later. Others have good communication skills. Some do not communicate with
spoken words at all. Those with classic autism often use gestures rather than saying words, will repeat words and phrases that they do know, and often use odd
phrases that rhyme over and over again.
Stimulus Response: One of the symptoms of autism is a lack of response to many things that others respond to right away. This is something that is often very
obvious. They either respond in an inappropriate manner or not at all. Some will not respond to noises or stimulus in any way, which scares parents. Others might be
overly sensitive to touch, sound, and even the feeling of clothing on their skin. They may also get lost in patterns and explore with rubbing and licking.
Atypical Behavior: Another of the common symptoms of autism in children is problematic behavior. This might include being completely passive, or being extremely
and sometimes violently aggressive. These children often have tantrums. These tantrums might come with the slightest upset in normal routine. These children may
be first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder because they lack any type of attention span. They also demonstrate many repetitive movements, and seem to focus
on one thing for a very long time.
Playtime: Though children with autism do play some, they often play on their own. The want to play with other children in many cases, but lack the social skills to
maintain or even form friendships. This brings anxiety, and pushes them to play on their own where they feel safe. They may show repetition in play, and might be so
focused on something that there seems to be nothing that will drag their attention away from what they are doing.
Though these symtoms of autism in children are often quite obvious, there are some children who hide these well, or function so well in most cases that one
symptom might be mistakenly thought to be a different problem at first. If a parent suspects that there are any problems, and that they may have a child with autism,
they want to get a diagnosis as quickly as possible. There are many great programs for children with autism. It is much easier on the parent, child, and entire family
once a proper diagnosis can be reached.
Autism and It's Signs
By Kathy Foust
Is Autism a part of your life? Are you worried that your child may be autistic? The signs of autism are not easy to read. It's very scary to wonder if your child has a
problem you don't understand. Information on autism is limited, but growing.
Autism is a disorder that causes problems mostly in social aspects of a child's life. The signs of autism may show themselves around the age of 3. In a mild case of
autism, the signs are slight enough that the child may simply appear overly shy or antisocial.
Some of the signs of autism are an avoidance of eye contact, delayed speech growth, rigid thinking, a tendency to focus on an object or idea for an extended period of
time as well as a disinterest in being involved in a social manner.
Autism shows it's signs at different levels for every individual, depending on the severity of the case. The signs of autism in someone with a mild form will not be as
obvious as the signs of autism in someone who has a more severe case of it. More and more is being learned about autism every day. information is becoming more
readily available as people become more familiar with this relatively new disorder.
If you think your child has autism, document the behaviors that concern you and visit a physician that will take the time to hear what you have to say about you
concerns. Describe what you see as signs of autism and ask for help with individualized treatment.
The World Autism Awareness Day
By Echo Armman
April 2nd of 2008 is the first World Autism Day, which was designated by the United Nations General Assembly following the adoption of the Qatari resolution at the
end of 2007.
Autism is a kind of neurodevelopmental disabilities. Children with autism show symptoms like communication problem, repetive behaviors and limited interests, and
so on. Autism can be diagnosed since the baby is 18 months old, the best age to prevent autism is from 36 to 40 months old. The cause of autism has not been
known yet, all vaccinations, televisions, thimerosal, mercury and pitocin are suspects.
In America, 50 percent of autistic kids can graduate from schools at a proper age. Unfortunately, many kids with autistic signs are not diagnosed before 7 years old in
Africa and Asia. Experts suggest that all babies should take autism examination twice between 18 months old and 24 months old, because early diagnosis and
treatment are extremely important for preventing autism.
There are many celebration activities all over the world on April 2nd - World Autism Day. "Autism knows no geographic boundaries - it affects individuals and families
on every continent and in every country," said Suzanne Wright, co-founder of Autism Speaks. "The celebration of World Autism Awareness Day is an important way to
help the world better understand the scope of this health crisis and the need for compassion and acceptance for those living with autism. This remarkable day - the
first of many to come - promises to be a time of great hope and happiness as we work to build a global autism community."
The World Autism Awareness Day of 2008 - and the first World Autism Awareness Day ever is coming soon. Let's hope that this especial day could raise awareness
of autism and be truly helpful to autistic children and their families.
Autism Spectrum Disorders - What Does the Term "Autism Spectrum Disorder" (ASD) Mean?
By Kelly Brooke
Medical professionals often use the term Autism Spectrum Disorders (or ASD for short) to explain the large variety of symptoms, signs and characteristics associated
with a diagnosis of Autism.
