How Does Someone Get Autism

Be Consistent And Supportive

Autism doesnt go away or get better. It represents your teens:

• personality
• emotion
• selfhood

Its crucial to be there for your teen as they experience not only the typical struggles of being a teen but also the added pressure to conform to neurotypical standards.

Consistency in maintaining a positive, accepting environment can be an enormous influence on the direction of their lives well past the teen years.

Helping your teen learn certain life skills or behaviors they may have difficulty mastering can also be a form of support. To build skills in these areas, you can:

• See a psychologist or psychiatrist who can help your teen work through personal challenges. They can also prescribe medications for anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder , or other conditions that may affect your teens sense of personal fulfillment or be perceived as disruptive.
• See a speech pathologist to help with any communication challenges, or do speech therapy.
• See a behavioral specialist to help with routines, activities, or habits that may be disruptive to activities your teen wants to do.
• See a dietitian who may be able to help optimize your teens diet or supplement intake to reduce their experience of challenging behaviors or emotions.

Autisms Genetic Risk Factors

Research tells us that autism tends to run in families. Changes in certain genes increase the risk that a child will develop autism. If a parent carries one or more of these gene changes, they may get passed to a child . Other times, these genetic changes arise spontaneously in an early embryo or the sperm and/or egg that combine to create the embryo. Again, the majority of these gene changes do not cause autism by themselves. They simply increase risk for the disorder

How Parents Can Spot The Warning Signs

As a parent, youre in the best position to spot the earliest warning signs of autism. You know your child better than anyone and observe behaviors and quirks that a pediatrician, in a quick fifteen-minute visit, might not have the chance to see. Your childs pediatrician can be a valuable partner, but dont discount the importance of your own observations and experience. The key is to educate yourself so you know whats typical and whats not.

Monitor your childs development. Autism involves a variety of developmental delays, so keeping a close eye on whenor ifyour child is hitting the key social, emotional, and cognitive milestones is an effective way to spot the problem early on. While developmental delays dont automatically point to autism, they may indicate a heightened risk.

Take action if youre concerned. Every child develops at a different pace, so you dont need to panic if your child is a little late to talk or walk. When it comes to healthy development, theres a wide range of typical. But if your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or you suspect a problem, share your concerns with your childs doctor immediately. Dont wait.

Regression of any kind is a serious autism warning sign

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What To Do If Youre Worried

If your child is developmentally delayed, or if youve observed other red flags for autism, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician right away. In fact, its a good idea to have your child screened by a doctor even if he or she is hitting the developmental milestones on schedule. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive routine developmental screenings, as well as specific screenings for autism at 9, 18, and 30 months of age.

Schedule an autism screening. A number of specialized screening tools have been developed to identify children at risk for autism. Most of these screening tools are quick and straightforward, consisting of yes-or-no questions or a checklist of symptoms. Your pediatrician should also get your feedback regarding your childs behavior.

Their Empathy Score Is High

Listen to how they talk about the less fortunate members of our society such as the poor, immigrants and the disabled. Do you notice that they talk in a compassionate way about these people? The fact that they even mention them is a strong indicator of empathy.

People with zero empathy will never talk about the disadvantaged. They will rarely ask you a question about a difficult time or relationship. They will usually steer the conversation back to themselves. These people have zero empathy and in extreme cases, they are psychopaths who never show any feelings towards their victims.

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Oliver Finds It Frustrating That People With Autism Can Fail Filling In Job Applications When

I think its more that Ive got a bit of charisma. And I think people pick up on this, but I seem, I do seem to fail, this is, because Ive just recently got a new job, and because Ive been handing out a few CVs out and things like this. I think that people with AS fail in normal human resource, hiring situations where its please put your name here and its in a fairly basic form and people would, because the questions are obviously going to filter certain things out and I think this is where people on the spectrum or with AS fail. Because its not necessarily that they cant do the job. Its they dont understand whats been asked of them, because Ive had this with quite a few situations. And it frustrates me greatly. Because I know I could do the job. A lot of the times I know I could do the job well, if not better than any one at the place. And its just the fact that theyre bureaucratic, very uptight attitude is basically putting them at a disadvantage. They could have some one better rather than just someone whos just going to do the bare minimum and it doesnt.

