Signs Of Autism In Children
The signs of autism can change as children grow babies and toddlers show different signs of autism than children aged 4 and older.;
Babies and toddlers
Signs of autism in babies and toddlers can include a number of things that affect different parts of their life and behaviour.
Autistic babies and toddlers might:
- start talking later than most children
- seem less aware of others around them for example, they might not respond to their name being called
- make repetitive movements when excited or upset – for example flapping their hands, rocking back and forth, or making the same noise repeatedly
Autistic babies and toddlers might not:
- smile back when you smile at them
- point to show when they want something
- point to show you something they find interesting
Autistic babies and toddlers might:
- spend a long time setting up toys in a certain way, and set them up the same way every time
- enjoy lining toys up in order, or watching parts of them move
Autistic babies and toddlers might not:
- seem interested in playing with other children their age
- seem to use their toys to make up stories or pretend they might also start pretend play at a later age than most children
Autistic babies and toddlers might:
- react strongly to sounds, smells, touch, tastes, or things they can see for example, if they like the way a stuffed toy feels, they want to spend a lot of time stroking the toy
- become upset if given something to eat or drink thats new to them
- eat a limited range of foods
Limitations And Future Directions
Reliance on a convenience sample of people who were willing and able to participate in an hour-long survey for no compensation limits the generalizability of findings. Participants were likely motivated to participate by an intrinsic interest in autism. Indeed, participants in this study exhibited substantially more knowledge of and less stigma toward autism than college students who participated in previous studies for academic credit .
Findings may not generalize to autistic participants who lack the verbal and computer skills needed to complete the survey. In addition, our analytic category of nuclear family member of an autistic person contains a great deal of unexamined variability as we could not distinguish between nuclear family members whose conceptions of autism were formed through relationships with autistic family members who do not speak and/or who have an intellectual disability and nuclear family members whose conceptions of autism were formed through relationships with highly verbal and/or gifted autistic people.
Autistic People Are Taking Back Autism Awareness Its About Acceptance
By Alaina Leary
As a joke a few years ago, I posted on April 2 , I think youre all aware, but Im autistic. I was sick of seeing photos of non-autistic people on fundraising walks for autism awareness and explaining why many autistic people wouldnt want a cure even if one were available. I was exhausted because although from the outside it sounds like Autism Awareness Month should be all about autistic people, its actually notand Im always invisible in conversations about my own disability.
Every April, people pull out their blue clothing and puzzle piece memorabilia to honor Autism Awareness Month, which was started by the Autism Society in 1970 to educate communities and spread public awareness about autism. Since then, the autistic community has spoken up about some of the problems with how this month is celebratedincluding its ties to the organization Autism Speaks and their history of disrespecting autistic people, and its focus on awareness instead of any actionable shift in how autistic people are treated.
The word acceptance is much stronger than tolerance, especially the begrudging sort of tolerance I saw so often, Westby said in an interview on AssistiveWare. I stated in my original writings about Autism Acceptance Day that acceptance does not mean I accept you, but not your autism. Acceptance is: pro-neurodiversity, a focus on supports and services tailored to the needs of the Autistic individual, rejection of cure-oriented projects.
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Who Resolution On Autism Spectrum Disorders
In May 2014, the Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Comprehensive and coordinated efforts for the management of autism spectrum disorders ,”;which was supported by more than 60 countries.
The resolution urges WHO to collaborate with Member States and partner agencies to strengthen national capacities to address ASD and other developmental disabilities.
What They Would Like The Community To Understand
The most commonly selected things about autism that they would like other people to be aware of were difficulties in social situations , anxiety about unexpected changes , and needing extra time . Other common responses were: sensory sensitivities , meltdowns , literal interpretation of language , using language that seems odd , making noise , and stimming .
Of the 57 autistic respondents who responded in relation to their own experiences, the top things they would most like other people to be aware of were: anxiety about unexpected changes , difficulties in social situations , needing extra time , and sensory sensitivity .
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Autism Awareness Month Has Traditionally Focused Onthe Negatives
And honestly, focused on the negatives doesnt go far enough.
Up until autisticadvocates got involved, it was seen as perfectly acceptable to portray autismas a tragedy or an epidemic that has stolen our children , and that a cure is not onlydesirable, but essential.
The most infamous example of this was the 2009 I Am Autism commercial from Autism Speaks which literally did accuse autism of stealing normal children.
Quotes from the video included:
- I work faster than pediatric aids, cancer, and diabetes combined. And if youre happily married, I will make sure that your marriage fails.Your money will fall into my hands, and I will bankrupt you for my own self-gain.I dont sleep, so I make sure you dont either.
