Significant Limitations In Two Or More Areas Of Adaptive Behavior
Adaptive behavior, or adaptive functioning, refers to the skills needed to live independently . To assess adaptive behavior, professionals compare the functional abilities of a child to those of other children of similar age. To measure adaptive behavior, professionals use structured interviews, with which they systematically elicit information about the person’s functioning in the community from someone who knows them well. There are many adaptive behavior scales, and accurate assessment of the quality of someone’s adaptive behavior requires clinical judgment as well. Certain skills are important to adaptive behavior, such as:
daily living skills, such as getting dressed, using the bathroom, and feeding oneself communication skills, such as understanding what is said and being able to answer social skills with peers, family members, spouses, adults, and others.
Key Difference Autism Vs Mental Retardation
The key difference between autism and mental retardation is that the autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by great difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts where the intellectual functioning is normal. In contrast, mental retardation or intellectual disability is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning.
Limitations In More Than One Area
Adaptive behavior, or adaptive functioning, refers to the skills needed to live independently . To assess adaptive behavior, professionals compare the functional abilities of a child to those of other children of similar age. To measure adaptive behavior, professionals use structured interviews, with which they systematically elicit information about persons functioning in the community from people who know them well. There are many adaptive behavior scales, and accurate assessment of the quality of someones adaptive behavior requires clinical judgment as well. Certain skills are important to adaptive behavior, such as:
- Daily living skills, such as getting dressed, using the bathroom, and feeding oneself
- Communication skills, such as understanding what is said and being able to answer
- Social skills with peers, family members, spouses, adults, and others
Other specific skills can be critical to an individuals inclusion in the community and to develop appropriate social behaviors, as for example being aware of the different social expectations linked to the principal lifespan stages . The results of a Swiss study suggest that the performance of adults with ID in recognizing different lifespan stages is related to specific cognitive abilities and to the type of material used to test this performance.
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Common Conditions Among People With Autism
While many people with autism are misdiagnosed with other types of mental illness, many are also appropriately diagnosed with both autism and mental illness. In fact, mental illness is more common among people with autism than it is among the general population.
The most common co-occurring mental illnesses for people with autism include depression and anxiety.
Its not completely clear why this may be the case. One theory suggests that there is a genetic link between autism and mental illness. Another theory points to the extreme challenges of living in the modern world with autism. The fact is that for many people with autism, it is anxiety-provoking and depressing to attempt to overcome social, sensory, and/or intellectual challenges that are simply part of who they are.
In addition to mental illness, many children and adults with autism receive additional developmental diagnoses. While it can be argued in many cases that the symptoms are associated with autism, it is sometimes helpful to know that a child is both autistic and, for example, diagnosable with ADHD, learning disabilities, hyperlexia, Savant Syndrome, or another disorder.
A secondary diagnosis, while it may or may not be completely appropriate, can sometimes provide direction for therapy, academic support, and services. Hopefully, in doing so, this could correct any potential misdiagnoses moving forward.
Autism Is Not An Illness
Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people.
Itâs something youâre born with or first appears when youâre very young.
If youâre autistic, youâre autistic your whole life.
Autism is not a medical condition with treatments or a âcureâ. But some people need support to help them with certain things.
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Causes Of Autism And Mental Retardation
Autism: Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and unclear.
Mental Retardation: Mental Retardation usually has a genetic cause in 25 % of the cases. However, no cause is found in majority of the cases. There are many environmental causes with can cause mental retardation such as rubella, toxins, whooping cough, measles, meningitis, malnutrition, etc.
Are Children Eligible For Disability Benefits
The SSA takes the guesswork out of the autism and disability question. Children who meet guidelines put forth by the SSA are eligible for benefits.
Children between 3 and 18 years old must have:
- Medical documentation. They need paperwork that proves they have communication deficits, social interaction limitations, and restricted behavior patterns.
- Mental functioning limits. They must struggle with understanding information, interactions with others, concentration, or adapting to situations. Severe limits in one area or marked difficulties with two areas are enough to qualify.
SSA administrators look over a lot of data to make decisions. They might require an intelligence test, or they could review an older childâs school records. The team might also talk with your childâs doctor or therapists.
Income plays a role in qualifications. Since children donât work, experts assess the wealth of parents. Income is a top reason for denied benefits, experts say. The more people who live in your household, the higher your wealth limit.
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How Is Autism Spectrum Disorder Treated
ASD is most often a life-long condition. Both children and adults with autism benefit from behavioral interventions or therapies that can teach new skills to address the core deficits of autism and to reduce the core symptoms. Every child and adult with autism is unique. For this reason, the treatment plan is individualized to meet specific needs. It is best to begin interventions as soon as possible, so the benefits of therapy can continue on throughout the course of life.
