What Are Signs Of High Functioning Autism

Signs Of Autism In Older Children And Teens

Although autism spectrum disorder can reliably be diagnosed from the age of two or three years old, many children do not receive a diagnosis until they are older. Milder symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder who are higher functioning may not be recognized until they are in school.

Autism is a spectrum condition, which means that children will have different experiences of day-to-day living. Children who are more than five years old and on into their teenage years, who have mild symptoms and are towards the higher functioning range of the autism spectrum, may:

• Develop a narrow range of interests or obsessions with certain topics
• Engage in repetitive behavior such as hand flapping, twirling or snapping a rubber band
• Not make eye contact
• Use formal language rather than the slang of their peers
• Place great importance on routines and rules
• Develop strong preferences for certain foods, clothes or objects

Children who have more severe symptoms and are towards the lower functioning range of the autism spectrum may:

• Not use speech at all
• Become extremely distressed at changes to routine
• Exhibit challenging behavior, such as being aggressive or banging head on wall
• Need assistance with everyday living, such as bathing and dressing
• Engage in repetitive behaviors, such as rocking
• Insist on rules and routine
• Develop rigid preferences for certain foods, clothes or objects
• Need specialized diets

Special Considerations For High Functioning Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

These days, more than half the students diagnosed with ASD function within the normal range of cognition and have acquired basic spoken language skills . These students with high functioning autism may show high achievement in some areas, but they will almost always have deficits in pragmatic aspects of language, in social skills, and peer interactions . Many high functioning students with ASD, as well, have difficulty with executive functioning and with understanding and producing narratives in which much of the plot is driven by characters internal states, plans, and goals. As SLPs, it falls within our scope of practice to work on addressing these communication difficulties.

Many of the interventions we have discussed for adolescents with LLD are appropriate for those with ASD, as well. As weve seen, students with HFA often have special difficulty with narratives . Robinson and Westby suggest work on inferencing in narrative as an approach likely to address a range of needs in this population. They suggest using inference and internal state charts as visual supports for helping students use evidence in the story to identify characters feelings and to draw conclusions about intentions underlying actions in stories. Examples can be seen in Figure 14.21.

Paige M. Ryan, … Thompson E. Davis, in, 2017

Advice On Managing Behaviour In Autism For Adolescents

If you think that your teenager may be autistic, or you have an autistic child and want to know what to expect when they become a young adult, we have outlined the symptoms that can appear as an autistic child becomes an adolescent.

You will also find the steps to take if you believe that your teenager is autistic, and the strategies that can help you to manage particular behaviours.

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Tip : Manage Anxiety And Depression

Some people find that anxiety and depression go hand in hand with symptoms of ASD. For example, difficulty relating to others can lead to feelings of anxiety. Increased anxiety can, in turn, make it even harder to communicate. You might even feel so flustered that you cant form sentences.

Feelings of isolation can also trigger depression. But there are steps you can take to manage your mood and improve how you feel.

Stay active. Exercise is good for the mind and eases stress. Some studies show that vigorous exercise can be especially useful for helping adults with ASD manage aggression. Find an aerobic exercise that fits neatly into your routine and wont potentially throw your schedule into chaos. It may be something as simple as going for daily walks or runs. Make sure its something you enjoy, so youre more likely to stick to it.

Rely on close friends. Socializing can also be good for your mood, as long as the people youre with dont stress you out. Find people who share your interests. Thanks to the Internet, its easy to find people in your local area who share your interests. If possible, look for conventions or other gatherings where people who share your hobby come together and interact in person.

Future Directions And Applications

Anxiety disorders can be extremely impairing, particularly in persons with pre-existing challenges . van Steensel et al. compared the societal costs of children with high-functioning ASD and comorbid anxiety disorder to typically-developing control children and neurotypical children with anxiety disorder, finding that costs in the comorbid group were 27 times higher than the comparison group and four times higher than the neurotypical anxiety disordered group. The authors concluded that these costs can be significantly decreased with efficacious therapies for anxiety in individuals with ASD. There is increasingly promising evidence for the application of CBT, an evidence-based treatment for many mental health problems in typically-developing individuals of all ages .

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Should I Get My Child Assessed

You should get your child assessed for ASD if:

• you have concerns
• you notice any signs or symptoms
• your child has a close relative with ASD

Normally, your health care provider will test your child first. You can help your health care provider understand the unusual behaviour you see by:

• taking photographs
• maintaining logs or diaries
• capturing these behaviours on video

If there are concerns, then your health care provider should refer you to a specialist for more tests. A specialist is the best person to help diagnose your child.

