Keeping Your Child With Autism Safe
One of the things that worries autism parents most is keeping their child safe. There are so many obstacles and issues that parents of typical children dont even have to consider. Autism symptoms like self-harm, head-banging, wandering, eloping, hiding, and running are just a few things that are far more prevalent in autistic kids. Safety proofing your home and childs surroundings is imperative.
Kids with autism are often less aware of safety concerns. Many low functioning children with autism have no idea that something is dangerous and are unable to understand the implications of their actions. When they get overwhelmed and triggered, they can run into the street without even noticing the cars coming. According to the National Autism Association, Autism itself does not affect life expectancy, however, research has shown that the mortality risk among individuals with autism is twice as high as the general population, in large part due to drowning and other accidents.
A recent study revealed that over 50% of children with autism wander or elope. Several parents report that despite extreme safety precautions being in place, their child has found a way to escape from their home or school. This issue is amplified when your autistic child is nonverbal . Simple things like going to school, riding a school bus, going to the mall, and playing in the park require extreme care and cause parents a tremendous amount of stress and worry.
Social Communication / Interaction Behaviors May Include:
- Making little or inconsistent eye contact
- Appearing not to look at or listen to people who are talking
- Infrequently sharing interest, emotion, or enjoyment of objects or activities
- Not responding or being slow to respond to ones name or to other verbal bids for attention
- Having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation
- Often talking at length about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without giving others a chance to respond
- Displaying facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match what is being said
- Having an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like
- Having trouble understanding another persons point of view or being unable to predict or understand other peoples actions
- Difficulties adjusting behaviors to social situations
- Difficulties sharing in imaginative play or in making friends
What Are The 5 Different Types Of Autism
There are five different types of autism, each with its own set of symptoms and severity. The most common type is autistic disorder, also known as classic autism. This is characterized by impaired social skills, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors. Other types include Aspergerâs syndrome, Rettâs syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified . Each type of autism has different symptoms, but all share the common features of social, communication, and behavioral challenges.
Knowing what kinds of autism your child is likely to have can help you detect early signs of it. Autism is a group of disorders that encompasses a wide range of conditions that fall into one of the two broad categories. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is sometimes referred to as autism at the very least. In recent years, a number of doctors and researchers have decided to remove Rettâs Syndrome from the autism spectrum. The term âkannerâs syndromeâ is frequently used to describe children who have autism spectrum disorders. It is generally less severe than other developmental disorders when it comes to Pervasive Developmental Disorder â Not Otherwise Specified . Early intervention with specialized and focused nutrition and speech and occupational therapy is critical in the treatment of children suffering from Disintegrative Disorder .
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Strict Adherence To A Routine
Autism spectrum disorder can manifest in a strict dependence on daily routines.
Individuals living with autism may become angry or upset when any detail of their daywhether it be a misplaced item or canceled activityis changed.
Stringent routines have some overlap with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder tendencies, though ASD and OCD are two separate things.
Research is still ongoing on the overlap between the two disorders, but its thought that 17% of individuals living with ASD also have OCD.
A significant difference between ASD and OCD tendencies is that people suffering from OCD have a need to do a specific task, whereas people with autism spectrum disorder are more soothed by repetition than the specific task.
Is Neurodivergent The Same As Autism
According to a 2015 article titled “The Myth of the Normal Brain: Embracing Neurodiversity” by Dr. Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., neurodiversity is a term originally coined in the late 1990s by Australian sociologist, Judy Singer and New York journalist Harvey Blume, who wrote a 1998 article on neurodiversity in The Atlantic.
Armstrong, author of the 2011 book The Power of Neurodiversity: Unleashing the Advantages of Your Differently Wired Brain, explains in his article that the word neurodiversity was initially created “to articulate the needs of people with autism who did not want to be defined by a disability label, but wished to be seen instead as neurologically different.”
Today autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and dyslexia are all considered neurodiverse conditions.
As Nicole Baumer, MD, and Julia Frueh, MD, point out in their 2021 article for Harvard Medical Schools Harvard Health Publishing, while the concept of neurodiversity began within the autism rights community, it has now grown beyond to also encompass other neurological conditions such as ADHD.
Today autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are all considered neurodiverse conditions.
Neurodiversity is the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways there is no one right way of thinking, learning, and behaving, according to Baumer and Frueh.
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Low Functioning Autism Symptoms Signs Treatments And More
What is Low Functioning Autism?