As we all know, more and more children are getting diagnosed with Autism everyday. According to the Center for Disease Control, Autism now occurs in one out of
every 150 individuals. Some researchers account for the increase in Autism due to us better understanding the entire Autism spectrum.
The Autism spectrum, however, is sometimes difficult for parents to understand. Some parents say things like: "My child has Autism, but he does not do that!" or they
will ask "My child will interact with other kids, does he still have Autism?" The answer is simply that Autism is a spectrum, but what exactly does this mean?
A spectrum means that there are children with Autism symptoms on one side, the other side, and everywhere in between. For example, let's take a look at
communication and the Autism spectrum. You might have one child on one end of the spectrum that is non-verbal and will only use gestures to tell his or her needs.
Then, you might have a child on the other end of the spectrum that can tell you every small detail and then some about his favorite dinosaurs. Both of these children
have Autism, but they are on opposite ends of the Autism spectrum for their communication skills.
All of the fundamental deficits of Autism are a spectrum: communication, social skills, and behavior. Each child with Autism has skills that vary on each of the
spectrums. Also, all of the types of autistic disorders make up this "Autism spectrum". The different types of autistic disorders include: Autism, Asperger Syndrome,
and Pervasive Developmental – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Autism Research - Who is Working on Researching Autism Spectrum Disorders?
By Kelly Brooke
A number of institutes conducting research on autism exist throughout the world. Many are working to find out the causes and more important the treatments for
autism. Technology has made it easier to access some of these institutes and the information they provide.
The NICHD, is part of the National Institute of Health within the US Department of Health and Human Services and is one of the aforesaid organizations.
Autism Research is another type of organization determined to provide information to individuals as well. This organization helps make it easier to access
information. This organization is funded by grants and sponsorships. Autism Research provides a plethora of information to parents and individuals with questions
looking for answers.
Research Autism is a UK based organization determined to help others seek help explaining the findings thus far on autism and its effect on individuals involved.
The Autism Research Institute (ARI) is a worldwide network of professionals as well as parents who are concerned with autism. This organization was founded in
1967 as a means to conduct and house research specifically designed to improve the way autism is diagnoses, treated, and most important finding a way to prevent
autism. ARI distributes valuable help and assistance to family around the globe who are seeking help and a better understanding of what autism is and the effects it
has on them and their loved ones.
The organization distributes newsletters throughout the year. These communications highlight the advances made in autism research. This organization is nonprofit
and is completely dependent on contributions made by concerned individuals and organizations for support.
Attention Parents & Caregivers:
Join the Web's Best Membership for Parents and Caregivers of Children with Autism. Get Exclusive Access to Our In-Depth Articles, Videos, Audios and eBooks Plus
Interact with Expert Autism Therapists in Our Member's Only Forums.
Cause Of Autism - Some People Think They Know What Causes Autism?
By Nancy Clyne
The fact is that no one really knows for sure what causes autism, but many professionals would most likely agree that autism is likely caused by a combination of
genetic and environmental factors. For many parents, this uncertainty in what causes autism can be very frustrating.
The topic of what causes autism has become extremely controversial. Many individuals are
passionate about the subject, and have very strong convictions. Although there is no known cause
for autism there are a few theories on what my cause it. Some of those theories are:
Vaccines Cause Autism - some people believe that the mercury (thimerosal) used in some vaccines could cause autism.
Is Autism Genetic - I tend to believe that autism most likely has a genetic basis of some sort. Several studies and reports over the years have proven many families
with one autistic child are at increased risk of having more than one child with autism. That is certainly the case with us. After our second boy was diagnosed with
autism the Genetisit told us we better not have any more children since there was a good chance we would have another child with autism.
Autism is Caused By Bad Parenting - This one is pretty ridiculous. "The refrigerator mother" causing autism was a popular notion in the 1950's but as I said it is totally
ridiculous and absolutely absurd.
Autism Caused By Abnormal Brain Development - A few researchers have found differences between the brain of someone with autism and the so called normal
brain. People with autism appear to have larger brains.
Autism Caused By Deficiency in the Immune System There are a few studies that have shown autism is associated with troubles in the immune system. Mostly that
the individual has an allergy to gluten and dairy products that contribute to the symptoms of autism.
Autism Caused By Poor Nutrition - The late Dr. Bernard Rimland of The Autism Institute has been researching megavitamin therapy for many years in treating
individuals with autism.