What Are The Signs Of Autism In Girls

Autism spectrum disorder is often described as a boy thing as there are more boys with a diagnosis than girls this could be because the diagnostic criteria for autism is fundamentally based on research performed in boys diagnosed with autism rather than females. As a result, many girls are not diagnosed until adolescence.

In many cases, girls with autism at a younger age show more capacity, in comparison to boys, to interact in social settings and they are often able to make and maintain friendships at a young age. This characteristic disadvantages girls with undiagnosed autism because, according to diagnostic criteria, autistic individuals lack the capacity for social interaction and communication. However, if undiagnosed, traits of autism become more evident as they reach adolescence as the need for complex social interaction capacity is heightened.

The autism diagnosis is a spectrum of different phenotypic expressions across every individual carrying the trait. It includes different types of autism, from high functioning to more severe or low functioning, types which are easier to diagnose.

Although autism is more difficult to spot in girls than boys, there are some signs you can look out for.

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Other Signs Of Autism

You may also have other signs, like:

• not understanding social “rules”, such as not talking over people
• avoiding eye contact
• getting too close to other people, or getting very upset if someone touches or gets too close to you
• noticing small details, patterns, smells or sounds that others do not
• having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
• liking to plan things carefully before doing them

So Whats Next What You Can Do To Maximize Your Success As An Individual With Autism

Now that you have a diagnosis, there are a few things you can do to better your life. First, listen inward. Perhaps, youve spent most of your life being invalidated by others. So, you always second guess yourself or question your feelings. Youve tried to fit in or please others. Somewhere along the way youve lost sight of who you are.

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Differences With Social And Emotional Reciprocity

Autistic people with differences in social and emotional reciprocity may, for example, struggle to initiate or respond to communication, finding it difficult to participate in its typical back-and-forth nature. They may also face challenges in speaking about non-preferred topics.

People used to think it was an inability to empathize that lead to this. However, newer research has changed how we think about autism and empathy. It is almost the opposite, where autistic people may even be hyper empathetic.

It is just that their experiences and neurotypes are different. There is not a lack of empathy, simply another way of understanding and processing it. For example, autistic people may isolate themselves, but it is not because they prefer to be alone. Instead, it could be because they may feel they are annoying or causing trouble for others.

Treatment Of Mental Disorders

Two large studies done by the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser Universityindicates that both behaviour therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy are equally effective for OCD. CBT has been shown to perform slightly better at treating co-occurring depression.

Considerable policy implications have been inspired by behavioural views of various forms of psychopathology. One form of behaviour therapy has been found to be highly effective for treating tics.

There has been a development towards combining techniques to treat psychiatric disorders. Cognitive interventions are used to enhance the effects of more established behavioural interventions based on operant and classical conditioning. An increased effort has also been placed to address the interpersonal context of behaviour.

Modelling has been used in dealing with fears and phobias. Modelling has been used in the treatment of fear of snakes as well as a fear of water.

Aversive therapy techniques have been used to treat sexual deviations as well as alcohol use disorder.

Contingency contracting has been used to deal with behaviour problems in delinquents and when dealing with on task behaviours in students.

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Difference Of Autism Signs In Boys And Girls

The symptoms of ASD may range from mild to extreme, and there is no definitive list of symptoms that are sure to be shown by each and every child. On top of that, since boys are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder four times more than girls , classic symptoms may be described in a way to refer more to the boys.

The symptoms are generally the same for the both. But, an autistic girl may be:

• quieter
• hide their feelings better
• good at imitating social behaviors.

This can make the impairs seem much less noticeable compared to the case of boys. Also, the autism traits in girls are reported less by their teachers.

It is important to note that not all children with autism show all of the signs. In addition, many children who actually dont have autism may show a few of the symptoms and signs. That is why professional evaluation is of utmost importance.

There are certain developmental milestones children reach in terms of their language and social abilities. Caregivers should take notice of these milestones. They should observe children closely during the first few years of their lives. These are crucial times in terms of early diagnosis and intervention. Although not reaching a milestone at a specified time or achieving it late does not necessarily mean that the child has autism, it may be a sign of a developmental delay.

Social Symptoms Of High Functioning Autism In Adults

An adult with high functioning autism may desire friendship and even marriage but a number of social weaknesses make relationships difficult. Social problems include the following:

• The high functioning autistic adult has difficulties interacting with peers. Although he or she may attempt to join a conversation, they often end up being ostracized because of their behavior.
• Inappropriate body language is a large part of an autistic adultâs problem. Outward actions may convey boredom and a lack of interest although this is not the case.
• Facial expressions are not understood by adults with high functioning autism. They look at a personâs face and are unable to read emotions such as joy, sorrow, boredom or anger.
• Conversations may fail, especially if the adult launches into a monologue about their special interest.

