Signs And Symptoms Of Autism
There are many signs and symptoms that could indicate a person has autism spectrum disorder. Not all adults or children with autism will have every symptom, and some adults and children without autism may display some of the same behaviors and symptoms.
People with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulties with communication, and connecting emotionally and socially with others. They may also process sensory information, such as sounds and smells, differently from other people. These differences can underlie some of the behavioral signs of autism that people may display.
When looking for early signs of autism spectrum disorder, there are developmental milestones that children are expected to reach by certain ages, such as babbling by four months old and being able to use simple sentences by two years old. If a child reaches these milestones later, or does not develop the skills at all, it may indicate a developmental disorder such as autism spectrum disorder.
Autism can be diagnosed by age two, though symptoms may be apparent much earlier.
Who Should Treat This Particular Aspect Of Asthma Or Allergies
Many older patients are treated for asthma by their internist or family physician however, if your asthma symptoms are not under control within three to six months, or if you have severe persistent asthma, or if you are having asthma episodes that need emergency treatment, it may be time to see an asthma specialist. Allergists/Immunologists or pulmonologists are specialists who treat asthma. Those who have completed training in those specialties are usually called board-certified or board-eligible.
What Is The Treatment For Asthma
Asthma symptoms can be treated with a variety of prescription medications that provide quick relief as well as long term control. Lifestyle changes can also reduce symptoms, especially if asthma is triggered by allergies to substances in the environment or to certain foods . Regular vaccinations for influenza and pneumonia are strongly recommended for older adults with asthma.
Keep in mind . . . Short-term use of oral steroids are helpful to treat acute asthma symptoms, or flare ups however, long-term use of oral steroids is usually avoided in older asthma patients. Over time, oral steroids can cause severe side effects, such as weakening of bones, ulcers, or high blood pressure.
People with asthma should develop a written asthma management plan with their physician. An asthma management plan outlines specific treatment and lifestyle practices, including what to do when asthma symptoms flare up or become out of control.
Older asthma patients should be sure to ask their physician about any aspect of their asthma treatment that they do not understand. Keeping the physician informed about how well treatment is working is important. Patients need to tell their physician if they are having trouble remembering to take their medications, or if they are having difficulty using devices such as an inhaler.
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What Is The Autistic Spectrum
Autistic spectrum disorder is thought to affect around one in every one hundred people in the UK.
The term refers to a number of issues, including childhood autism and Asperger’s syndrome, but it is an umbrella phrase for mental conditions that affect communication, behaviour, social interactions and a person’s interests.
Adhd As An Adult Has Bigger Consequences
For adults, having ADHD means having bigger consequences for your symptoms. If you fail to pay attention while driving youre more likely to end up in a serious accident. If you zone out on important conversations with your boss, you could end up losing your job.
Unfortunately, adults with ADHD are more likely to become addicted to substances, get divorced, have an eating disorder, and die early.
All because the symptoms of ADHD dont just go away and being an adult doesnt mean you can just control the symptoms better. From low credit, to job loss, to accidents the stakes are pretty high for adults. Is it just me or is dying early worse than forgetting your homework? Seems silly to say that you dont need ADHD treatment if youre no longer in the classroom
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Many People Think You Should Have Outgrown Adhd
Even people who believe in adhd treat adults like they are lazy or making it up because you should have grown out of it
In the 90s we were told that ADHD is a childhood disorder. Later, we discovered that actually, most of us dont outgrow it at all. Unfortunately, it seems like many people havent gotten that memo.
When we struggle, even parents who were supportive when we were kids can become unsupportive in our struggle as adults because they are still under the outdated impression that we no longer have ADHD.
When youre struggling in your relationships or on thin ice at work it would make sense to go to the doctor for help. But when he says you dont need that because youre not in school anymore its often the most invalidating and overwhelming feeling.
If even your doctor thinks ADHD doesnt exist in adults it can create a whirlwind of emotions and second guessing and frustration. And even fear. If he wont help you, what in the world will you do? Unfortunately, many doctors are still stuck in the 90s when it comes to ADHD and it causes its own, unique, damage to us.
Lets just set that record straight. Over the last 20+ years, weve gotten better research on ADHD. It is now widely accepted that ADHD absolutey DOES last into adulthood for many with the condition. Anyone who tells you otherwise is behind on the research.