Many people with ASD often have additional medical conditions, such as gastrointestinal and feeding issues, seizures and sleep disturbances. Treatment can involve behavioral therapy, medications or both.
Early intensive behavioral treatments involves the entire family and possibly a team of professionals. As your child ages and develops, treatment may be modified to cater to their specific needs.
During adolescence, children benefit from transition services that promote skills of independence essential in adulthood. The focus at that point is on employment opportunities and job skill training.
Mental Retardation Signs And Symptoms
Mental retardation begins in the first two decades of life. The age and characteristics of onset depend on the cause of the disability and the severity of the neuropsychiatric dysfunction. The identification of children with more severe mental retardation typically occurs early in life. These children often have dysmorphic features and associated medical conditions and higher rates of behavioral and psychiatric disturbances. Individuals with severe intellectual disability may show delayed motor, language, and social accomplishments within the first 2 years of life. Individuals with mild intellectual disability may not be recognized until early school age because that is when their difficulties with academic learning become apparent.
Depending on its cause, mental retardation may be stable and nonprogressive or it may worsen with time. After early childhood, the disorder is chronic and usually lasts an individuals lifetime however, the severity of the disorder may change with age. For example, visual or hearing difficulties, epilepsy, childhood psychological or head trauma, substance abuse, and other medical conditions may affect the course of the disorder. Conversely, an early intervention may improve adaptive skills.
As a family, you may suspect your child has an intellectual disability when your child has any of the following:
Signs of intellectual disability can range from mild to severe.
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How Is Autism Treated
There is no cure for ASD. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can substantially improve those symptoms. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that meet the specific needs of the individual. Most health care professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
Educational/behavioral interventions: Early behavioral/educational interventions have been very successful in many children with ASD. In these interventions therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills, such as applied behavioral analysis, which encourages positive behaviors and discourages negative ones. In addition, family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with ASD often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with a child with ASD.
Diagnosis in young children is often a two-stage process.
Stage 1: General Developmental Screening During Well-Child Checkups
Parents experiences and concerns are very important in the screening process for young children. Sometimes the doctor will ask parents questions about the childs behaviors and combine those answers with information from ASD screening tools, and with his or her observations of the child. Read more about screening instruments on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Stage 2: Additional Evaluation
This team may include:
What Are Some Common Signs Of Asd
Even as infants, children with ASD may seem different, especially when compared to other children their own age. They may become overly focused on certain objects, rarely make eye contact, and fail to engage in typical babbling with their parents. In other cases, children may develop normally until the second or even third year of life, but then start to withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.
The severity of ASD can vary greatly and is based on the degree to which social communication, insistence of sameness of activities and surroundings, and repetitive patterns of behavior affect the daily functioning of the individual.
Social impairment and communication difficultiesMany people with ASD find social interactions difficult. The mutual give-and-take nature of typical communication and interaction is often particularly challenging. Children with ASD may fail to respond to their names, avoid eye contact with other people, and only interact with others to achieve specific goals. Often children with ASD do not understand how to play or engage with other children and may prefer to be alone. People with ASD may find it difficult to understand other peoples feelings or talk about their own feelings.
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Is Adhd A Form Of Retardation
4.1/5retardation
Then, is ADHD a form of autism?
The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and ADHD overlap. Most children on the autism spectrum have symptoms of ADHD difficulty settling down, social awkwardness, the ability to focus only on things that interest them, and impulsivity. ADHD itself, however, is not part of the autism spectrum.
Subsequently, question is, what is ADHD classified as? ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is classified as a psychiatric disorder and the symptoms often continue through adolescence into adulthood.
Then, is ADHD considered a mental illness?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a mental illness that affects the way you act and focus. ADHD is usually diagnosed in school-aged children, but it can continue to cause problems into adulthood. About two-thirds of people living with ADHD continue to experience symptoms as an adult.
Do people with ADHD have a lower IQ?
Although, on average, ADHD people have IQ scores that are about 9 points lower than others, there is a wide spread of IQs in both ADHD and non-ADHD people. So many people with ADHD have higher IQs than those without ADHD and vice-versa.
What Happens If Adhd Is Left Untreated
For adults, untreated ADHD also affects job performance and lifetime earnings, marital satisfaction, and likelihood of divorce. Thats because untreated kids sometimes dont learn impulse control, emotional regulation, and social skills. As adults, they can sometimes fall behind the curve and dont always catch up.