Even with all these theories we are still no closer to knowing what causes autism. But I feel with the recent awareness of autism and the emphasis on research that it
will not be very long before we find out what truly causes autism. I think it most likely will be a combination of factors and maybe different reasons for different
individuals - maybe even within the same family.
Autism - No Two Autistic Children Are Alike
By Sylvia Rolfe
Autism is a spectrum disorder and as a result of being one, you cannot group all autistic people into one category. They all have different types and severities of
autism. Autism affects their worlds differently. Just like no two people are the same, no two sufferers of autism spectrum disorders are the same. You can have a
person with autism who is self sufficient and able to function at a relatively normal level or you can have an autistic individual who is completely reliant on others for
help with daily functioning. So what are the general types of autism?
Asperger's syndrome. This is a mild form of autism in which the functioning level of the individual is much the same as those around them. This form of autism also
responds quite well to typical therapies and treatments. In some schools of theory this is referred to as "high functioning" autism.
There is also "low functioning" autism in which the personal is severely delayed in social emotional and developmental areas. These children typically have an IQ
below 80 and will most likely need assistance all throughout their lives in order to meet their daily needs.
No matter the type of autism a child suffers from, it is important to remember they are just that, children. All children need love and caring in their own ways regardless
of any disorders they may have. With the proper support and care even a "low functioning" autistic child can go on to live a happy life full of potential. With the love of a
parent they can achieve anything.
Autism Behaviour in Children's
By Balaji B
Autism is a developmental disorder and the specific cause for autism is not known. It is believed that some biochemical imbalance would have caused autism and
some believe that it is a psychological disorder. Children with autism cannot communicate their feelings and emotions properly. Such children find it difficult to
socialize. They communicate only to get their needs and not to socialize.
Autism behaviors include lack of proper response to social and environmental stimulations. Communication in a child with autism would be minimal and there would
be no eye contact and the child would be in its own world and the response would be very slow. These are some of the autism behaviors that can be noted. There are
many therapies available for treating such children.
To treat such autism behaviors nutritional supplements are given. Vitamin B12 is one such supplement that is given to improve autism behaviors which are odd when
compared to a normal child. These children use communication only to fulfill their needs and not to socialize. To improve autism behaviours they can be given
educational therapies in which the child is motivated to respond to the social and environmental changes promptly. It is not easy to make a child with such autism
behaviors to learn a task. They will interrupt the process and they might be aggressive towards other people to avoid learning any new task.
Magnesium in the form of intramuscular injections is given to improve autism behaviors. Usage of vitamin B12 to improve autism behaviors would usually give good
results in 2 to 4 weeks time. Some children will take more than 3 months to improve their autism behavior. Dimethylglycine (DMG) is found to be very good in
improving autism behaviors like lack of proper speech. DMG improves the immune system in our body. This also improves better eye contact and frustration tolerance.
Changing The Way We Look At Autism
By Elissa Plumridge
For a long time autism has been a dirty and misunderstood word. Even today, for many people, the mention of the word autism triggers alarm bells and starts them
thinking "lost cause". It doesn't help that media and society often portrays negative images, and that most people only know autism as 'Rainman', children rocking in
the corner, or out of control youths that destroy property and family relationships with their violence and aggravation. With around 1 out of every 160 children being
diagnosed with autism, it may be time to change the way we look at autism.
People with autism are not some special breed of that need to be branded and shoved off in a corner somewhere. Like anyone else, people with autism are beautiful
and amazing beings that we could all learn a lot from. They only become people with autism when we start comparing certain aspects of their processing and
functioning with that of a perceived "typical person". Maybe we should change the word we use to describe autism from 'disorder' to 'difference'. This puts everyone on
a level playing field, as we are all ultimately different and unique in our own way. We all have talents and we all have strengths and weaknesses.
The diagnosis of autism is increasing readily. Perhaps it's time that the gifts people with autism bring to our lives be more widely recognised. Starting today, try
removing the comparisons from all things in life - try seeing things for simply as they are. The more this happens in our world, the more likely it will be that autism will
take on positive images in our society, and eventually people will begin to change the way they look at autism.
Autism - Symptoms and Causes
By Echo Armman
Autism is one kind of developmental disabilities which is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with communication skills, repetitive behaviors and
limited activities and interests. According to the surveys, there's one autistic children out of 150 kids in America, one out of 1000 in Canada. Boys are more prone to
autism than girls.
While there is no general agreement on an ultimate root of autism causes, various schools of thought identify potential causes for autism to develop. Genetics is one
oft-cited possible cause for autism. While many would agree that the chances for an adult with autism to have offspring with autism, the genetic theory goes further
than that.