Does Health Insurance Cover Asthma Treatment
Most health insurance plans provide some level of coverage for asthma patients. Check with your insurance carrier for details. Some things you may want to find out might include:
Do you need a referral to an asthma/allergy care specialist from your internist or family physician?
Does the insurance carrier offer any patient education or specialized services related to asthma?
What coverage is offered for pre-existing conditions?
What medications are not covered by your plan?
Is a flu shot covered as part of asthma care? A pneumonia vaccine?
The information provided in this fact sheet should not be a substitute for seeking responsible, professional medical care.
Reprinted with permission from Asthma and Allergy Answers, the patient education library developed by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
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Youre Expected To Self Regulate With Self Discipline
As a kid, your structure was enforced for you. Most of us had adults that reminded us to take our medication, rushed us out the door in the morning, and made sure that we remembered to eat breakfast.
Some of us even had adults that reminded us to put our homework in our bookbag and forced us to sit at the table and actually do the homework. At school, your teacher made sure you were on task and learning, or at least tried to.
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Having ADHD as an adult means you are expected to regulate your own schedule, remember to take your own medication, rush yourself out the door in time for work, and no one is looking over your shoulder to make sure you arent distracted at work.
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But doing all of this falls under those executive functioning skills that we lack and part of having ADHD means you are likely to struggle with some or all of these.
Whats worse is, these things are expected of adults and struggling with them invites a firestorm of judgement. Were looked at as being lazy. Judged for being childish and irresponsible. And many adults with ADHD struggle with self esteem issues as a result.
Being On The Spectrum Can Mean A Wide Variety Of Experiences
Autism is described as a spectrum of disorders for a reason. Signs of autism can present differently.
Some individuals will have significant behavior and communication challenges that make the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis more likely.
In other cases, caregivers may notice occasional atypical behaviors but that dont immediately cause them to seek a full behavioral health evaluation.
In the latter scenario, a child may never have their autism diagnosed or addressed therapeutically. Its possible that mildly-expressed forms of ASD behavior go completely unnoticed.
But another possibility is that an undiagnosed child or their caregiver will feel frustrated by a lack of explanation for certain behavioral events. They may struggle with socialization, for instance, or they may lack commitment to extracurricular activities.
Ignoring the possibility of an autism diagnosis, especially if a child seems mostly neurotypical, can make it more difficult for them to adjust and have their needs met. For this reason, teachers and caregivers who observe subtle signs of ASD should speak with a mental health professional.
A childs parents, teachers, and others with a direct role in their life are the best observers when it comes to picking up on a possible autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Only a licensed mental health professional can come to a full, accurate diagnosis, but you dont have to be a professional to suspect that an ASD diagnosis is possible.
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Development Of Infants With Early Signs Of Autism
While your baby is growing up, you may wonder if they are developing as they should. There are certain developmental milestones children hit as they grow up.
It is important to keep an eye out for these so that you can see if your child is behind on their development.
- smile at people
- try to look at their parents
- coo
- turn their head towards sound
If you notice that your baby is not engaging in such activities, you may want to get your child tested for ASD.
Talking With Older Children And Teenagers About An Autism Diagnosis
If your child is in the process of being diagnosed or has a new autism diagnosis, you might worry about what and how much to tell your child.
Your child will probably have questions about whats going on. These questions can guide what you say just answer them as honestly as you can, at a level your child will understand.
Older autistic children and teenagers often realise theyre different in some ways from other children their age, so dont be afraid to talk with your child about this. You can focus on your childs strengths for example, that your child has an excellent memory, is good with numbers or is very kind to animals. Its also OK to talk about the things that your child finds challenging, like making friends.
Older children and teenagers will react differently to being diagnosed.
Some might feel relieved to have a diagnosis. They can use the diagnosis as a way to understand parts of themselves and to help with the things they find difficult.
But others might need time to come to terms with the diagnosis or find it difficult to adjust. They might even feel scared. Children who were diagnosed when they were younger have grown up with their diagnoses as part of who they are. But older children can feel confused about who they are now. For example, they might feel conflicted about their newly identified additional needs.
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Early Signs Of Autism In A 3 Year Old
As your kid grows older, certain signs become a little bit less clear compared to the first few months. You can get a better idea by checking the developmental milestones to see if your child is behind on some.