- I am autism. I have no interest in right or wrong. I derive great pleasure out of your loneliness.I will fight to take away your hope. I will plot to rob you of your children and your dreams.
- And the truth is, I am still winning, and you are scared. And you should be.
For those who want to seewhat autism awareness can become without the input of autistic people, heresthe video.
History will condemn thatvideo. In fact, a mere eleven years on, history is already condemning it.
If all you do is talkabout the problems and finish the conversation there, dont be surprised whenthe solutions dont magic their way into existence or if your listeners thinkthe only way of improving autistic peoples lives is the complete annihilationof autism.
The Brain Of An Autistic Person Simply Works Differently
Autistic people can find communicating and engaging with others hard. But a typical autistic person does not exist, and autistic traits may be in all of us.
Pi: Some autistic people can memorize numbers very well
A whole range of different conditions belong to the;autism spectrum disorder or autism,;a life-long neurodevelopmental disorder;that affects how people communicate and interact with the world.
One in 160 children has autism but several recent studies have reported rates that are substantially higher,;according to the World Health Organization .
ASD is considered a developmental disorder because ;although it can be diagnosed later in life it;begins in early childhood and tends to persist into adolescence and adulthood.
The level of intellectual functioning in autistic;people;varies hugely, ranging from profound impairment to superior non-verbal cognitive skills. It is estimated that around 50% of people with autism also suffer from an intellectual disability, according to the WHO.
There is a wide range of symptoms in autistic people. Some of the main symptoms include communication;problems like delayed speech development, and difficulty in social interactions, such as making friends, maintaining eye contact, reading;people’s body language or facial expressions, and expressing how;they feel. Repetitive behaviors and strict routines may also be noticed,;like repetitive body movements or finding it difficult to adjust even to small changes.
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Deficits In Reciprocal Social Communication
Due to the lack of meaningful social experiences and theory of mind deficits mentioned earlier, individuals with ASD tend to have great difficulty understanding complex reciprocal social communication. This may lead to misunderstanding of other peoples attitudes toward themselves in individuals with ASD. For example, usually, when one is aware of that other people have a negative attitude toward oneself, this will have a negative impact on ones self-concept; however, if one is not aware of that, or even misunderstands that as a positive attitude, this may limit ones motivation to make any significant self-improvement .
In summary, self-awareness is an individual experience so it is unique to everyone. Understanding of the self can greatly vary in individuals with ASD due to the heterogeneous nature of the condition. It can be affected by their levels of cognitive functioning and adaptive behaviors.
Carry On The Conversation
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Dr Grillo for creating this article today. Im sure youll agree that his insight and expertise is an invaluable asset to the autistic community.
If you would like to hear more from the good doctor, you can find him over on www.dentably.com.
As always, I can also be found on Twitter or on the .
Thank you for reading and I will see you next Saturday for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
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Do Attitudes Toward Normalization Contribute To Stigma
Spearmans correlations revealed that heightened stigma toward autism was associated with more interest in curing autism among autistic participants, rs = 0.35, p< 0.001, in helping autistic people appear more normal, rs = 0.35, p< 0.001, and less knowledge of autism rs = 0.35, p< 0.001. Interest in a cure, rs = 0.35, p< 0.001, in helping autistic people appear more normal, rs = 0.34, p< 0.001, and less knowledge, rs = 0.38, p< 0.001, were also associated with heightened stigma among non-autistic participants.
A linear regression predicting log-transformed stigma in the entire sample, F = 18.12, R2 = 0.27, p< 0.001, revealed that greater perceived importance of normalizing autistic people and of curing autism , lower autism knowledge , and not having an autistic family member were associated with heightened stigma. In this model, being autistic , having an autistic friend or student , education , living in the US , age , being female , and being gender fluid were not associated with stigma.
Terminology And Distinction From Schizophrenia
As late as the mid-1970s there was little evidence of a genetic role in autism; while in 2007 it was believed to be one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions. Although the rise of parent organizations and the destigmatization of childhood ASD have affected how ASD is viewed, parents continue to feel social stigma in situations where their child’s autistic behavior is perceived negatively, and many primary care physicians and medical specialists express some beliefs consistent with outdated autism research.
It took until 1980 for the DSM-III to differentiate autism from childhood schizophrenia. In 1987, the DSM-III-R provided a checklist for diagnosing autism. In May 2013, the DSM-5 was released, updating the classification for pervasive developmental disorders. The grouping of disorders, including PDD-NOS, autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and CDD, has been removed and replaced with the general term of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The two categories that exist are impaired social communication and/or interaction, and restricted and/or repetitive behaviors.