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Meaning And Characteristics Of Mental Retardation
Mental Retardation, also known as Intellectual Disability, is a generalized neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significantly impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning. It is defined by an IQ under 70 and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors that affect everyday, general living.Adaptive skills are the skills needed for daily life. These skills include speaking a language and understanding words, lack of communication, community resources, health, self-care, social skills, and functional academic skills .A child is generally diagnosed with mental retardation before the age of 18. Family members suspect intellectual and developmental delays when a child enters milestones slower. For example, a child may be more reluctant to develop motor skills than other children his age. As a result, he may take longer than usual to go over. According to the slow development of motor skills, a child with mental retardation may be hesitant to develop language and daily living skills. For example, he may be incapable of brushing his teeth or eating alone. He may also start talking much later than other children his age.
Severe Mental Retardation IQ from 20-25 to 35-40About 3-4% of the mentally disabled are severely retarded. They may master fundamental self-care skills and some communication skills. Many severely retarded individuals/children can live in a group home.
What Can I Do To Help My Intellectually Disabled Child
Steps to help your intellectually disabled child include:
- Learn everything you can about intellectual disabilities. The more you know, the better advocate you can be for your child.
- Encourage your childâs independence. Let your child try new things and encourage your child to do things by themselves. Provide guidance when itâs needed and give positive feedback when your child does something well or masters something new.
- Get your child involved in group activities. Taking an art class or participating in Scouts will help your child build social skills.
- Stay involved. By keeping in touch with your childâs teachers, youâll be able to follow their progress and reinforce what your child is learning at school through practice at home.
- Get to know other parents of intellectually disabled children. They can be a great source of advice and emotional support.
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Similarities Between Autism And Mental Retardation
There are certain similarities in the way Autism and Mental Retardation present, which is why the two are often confused.
- Both are neurodevelopmental disorders
- Both can occur when there are problems during pregnancy or difficulties during birth
- Both can lead to delays in verbal communication
- Both impact the way a child interacts with other people
- Both can lead to aggressive or self-harming behavior in the child
- Both can lead to difficulty integrating into work and social environments
Autism And Mental Retardation Handicaps
Autism: Autism, early speech or behavior can help children autists acquire personal assistance, social skills and communication. However, treatment is not known.Mental Disability: There is no treatment for established intellectual disadvantages, but with reasonable support and teaching most people can learn to do a lot.
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Essential Differences Between Autism And Mental Retardation
Autism
Autism cases deviate in the IQ range with below and above average test results.
Autistic children have average or even above-average intelligence.
The problem that some children face is an inability to function socially within the “normal” population.
An autistic child cannot communicate with the outside world using language.
Children with Autism may be able to progress in some areas smoothly but have difficulties in language, communication, and social interaction.
They cannot understand the world in terms of letters and sounds, and they make their wishes known often in nonverbal ways.
Children may lack empathy for other people because they have problems understanding their emotions and emotional responses.
Mental Retardation
Mental Retardation requires a score on an intelligence test at least two standard deviations below the norm.
If “normal” is 100, then two standard deviations below that are 50-75 approximately.
Intelligence tests are not great predictors of their future success or ability.
Tests are culturally biased, and if the person taking the test does not share the same culture as the person who has made the test, they will score lower.
Mental Retardation may present speech and vocabulary challenges but not to the same stage as a case of severe Autism, which can make someone nonverbal.
A way to measure mental functioning is by assessing the child’s sensory-motor development.
Difference Between Autism And Mental Retardation
What are autism and mental retardation?
Having an autistic child or a child with special needs is all about children needing extra attention and care. The difference lies in the kind of care the child might need based on the area he faces difficulties in. Autism, for example, is characterized by altered social behavior, repetitive actions and difficulty in communication both verbal and non verbal. Mental retardation, in contrast, also called as Intellectual disability, is defined as generalized impaired cognitive functioning along with reduced IQ levels. Typically, IQ levels in a patient with Mental Retardation are below 70, which is the diagnostic criterion set by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders .
Difference between their causes
The cause for autism isnt exactly known but a strong genetic predisposition is thought suspected whereas causes for Mental retardation are congenital disorders like Downs syndrome, Klinefelters syndrome etc hypoxia during labor or birth, exposure to certain toxins like alcohol and smoking during pregnancy and deficiency of iodine.
Differences in presentation
Echolalia and ritualistic behaviour is commonly seen in autism but not observed in mental retardation which is a very important feature for differentiation.
Differences in treatment
Summary:
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