Low functioning autism refers to children and adults with autism who show the most severe symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are diagnosed as having Level 3 ASD. They are usually unable to live independently and require support from a guardian throughout their lives. Weve included information to help you gain a better understanding of the autism levels of severity, the difference between high and low level autism, the signs and symptoms of low functioning autism, and treatment and safety options.
Aba Therapy Help For Low Functioning Autistic Children
Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy is one of the most successful interventions for teaching children with autism desired behaviors. It can help them acquire and maintain basic skills, learn how to manage some of their symptoms, and perform daily life tasks, for example:
- Self-care skills
- Learning and academic skills
- Assistive communication technology if the child is nonverbal
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Reducing negative and unsafe behaviors.
Early intervention is the key to helping children with autism improve their symptoms regardless of the functioning level. However, progress in children with low-functioning autism can be extremely slow and demand a lot of effort and patience. Children with severe autism may require up to 40 hours of ABA therapy per week for several months and even years before you can see any significant progress.
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What Does High Functioning Autism Look Like In Adults
The following are some common signs that someone is having difficulty communicating or interacting with others: Difficulty reading social cues, and participating in conversations. Affirmative thinking and feeling is difficult. Attempting to read peoples body language or facial expressions but are unable to do so.
Autistic People And Meltdowns: What You Need To Know
People with autism are frequently labeled as having disruptive behavior and oppositional defiant disorder. They may find social situations to be overwhelming and may struggle with communicating and interacting with others. Ameltdown is one of the most common responses to these problems. It can be extremely distressing for the person being affected by a meltdown to experience one. When they are agitated and hyper, they can make loud noises and cause property damage. They may also become withdrawn and be unable to concentrate or sleep at night. The severity of a bug must not be overlooked and its immediate resolution must be prioritized. Individuals suffering from mental illnesses or addictions should be assisted with support to deal with their distress. It is important to remember that a meltdown is not permanent, and that you can manage it with the assistance of a support network.
Difficulty Picking Up On Small Social Cues
Deciphering nonverbal, subtle social cues can be hard for adults with autism spectrum disorder, so they may feel lost in conversation.
Adults on the autism spectrum typically may interpret nonverbal communicationincluding facial expressions, eye-rolling, and hand gesturesdifferently than neurotypical people.
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Others May Need Only Occasional Help Asd: A Complex Disorder With No Single Cure
People of all ages are affected by ASD, but children between the ages of three and seven are more likely to be affected. This can happen to anyone, but it is more likely to happen to adults. Communication, social interaction, and behavior are all affected by ASD. People with ASD may be unable to understand the feelings and thoughts of others. Furthermore, they may exhibit repetitive behaviors or be unable to communicate effectively in language. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex disorder that cannot be cured. People with ASD are given tailored treatments that help them gain better communication, social, and behavioral abilities. People with ASD may require special education or support in some cases.
Explaining Autism To Your Family And Friends
After receiving your childs autism diagnosis, youll likely have new questions every day. One thing that most parents struggle with at first is how to explain autism to their friends and family. Being honest about your childs diagnosis and how it affects him/her is important. The more you educate people in your childs life, the more successful interactions will be.
Give people concrete ideas on how to support your child and interact with him/her. Explain to family and friends how autism affects your child. Give specific examples and explain your childs reactions. To the extent that you are comfortable, provide comprehensive answers to their questions.
People will likely have lots of questions. It is okay to tell people you are still figuring things out. It is fine to say that you do not have all the answers and refer them to a helpful article. These conversations are ongoing ones. Each time you start a new conversation, it will likely get easier.
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What Conditions Are Considered Spectrum Disorders
Until recently, experts talked about different types of autism, such as autistic disorder, Aspergerâs syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified . But now they are all called âautism spectrum disorders.â
If you still hear people use some of the older terms, youâll want to know what they mean:
Asperger’s syndrome. This is on the milder end of the autism spectrum. A person with Asperger’s may be very intelligent and able to handle their daily life. They may be really focused on topics that interest them and discuss them nonstop. But they have a much harder time socially.
Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified . This mouthful of a diagnosis included most children whose autism was more severe than Asperger’s syndrome, but not as severe as autistic disorder.
Autistic disorder. This older term is further along the autism spectrum than Aspergerâs and PDD-NOS. It includes the same types of symptoms, but at a more intense level.
Childhood disintegrative disorder. This was the rarest and most severe part of the spectrum. It described children who develop normally and then quickly lose many social, language, and mental skills, usually between ages 2 and 4. Often, these children also developed a seizure disorder.