The Internet has helped autistic individuals bypass nonverbal cues and emotional sharing that they find difficult to deal with, and has given them a way to form online communities and work remotely.Societal and cultural aspects of autism have developed: some in the community seek a cure, while others believe that autism is simply another way of being.
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Review Of Literature On The Self System In Individuals With Asd
Numerous studies have focused on the self-system of typically developing children or adolescents can be found in current literature. However, research on the same topic involving individuals with disabilities has been limited. In particular, research on the self system involving children or adolescents with ASD has been scarce.
How To Begin A Diagnosis Process
Adults who suspect they or a loved one might be autistic can do a self-assessment test for adults. A person can find these tests online. While they cannot give a diagnosis, the tests are a good starting point.
A person seeking a diagnosis can take the results of such a test to a primary care doctor who will try to determine whether ASD may be present by:
- enquiring about the symptoms, both current and during childhood
- observing and interacting with the person
- speaking to a loved one
- checking for other physical or mental health conditions that may be causing symptoms
If no underlying physical condition can explain the symptoms, the doctor may refer the person to a psychiatrist or a psychologist to make an ASD diagnosis.
If symptoms are not present in childhood but begin in adolescence or adulthood, this may indicate a cognitive or mental health condition other than ASD.
It may be difficult to find a specialist who can diagnose ASD in adults. Individuals who would like a diagnosis for themselves or a loved one may need to do research to find a provider with experience diagnosing autistic adults.
Another option is to speak to a developmental pediatrician or child psychiatrist who is willing to see adult clients.
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Articles On Autism Diagnosis
Autism spectrum disorder is usually diagnosed in young children. But what if you think you may be on the spectrum, and it never got diagnosed?
Parents of very young children are on the lookout for classic symptoms like lack of contact, repetitive movements, and sensory issues. And all kids are screened for these signs at their 18- and 24-month pediatrician well-child visits, so most cases of autism spectrum disorder are diagnosed by age 2.
That wasnât always the case. Not too long ago, some kids who would be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder today might have been labeled as âdifficultâ or âlearning disabled,â and may not have gotten the help they needed.
Now, those children are adults and they or their family members may wonder if they might have ASD.
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Autism Awareness Month Has Traditionally Played Apart In The Demonising Of Autistic People
Heres the big one. And ithas devastating consequences.
The moment we realised that the coronavirus may be a threat to our health services ability to function, disability groups started to get nervous. Because the closer we would get to being overwhelmed by COVID-19, the bigger the fear that disabled people would be asked to lay down their lives for everyone else.
Its thankfully not common practice, but on rare occasions its been seen happening: reports are coming in from multiple countries about doctors contacting parents of autistic people, asking them to sign Do Not Resuscitate orders, presumably so that their children wont have to occupy a hospital bed that could otherwise be used by a non-autistic patient.
This month the NHS and their counterparts worldwide are under enormous pressure and are rightly being celebrated, although sadly even before this month they have had to spread the word that learning disabilities are not reasons to issue DNR orders, for fear of the occasional medical professional recommending them for healthy autistic people with learning difficulties, on the basis of their autism rather than their health.
Yes, its utterly horrifying and it casts the rest of the healthcare profession in an unfairly bad light. And it is a direct consequence of several decades worth of negative advocacy.
This isnt the first time Ive used this picture from Autism Times Two. Its rare I see a sentence that encapsulates an issue to such pitch-perfection.
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Social Communication And Interaction Skills
Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for people with ASD.
Examples of social communication and social interaction characteristics related to ASD can include:
- Avoids or does not keep eye contact
- Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
- Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
- Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
- Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age
- Does not share interests with others
- Does not point or look at what you point to by 18 months of age
- Does not notice when others are hurt or sad by 24 months of age
- Does not pretend in play
- Shows little interest in peers
- Has trouble understanding other peoples feelings or talking about own feelings at 36 months of age or older
- Does not play games with turn taking by 60 months of age
Severe Early Periodontal Gum Disease
Periodontitis or periodontal gum disease damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. It is a common oral condition that can be preventable with proper care. You may notice symptomssuch as swollen or puffy gums, sensitive gums that feel tender or bleed easily, and loose teeth.
For those with autism who suffer from periodontal gum disease, becoming accustomed to brushing twice a day, flossing, and visiting a dental care provider regularly can improve your chance of successful treatment. Building a dental care routine can be difficult, especially if you have any anxieties surrounding it. However, its important not to give up. Find ways that make it more enjoyable and stay persistent. ;Soon enough, your dental care routine should feel like second nature.
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