Essentially, combinations of genetic factors that may reach back generations in the gene pools of the father and mother may come together in such a way as to create
an impact on the central nervous system. Thus, autism may be the random result of combined family DNA. However, at present, there is no definitive proof of this
theory for the origin of autism. In like manner, there is a theory that a child who is exposed to large amounts of electronic media before the age of three years may
develop autism.
A lately study shows that Maternal Antibodies may link to autism. Prenatal Exposure To Maternal Antibodies could cause autistic behaviors.
General symptoms of autistic children include:
1. Difficulty in verbal and nonverbal communication. Avoid eye contact. Prefers to play alone.
2. Prefers to changeless life style. Difficulty in adjusting to changes in routine or familiar surroundings.
3. Difficulty in using and understanding language. Repeating words or phrases.
4. Repetitive body movements. Inability to concentrate on one thing. Lack of imagination.
The Essential Guide to Autism
By Reuben WallisIt is heartbreaking to realize that your loved one may be suffering from autism. Autism as a condition is perplexing to many parents but with the right
information, you should be able to diagnose this condition right in the early stages. In this way, you will be able to provide your child with the right treatment and enable
him or her to have a crack at normalcy. The essential guide to autism by Rachel Evans, an e-book on autism, points you in the right direction when it comes to dealing
with this condition and what to do about it.
Did you know that male babies are more prone to suffer from autism than the female ones? Or that the number of autism cases is on the rise? The facts speak for
themselves, for with 1 out of 150 babies getting autism, autism is becoming more common than cystic fibrosis. Rachel Evans has done her research for her e-book
contains all the latest up-to-date information on autism and the right way to treat it. The essential guide to autism enables you to identify autism by listing information
on the three main signs of autism. The essential guide to autism gives you its take on all the current misconceptions about ASD [Autism spectrum disorder]. With an
early diagnosis, you should be able to reduce the disruptive behavior of the child by as much as 66%. Autism is not a rare condition for today there are more than 1.5
million people autistic people in the United states, as you can see, you are not alone in this.
The essential guide to autism does a whole lot more than just pointing out on how to diagnose ASD. It provides a detailed and comprehensive look at the ASD history,
the various definitions/conditions of ASD, a take on some of the treatments that do the trick and a review of those that do not.
Today, with so many specialists in this field, you would have thought that they would at least agree to follow a common course of treatment for some of the ASD
disorders. But that is not the case, for each specialist seems to come up with their own course of treating this condition. With the essential guide to autism, you will at
least come to know what it is all about and on how to take the right approach when it comes to autism.
Cause of Autism
By Max Bellamy
Thus far, medical researchers have not been able to find the actual cause of autism. It is believed that the disorder is caused by abnormalities in the brain structure
that results in a disorder in the mental development. The reason for this has never been pinpointed. Findings have only shown that patients with autism have
abnormalities in several areas of the brain.
Speculations point to several causes of autism. These include genetics, environmental factors, metabolic disorders, viral infections or complications during
pregnancy and delivery.
Genetically speaking, doctors are not able to narrow down the cause of autism to a single gene. The disorder is a result of several unstable genes, but they are all
unpredictable. As a result, isolating which gene may turn “bad” and cause autism is impossible. It is suspected that the combinations of different unstable genes
increases the risk of autism in a patient.
Risk Factors
If someone in the family has already been diagnosed with autism, there is a higher risk that another child may be diagnosed with the same condition, especially if he
is a first-degree relative.
Medical conditions like metabolic disorders, genetic disorders, developmental brain abnormalities and neurological disorders acquired after birth are risk factors that
may lead to autism.
Environmental conditions that may aggravate genetic risks increase the incidence of autism in the family.
Rejected Speculations
There were several causes that were attributed to autism, but these were eventually dismissed. Among them were emotional trauma and vaccines.
It was believed that a child experiencing severe emotional trauma could acquire autism. But this state is a sign of anxiety disorder rather than autism.
Mercury found in early vaccines contained neurotoxins, and were blamed for autism. However, researches have concluded that the amount of mercury in a vaccine is
not enough to cause such a disorder. There is no actual link between vaccines and autism, so this theory was proven wrong.
Autism Symptoms Checklist
By Ann Watkinson
Children suffering from Autism may not display all of the signs and symptoms in this Autism Symptoms Checklist,because they are all individuals. However if you
suspect your child is showing any signs of Autism you should seek medical advice.Early signs of autism are usually diagnosed when the child is three years of age.