What Else Raises The Risk

So, autism is highly genetic, but that doesnt mean environmental factors are unimportant, said Dr. Brian Lee, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute in Philadelphia. Height, for example, is influenced by environmental factors like malnutrition. You can have a genetic underlying factor that puts you at risk, but there may need to be some sort of an environmental condition or trigger, Lee said.

S.S.R.I.s are strong candidates for factors that could trigger autism. They act on the brain chemical serotonin, which is important for social function and is found at high levels in some autistic people, and many of them cross from a womans blood into the womb.

But Dr. Alan Brown, M.D., professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at Columbia University, said that its difficult to separate the effects of a medication from a pregnant womans reason for taking them her underlying mental health condition. Several recent studies suggest that the autism risk associated with S.S.R.I. use is very small, perhaps nonexistent. The literature is confusing on S.S.R.I.s and autism, Brown said. Some studies show the association, others dont.

Researchers also have looked into prenatal exposure to toxins, such as pesticides or air pollution, and have come up with similarly inconclusive results. They have found no increased autism risk related to prenatal smoking, cesarean section,fertility treatments or vaccines.

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They Love Information Trivia

Its not uncommon to find that our autistic loved ones are a wealth of information when it comes to random trivia statisticsand knowledge. Like a sponge, they have them ability to regurgitate stored information eloquently. While this behavior is often compulsive, remember that they are sharing what they love or care about with you. Be patient and take the time to listen to what could be their passion.

How To Stop Autism Tantrums

How to Prevent Tantrums in Children with Autism Remove your child from the triggering event. At the first sign of increased anxiety or frustration, take him to a quiet place. Sometimes it is enough to move from an overly stimulating environment to a quieter place to prevent the attack from worsening.

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Who Is Most Likely To Be Diagnosed As Autism

Prevalence In 2018, the CDC found that approximately 1 in 59 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder . Boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Most children were diagnosed after 4 years of age, although autism can be reliably diagnosed at 2 years of age.

Common Signs Of Autism

Some of the more common signs that may indicate a person has autism include:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Delayed speech and communication skills
• Reliance on rules and routines
• Being upset by relatively minor changes
• Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch and smells
• Difficulty understanding other peopleââ¬â¢s emotions
• Focusing on or becoming obsessed by a narrow range of interests or objects
• Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands or rocking
• Children not responding to their name by 12 months
• Children not pointing at distant objects by 14 months

Worried you or someone you know might have some of the signs of autism? The Ada app can help you check symptoms. or find out more about how it works.

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Do Autism Run In Families

There is ample evidence that autism continues to run in families. Genes that alter during pregnancy alter the childs susceptibility to autism. There are several gene mutations that can be passed on by a parent these include autism, addiction problems, depression, alcoholism, and even bipolar disorder .

The review reported that families with children with autism have a greater frequency of the disease prevalence. Changes in those genes enhance the childs vulnerability to autism. to their child can inherit one or more of these changes if a parent has these genes . These genetic modifications take place within an embryo during the various stages of development. Even the variations in the bulk of these genes are not by themselves harmful. By advancing the chance for disturbance, they deepen the risk for the problem.

Read-Does autism disorder run in families?

What Role Do Genes Play

Twin and family studies strongly suggest that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism. Identical twin studies show that if one twin is affected, then the other will be affected between 36 to 95 percent of the time. There are a number of studies in progress to determine the specific genetic factors associated with the development of ASD. In families with one child with ASD, the risk of having a second child with the disorder also increases. Many of the genes found to be associated with autism are involved in the function of the chemical connections between brain neurons . Researchers are looking for clues about which genes contribute to increased susceptibility. In some cases, parents and other relatives of a child with ASD show mild impairments in social communication skills or engage in repetitive behaviors. Evidence also suggests that emotional disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia occur more frequently than average in the families of people with ASD.

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They Take Things Literally

Puns, nuances, metaphors, and idioms are too often lost and confusing to the autistic. Hold your horses, its a piece of cake, lets hit the road. We use these phrases every day without even realizing we have said them. However to our loved ones with autism they make language confusing and hard to understand. If you have ever read an Amelia Bedlia book, you will understand how confusing language can be without a point of reference.

What Are The Causes And Effects Of Autism

Autism is more common than expected in people with certain medical conditions, including fragile X syndrome, Borneville tuberous sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and untreated phenylketonuria . Several contaminants ingested during pregnancy have also been linked to an increased risk of autism.