- Some autism red flags for 3 year olds are as follows:
- Prefers being alone,
- Doesnt like physical contact
- Has difficulty in understanding feeling
- Doesnt respond when their name is called
- Is not able to form sentences
- Speaks in flat tone
What Are Signs Of Autism In A 6 Year Old
Signs of autism in childrennot responding to their name.avoiding eye contact.not smiling when you smile at them.getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound.repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body.not talking as much as other children.repeating the same phrases.
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Autism Improves In Adulthood
Most teens and adults with the syndrome have less severe symptoms and behaviors as they get mature, a groundbreaking study shows. Not each adult with syndrome gets higher. Particularly to those with a mental problem could get worse.
For any person symptom, and there are many people who are autistic, there are invariably a really small group of individuals who got worse, a modest people within the middle who was stable, and a majority who showed improvement. Well, it depends on person to person.
Features of autism include
- Problem with verbal and non-verbal communication,
- Social drop-out
What is the average age for an autistic child to speak?
The study brings hope to those parents who worry that their kids are not talking by age four or five are unlikely to develop speech the least bit. Some kids with Autism spectrum disorders develop meaning language once age five. There may be a burst of youngsters within the 6- to 7- age who do get the language.
Is late talking a sign of autism?
Autism and late talking youngsters. Do these late talking youngsters have some kind of ASD? Finally, late talking will so be proof of ASD. However, it may be an indication of another disability like language disorder, upset, intellectual incapacity or may be hearing impairment.
What age should you be concerned if a child is not talking?
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 eye 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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Is Autism Inherited From The Mother Or Father
Clues to the first two questions come from studies that have shown that at least 30% of individuals with autism have spontaneous de novo mutations that occurred in the fathers sperm or mothers egg and disrupt genes important for brain development, these spontaneous mutations likely cause autism in families where
Early Signs Of Autism In Adults
Autism spectrum disorder occurs in all age groups. It is generally characterized by social and communication difficulties.
Severe forms are usually diagnosed in the first two years of a childs life. However, high-functioning individuals may not be diagnosed until later in their lives.
Here are some of the symptoms in autistic adults:
- Difficulty in regulating emotion
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Signs Of Autism Meltdown
For some people with autism, sensory overload can become overwhelming. In these situations a person may have a meltdown. A change in routine can also precipitate a meltdown.
A meltdown is not a temper tantrum and can be experienced by someone with autism of any age. A meltdown should be managed by calming the person and addressing the cause of the distress.
Signs that a meltdown may be developing, sometimes known as the rumbling stage, include:
- Nail biting
- Chronic gastritis
- Chronic duodenitis
Many people with autism spectrum disorder also have food intolerances and may find that a diet which excludes gluten or casein helps.
Signs Of Autism In Girls
The ratio of boys to girls diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is 4:1. However, there is some evidence that autism is going undiagnosed in girls, particularly those who are at the higher functioning end of the spectrum.
There is discussion around whether girls and women with autism may display different symptoms to boys and men, and that the current diagnostic criteria may be biased towards boys and stereotypical male behavior. Girls and women may also be better able to mask difficulties with social interactions than boys, and this may delay a diagnosis. New diagnostic criteria may be needed to assess ASD in girls and women. Past theories, including controversies such as the extreme male brain, may have led to under-referral and under-diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in girls and women.
Signs that a girl may have autism include:
- Difficulties with social interactions however, differences from typical autism symptoms may include:
- Better grasp of emotions and ability to make friends than boys
- May mask lack of intuitive understanding of social situations by repeating role-plays seen in real life or film/television
- May be able to make friends but find difficulty keeping them
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Autism Symptoms In Adults At Work
Symptoms of ASD vary greatly from person to person based on the severity of the condition. These or similar manifestations of ASD may be apparent at work:
- When youre having a conversation with your boss, you prefer to look at the wall, her shoes, or anywhere but directly into her eyes.
- Your co-workers say that you speak like a robot.
- Each item on your desk has a special place, and you dont like when the cleaning company rearranges it to dust.
- You are really good at math, or software coding, but struggle to succeed in other areas.
- You talk to your co-workers the same way you talk with your family and friends.
- During meetings, you find yourself making involuntary noises, like clearing your throat over and over.
- When talking with your boss, you have difficulty telling if he is happy with your performance or mad at you.
In addition, individuals with ASD may exhibit extraordinary talents in visual skills, music, math, and art. And roughly 40 percent of individuals with ASD have average or above-average intelligence.
If you experience these or similar symptoms of ASD, consult a doctor or mental-health professional for a formal autism evaluation and learn more about treatment options for autism symptoms in adults.