However early signs can be detected. There is a great deal of research taking place at the moment into trying to diagnose Autism earlier in a child's development.the
earlier signs of Autism are detected the sooner they can be treated.
CHECKLIST
1. Can I have eye to eye contact with my child. Most children with autism do not have eye to eye contact and tend to stare fixidely at one object.
2. Is my child interested in things around. A child with autism does not point at things or try to bring things to the attention of his/her parents.
3. Is my child deaf. Quite often these children will ignore people around and will not respond to their name .Thus giving the impression they are deaf.
4. Can my child communicate as well as other children the same age. An autistic child can have little or no verbal skills and does not try to overcome this by using
mime or pointing at things.
5. Why does my child never smile. The autistic child does not smile or react to someone who smiles at them.
6. Why does my child scream for no reason. Another common sign of autism is when the child has wild tantrums for no apparent reason.
7. My child has no friends.There is little or no interaction with autism. The autistic child prefers to play alone.
There are many different signs and symptoms for autism. The above Autism Symptoms checklist is only a guide. Other signs and symptoms to look for are
destructiveness,impulsive behaviour,mood swings,lack of attention
restlessness,hyperactivity and fogetfulness.
Cure Autism Now - Is There a Cure for Autism?
By Nancy Clyne
Autism has been reported to be one of the fastest-growing childhood disorders in the nation. It is a bewildering and mysterious developmental disorder. It is also
reported that it affects one in every 166 children and more than one million individuals; a child is diagnosed with autism every 21 minutes.
So the question on most parents mind of newly-diagnosed children, "Is there a cure for autism?". Unfortunately, at this point in time there presently is no known cure
for autism. However, we're discovering more beneficial ways to understand the condition and aid individuals in coping with the many symptoms of autism. A few of
these symptoms can diminish as some children age and some symptoms have even been known to disappear altogether. With appropriate intervention, many of
the autism behaviors can be positively changed, even to the point that the child or adult may appear to no longer have autism. However, the majority of individuals with
autism, continue to demonstrate some symptoms of autism to some degree throughout their entire lives.
It was just a couple of generations ago that parents were told by professionals that "There's nothing you can do for your child." Parents frequently heard this hopeless
phrase after their children were diagnosed with autism. Many of these children were sent to an institution and never came home again. But alot has changed in those
2 generations. Over the generations we have come to understand autism much better and as we find out more about this disorder, more and more treatments will be
available for the autistic community.
Since there are so many behavior combinations which can occur in autism it seems to impact different individuals in various ways. There seems to be no one
treatment that is effective in relieving the symptoms of autism, what seems to work well with one person may not be effective with another. . .
so it is difficult to predict how a person with autism will develop over a life time.
I believe that we are on the brink of a cure for autism, infact, the organization Cure Autism Now who has committed $35 million for research grants and scientific
resources, states on their website that " We believe that a cure will be found for this generation of children with autism." That is a pretty powerful statement and
definitely brings hope to us parents who have children that have been diagnosed with autism.
Autism Causes - Genetics and Environment
By Michael Shamblott
As far as we know today, most cases of autism or the related autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) are not like a typical inherited disease - where a damaged gene is
responsible for causing the symptoms. The inherited aspects of autism are best understood as an increase in susceptibility. This means children with autism are
born with genes that leave them more sensitive to damage inflicted by their surroundings. However, the fact that the incidence of autism (the number of people
diagnosed or receiving treatment) has increased dramatically since the early 1980's strongly suggests genetics alone cannot be responsible. Some say that the
troubling increase in the rate of autism is just a result of better diagnosis. There may be some truth to this, but since 1956, there has been a pretty good set of criteria
used to diagnose autism called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Although it has been improved over the years, it has not changed
much since 1994 and the rate of autism diagnosis has only increased since then. As a parent of a child with autism, you should ask yourself if your child's disease
could have gone undiagnosed?
Our best current guess to why the rate of autism is increasing is there must be triggers in our surroundings which are getting worse over time. These triggers may
have adverse affects on adults (higher incidence of cancer, neurological disorders, lung and heart disease), but since adult brains and bodies have already
developed, adults do not exhibit developmental disorders the way susceptible children do.