Symptoms of high functioning autism in adults are diverse and affect each person in different ways. Most signs are related to speech, behavior patterns and social skills, and weaknesses in these areas can point towards a diagnosis of autism. While some people are only diagnosed as adults, there is help available for them to improve.

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As Autism Awareness Increases Across The Country More Parents Are Gaining An Understanding That Their Kids Are Not Just Socially Awkward Or Late Bloomers But That They Are Living With An Autistic Spectrum Disorder

There are different levels of disability on the Spectrum. Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism are the mildest. HFA, though no longer an accepted medical term, refers to a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders and is quite similar to AS. However, the two can be differentiated by specific characteristics more commonly associated with one than the other. If you are concerned your child may be living with HFA, understanding the distinct signs and symptoms of HFA may help you decide if you need to look for treatment for autism in Little Rock.

High Functioning Autism Symptoms

• Fixation on Particular Subjects or Ideas
• Linguistic Oddities
• Development of Repetitive or Restrictive Habits
• Dislike of Change
• Focus on Self
• Unusual Movement Patterns

Diagnosis rates for autism continue to rise, especially as parents and professionals become more familiar with the symptoms of high-functioning autism. Many patients are getting the assistance they need to live full, productive lives because their unusual behaviors are no longer seen as simple social awkwardness or eccentricity. As more caring medical and mental health professionals learn to recognize the most common symptoms of autism, the number of interventions available to people with autism will rise.

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Autism Therapy Services Offered At Open Doors Therapy:

Our autism therapy clinic located in the South Bay Area serves teens and adults on the autism spectrum. We help high functioning individuals who identify as having Aspergers, high functioning autism, undiagnosed ASD traits, and their families.

Right now, we are providing all our autism counseling services online. Our autism therapists offer a variety of counseling services including individual counseling for autistic teens and adults, parent counseling, and group therapy. Also, we run several different social skills groups for neurodiverse working professionals, college students with autistic traits, gifted youth & caregivers, neurodiverse adults, women who identify as neurodiverse, a summer social skills college transition training program for youth transitioning to college, teens & caregivers, and a mothers group. Contact our autism therapy office for more information on our services or to schedule a consultation.

Gets Upset Around Large Groups Of People

This happened even as a baby. I remember on my very first Mothers Day going out for dinner. As soon as we walked into the restaurant my son started crying inconsolably and he didnt stop until we left.

He was only 4 months old.

I chalked it up to being tired, but it was more than that.

However, he had the same response to family gatherings, birthday parties, and any situation where there were more than a few people present.

Large groups still upset him to this day, we even ate dinner and opened gifts in the bedroom at my in-laws on Christmas Eve because they had a lot of visitors.

When we go to school, if there are more than 5 people in the classroom when he arrives, he needs to start the day somewhere else quietly.

Its not as bad if hes there first and people begin arriving gradually, but he cant walk into any type of crowd.

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Difficulty Regulating Your Emotions Or Behavior

Emotional regulation or ER is an important part of daily life. This enables us to react to situations, changes, or emotional disturbances in a controlled way. This is something that we do automatically.

However, studies show that people with ASD struggle with emotional regulation. This may be because their ER skills do not develop over time, as most people do.

This can result in sudden or intense mood swings and difficulty responding to emotional situations. As a result, you may have outbursts or meltdowns to small changes in routines. Often these will seem disproportionate to their trigger

Difficulty with ER can also mean that you struggle to regulate dangerous or impulsive behavior. This might mean that you lash out when feeling intense emotions. It also makes addictive behaviors common in people who are living with high functioning autism.

Difficulty emotionally regulating can have a huge impact on your mental health and can impact your social skills. This makes it one of the biggest challenges of high functioning autism.

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Are High Functioning Autism Female Adults Symptoms Different To The Signs Of Autism In Adult Men

Extensive studies into autism have found that boys are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. Statistically, a boy or man is 400% more likely to be diagnosed than a girl or woman of a similar age.

However, why this is the case is not entirely clear.

It has been suggested by some that autism in adult women symptoms may be somewhat different to the signs of autism in adult men. For example, a study carried out in 2015 found that women may be genetically immune to some of the symptoms of autism that affect men. Particularly when it comes to social behaviour, girls and women with autism may function more normally than their male counterparts.

This particular theory is heavily disputed, but there is nonetheless overwhelming evidence to suggest that women are far less likely to be diagnosed with autism than men. Though this does not necessarily suggest that women are less likely to be autistic than men – it could simply be that their symptoms are more difficult to identify.

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