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Be Careful About Changing Your Childs Diet

Talk to your doctor before trying something different, like a special diet. Thereâs no hard evidence that special diets help children with ASD. Autism is a complex brain disorder. While it may seem that cutting out certain foods could relieve your childâs symptoms, it might actually cause more harm.

For example, children with autism often have thinner bones. Dairy products have nutrients that can make their bones stronger. Studies on a protein in milk products called casein have found that many children performed the same whether or not they ate foods with this protein. Their autism symptoms didnât change in any remarkable way.

Some evidence shows that people with autism may have low levels of certain vitamins and minerals. This does not cause autism spectrum disorder. But supplements may be suggested to improve nutrition. Vitamin B and magnesium are two of the supplements most often used for people with autism. But people can overdose on these vitamins, so megavitamins should be avoided.

However, some diet changes may help with certain symptoms of autism. Food allergies, for example, may make behavior problems worse. Removing the allergen from the diet may improve behavior issues.

Some children with autism have digestive problems like constipation, belly pain, or nausea and vomiting. Your doctor can suggest a diet that wonât make them worse.

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They Are Not Broken Autism Is Nobodys Fault

It is human nature to want to fix things that we think to be broken. When dealing with an autistic loved one, it is all too easy to go into fix it mode. However, this mindset can be very damaging. When trying to create a nurturing relationship, remember that your loved one didnt choose autism. It is no more their fault than it is yours. It is important that you continue to show love, empathy and a genuine desire to understand the struggles they face.

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What Are The Signs Of Autism

Symptoms of autism usually appear before a child turns 3. Some people show signs from birth.

• A lack of eye contact
• A narrow range of interests or intense interest in certain topics
• Doing something over and over, like repeating words or phrases, rocking back and forth, or flipping a lever
• High sensitivity to sounds, touches, smells, or sights that seem ordinary to other people
• Not looking at or listening to other people
• Not looking at things when another person points at them
• Not wanting to be held or cuddled
• Problems understanding or using speech, gestures, facial expressions, or tone of voice
• Talking in a sing-song, flat, or robotic voice
• Trouble adapting to changes in routine

Some children with autism may also have seizures. These might not start until adolescence.

What Is The Difference Between Autism And Adhd

Autism and ADHD are sometimes confused with one another.

Children with an ADHD diagnosis consistently have issues with fidgeting, concentrating, and maintaining eye contact with others. These symptoms are also seen in some autistic people.

Despite some similarities, ADHD is not considered a spectrum disorder. One major difference between the two is that people with ADHD do not tend to lack socio-communicative skills.

If you think your child may be hyperactive, talk with their doctor about possible ADHD testing. Getting a clear diagnosis is essential to ensure that your child is receiving the right support.

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Meeting The Autism Listing From The Listing Of Impairments

The SSA’s Listing of Impairments contains categories of medical conditions along with specific requirements that must be met before an applicant can be found disabled. The requirements for autistic spectrum disorders are the same for the adult listing and childhood listing. Both listings require medical evidence showing all of the following factors:

• deficits in social interaction
• deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication, and
• significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

In addition, Social Security will look to see how much autism limits the applicant’s ability to function at school or in the workplace. The applicant must either have an extreme limitation in one of the following areas or a “marked” limitation in two of the following areas:

• understanding, remembering, or using information
• interacting with others
• focusing on activities , and
• adapting or managing oneself .

How To Spot The Early Signs Of Autism

The first signs of autism are the absence of typical behavior rather than the presence of atypical behavior, so they can be difficult to detect. In some cases, the early symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a “good boy” because the child may appear calm, independent, and undemanding.

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What’s It Like To Have Autism Spectrum Disorder

ASD affects different people in different ways. Some people can’t speak or learn. Their behavior may seem strange they may avoid other people they may pace and move their bodies in unusual ways, like flapping their hands. They may repeat lines from TV shows or movies.

People with less severe ASD are able to talk and learn. But they may have trouble:

• expressing feelings. They may seem cold and distant.
• understanding the feelings of others. They may ignore or misunderstand how other people might feel or behave in a situation.
• reading social cues. They might not understand body language or facial expression they stand too close they ignore signs of boredom or frustration.
• handling sensory information. Loud noises, bright lights, or crowds may bother them.
• handling a new routine. It might be hard for them to sit in a different seat or having a substitute teacher.

Some might get get super-focused on a single topic or hobby, some of which may be unusual .