One way to think about the genetic and environmental causes of autism is that affected children have one or more genetic traits that make them very sensitive to their
environments. Parents and medical professionals need to work together to find out what their sensitivities are and try to avoid exposing them to these harmful agents
if we expect them to get better. Our book, Conquer Autism, reviews the causes of autism so that you can reduce your child's exposure to the things that put them at
risk. Conquer Autism is available at http://www.ConquerAutism.com
How To Recognize Early Symptoms Of Autism
By Echo Armman
At present, there are as many as 1 in 100 to 150 children may be autistic. April 2nd of 2008 is the first " World Autism Awareness Day" designated by the United
Nations General Assembly. The parents should always keep a weather eye on your child for an extended period of time. Early intervention is critical for the best
outcome in children with autism, so early diagnosis is very improtant, too. However, is it possible to reliably diagnose autism before 2 years old? The answer is yes.
Actually, autism can be diagnosed while the baby is one and a half years old.
Autism is a complex developmental disorder. We don't know what causes autism for sure yet. Autism doesn't have a "cure" right now, the best way to prevent autism is
early diagnosis and early treatment. Then how can parents recognize autism in their young child? There are several certain symptoms of autism that a baby shows
early enough. The following three early signs of autism should be concerned:
1.Qualitative impairment in social interaction, like not responding to his/her own name, not imitating others, lacking of interests to friends, and so on.
2. Presumably half of children with autism are slow to talk, some of them cannot speak until two or three years old, some of them can speak a few words, but cannot
communicate with people normally. Besides, they mostly avoid eye contace while talking, and they often repeat what you said instead of responding or keep saying a
sentence.
3. Be attached to one particular toy or object, such as wheels, circular wooden sticks, and other things; Performs repetitive movements, like rocking, spinning or hand-
flapping.
If a young child doesn't talk after one year old, preferring to crouch in a corner, demanding too much less of your attention, the parents shouldn't take on a "wait and
see" stance , but voice some concerns to an expert of autism.
The Difference Between Autism and Asperger's Syndrome
By Echo Armman
What's the difference between autism and Asperger's syndrome? What do they have in common? That's a question that concerns many people.
Asperger's syndrome and autism are both on the spectrum of Autism Disorder which also includes Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Pervasive
Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, etc. All these types of autism disorder present at least some of those symptoms: echolalia (repeating words said by
others), abnormal social behavior, restricted range of interest, poor motor coordination and self-stimulating behavior.
Asperger's syndrome is a mild form of autism. People suffer asperger's don't have communication delays as people with other forms of autism have, they function
relatively well in terms of intelligence and social functions, and they often manage to go to school, graduate from colleges and live independently. Asperger's
syndrome is a specific type of "high-functioning autism"(HFA), which is characterized by poor social skills, advanced and overly formal language, and extensive,
pervasive interest in a specific subject. It's said that geniuses and people with asperger's share same characteristics, because they both have narrow interests and
are more focused and persistent on what they are doing than normal people. Many geniuses showed asperger's traits, for example, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein,
George Orwell and H G Wells. It is widely said that the president of United States, George W. Bush, suffered from asperger's syndrome too.
Autism Diagnosis
By Dean Novosat
Autism diagnosis is much more complicated than Down syndrome as there is no blood test, genetic marker, facial features, or other characteristics that apply to all
autistic persons. The diagnosis is subjective, depending on meeting observations of certain behaviors. Autism diagnosis is based on behavior. Children can be
diagnosed with autism as early as 12 months of age, although some children will not show signs of autism until about 18 months. Signs of autism that would
necessitate an evaluation include a lack of babbling or hand gestures by the time a child is 12 months old, the absence of a child using single words by 16 months,
and the lack of usage of two words or phrases by the time a child is 24 months old. A 2002-2003 survey found that although 90 percent of U.S. children and adults with
autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. They find it hard to communicate with others
and relate to the outside world. However, children develop at different rates and it is wrong to overly concern yourself with the fact that they cannot do a certain thing
when one child down the street seems very capable at doing something and you child is not. Do not assume that your child is autistic! They just may be developing
more slowly than their peers. This is why doctors use a standard autism checklist before suspecting autism in a child.
Children on the higher level of the autism spectrum may go years without being diagnosed. There are may factors that go into an Autism diagnosis and there are
different degrees of autism. Children in with certain behaviors like temper tantrums and refusal to communicate don't mean they're autistic. Some children fail to meet
criteria for autism; they just don’t have adequate social skills and typically have a developmental disability, and their symptoms can by accounted for by that.
Parents of children with autism are coping with a considerable amount of stress and an overwhelming amount of information about the disability. Families of children
with autism can benefit from support from professionals, other family members, and society, in order to manage the stress effectively. There are support groups
available for parents of children with autism,