How Does Autism Affect A Childs Social Skills
A child with ASD has a hard time interacting with others. Problems with social skills are some of the most common signs. They might want to have close relationships but not know how.
If your child is on the spectrum, they might show some social symptoms by the time they’re 8 to 10 months old, including:
- They don’t respond to their name by their first birthday.
- Playing, sharing, or talking with other people donât interest them.
- They prefer to be alone.
- They avoid or reject physical contact, including hugging.
- They avoid eye contact.
- When theyâre upset, they donât like to be comforted.
- They donât understand emotions — their own or othersâ.
- They may not stretch out their arms to be picked up or guided with walking.
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How Many People Have Autism That Isnt Fully Functional
There are three degrees of severity for autism spectrum disease . People with Level 3 autism need a lot of assistance with daily chores and have extremely weak communication skills. The prevalence of certain qualities may be determined by parsing data for those attributes.
According to Autism Speaks, one-third of persons with autism are nonverbal, and 31% of children with ASD also have an intellectual handicap. A youngster with an inability to talk or solve problems seems to have low-functioning autism at first impression. However, the truth is more complicated.
According to experts, those who seem to be almost neurotypical are often classified as high-functioning. People who are considered low-functioning, on the other hand, have impairments that are visible and audible. Each individual with autism spectrum condition has their own set of strengths and problems, which are sometimes location-dependent.
A kid with ASD could perform well in the following situations:
- School. The youngster can do tasks on time, sit quietly all day, and avoid being bullied.
- Church. A sermon may be sat silently by the youngster.
- Cars. The youngster is comfortable riding in the backseat of a vehicle.
At home, though, the same youngster may have temper tantrums. The youngster becomes overwhelmed if an unexpected visitor approaches or if the routine is disrupted.
At school, a high-functioning autism evaluation could be appropriate. The word doesnt quite suit at home.
Determining The Level Of Autism
There is no specific test to ascertain an individuals unique level of ASD. Rather, a doctor or psychologist needs to spend time with the individual to observe their behavior. This enables the medical professional to gauge the persons social and emotional development and capabilities, as well as their communication skills. They will also look at the persons ability to form and maintain relationships with those around them.
Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosable as early as eighteen months of age. However, many individuals do not get diagnosed until later in life, making treatment more challenging. If you suspect your child has ASD, you should go see a specialist at the first opportunity. Various treatment options exist in Little Rock for those with developmental or intellectual disabilities.
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How Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Play
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder tend to be less spontaneous than other kids. Unlike a typical curious little kid pointing to things that catch their eye, children with ASD often appear disinterested or unaware of whats going on around them. They also show differences in the way they play. They may have trouble with functional play, or using toys that have a basic intended use, such as toy tools or cooking set. They usually dont play make-believe, engage in group games, imitate others, collaborate, or use their toys in creative ways.
The Three Levels Of Autism
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders categorizes autism into levels. Level one is the highest functioning category. Children with Level 1 autism need support but can learn a variety of social skills. They are usually able to gain some independence. Individuals diagnosed with Level 2 autism have verbal, social, and behavioral deficits. Even with supports in place, they might struggle with these behaviors. Level 3 autism is the most severe and lowest functioning category. Those with Level 3 autism have immense difficulty socializing, speaking, and communicating nonverbally. These children experience great distress in situations outside of his/her comfort zone.
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Current Classifications Of Autism Spectrum Disorder
While the old system of classification may seem a little more cut-and-dried, the subtle differences that often distinguished one from the other left room for a lot of confusion and much was open to interpretation. To address this, ASD is now categorized into three different levels, indicating what level of support a patient may need.
- ASD Level 1 Level 1 ASD is currently the lowest classification. Those on this level will require some support to help with issues like inhibited social interaction and lack of organization and planning skills.
- ASD Level 2 In the mid-range of ASD is Level 2. In this level, individuals require substantial support and have problems that are more readily obvious to others. These issues may be trouble with verbal communication, having very restricted interests, and exhibiting frequent, repetitive behaviors.
- ASD Level 3 On the most severe end of the spectrum is Level 3 which requires very substantial support. Signs associated with both Level 1 and Level 2 are still present but are far more severe and accompanied by other complications as well. Individuals at this level will have limited ability to communicate and interact socially with others.
Autism Symptoms In Adults
Classic symptoms of autism in children are not always present in adults on the spectrum, especially in those underdiagnosed as children . Adults on the spectrum commonly exhibit symptoms related to social and communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors, sensory processing difficulties, and issues with executive function and theory of mind. Short descriptions and lists of common symptoms in adults are listed below .
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