For Me Horrible I Am Lonely I Want To Be Around People So Much I Love Talking They Taught Me To Talk And Forgot To Give Me Others To Talk To I Want To Work But I Need Supervision I Hit My Head On Things When I Am Upset I Hate That My Arms Flap When I Am Excited And People Stare People Stare For Other Reasons Too I Love Children And Children Love Me They Love To Talk To Me And Ask Questions I Would Never Harm Anyone But Their Parents Act Like Their Child Is In Danger It Makes Me Feel Like I Am A Terrible Person So I Guess In Short: Autism Is Lonely It Can Cause A Lot Of Pain It’s Like Being Trapped In A Body That Is Only Half
“Luckily, now I am friends with an eight-year-old, and she is awesome. She loves Lego, and we have a lot of talks about who is the best Disney princess. Children love to talk to me about cartoons.
I told her about an explorer in Lego, Johnny Thunder, who explored tombs, and she has suddenly decided to love the idea. I also told her about Doctor Who and time travel. Friends make it easier.” u/UnusualSoup
Getting An Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis
The road to an ASD diagnosis can be difficult and time-consuming. In fact, it is often two to three years after the first symptoms of ASD are noticed before an official diagnosis is made. This is due in large part to concerns about labeling or incorrectly diagnosing the child. However, an ASD diagnosis can also be delayed if the doctor doesnt take a parents concerns seriously or if the family isnt referred to health care professionals who specialize in developmental disorders.
If youre worried that your child has ASD, its important to seek out a clinical diagnosis. But dont wait for that diagnosis to get your child into treatment. Early intervention during the preschool years will improve your childs chances for overcoming their developmental delays. So look into treatment options and try not to worry if youre still waiting on a definitive diagnosis. Putting a potential label on your kids problem is far less important than treating the symptoms.
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Is Echolalia Different From Palilalia
Palilalia is a speech disorder marked by the involuntary repetition of words and phrases. In that sense, it is much like echolalia but there are differences. One difference is that in echolalia, the repetition or echoing is focused on other people’s words, received when the child hears them.
Another difference is that palilalia often involves increasingly rapid speech with the same repeated sounds. It’s not limited to people on the autism spectrum but is associated more with Tourette syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, seizure disorders, and even drug side effects.
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It Is Up To Us To Decide How We Identify It Is Not Up To Others To Decide On Our Behalf
Like the saying goes in disability-related communities: nothing about us without us. If no autistic person has had any influence in a decision made about autistic people, then that decision is not valid.
So equally, when it comes to language choices, the person themselves should be the one to decide and nobody else gets to overrule them. That means that if I choose to talk about myself using identity-first language, nobody without autism has earned the right to correct my language.
Why The Term Aspergers Is No Longer Used
The term Asperger syndrome, commonly shortened to Aspergers, has not officially been used by clinical psychologists since 2013, when it was replaced in the DSM-5 by the term autism spectrum disorder. Asperger syndrome was previously used to refer to a form of autism that had less severe symptoms and much lower impairment of language. While not in official use anymore, this term may still be used outside of medical diagnoses.
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Why We Shouldnt Use People First Language:
When looking at why we shouldnt use people first language, its impossible not to mention Jim Sinclair , as it is largely his writings in 1999 which have spearheaded the anti-people first language movement.
In his article: why I dislike people first language a subtly titled summary of why the man with the great name, hates people first language, Jim Sinclair gives three highly detailed reasons for why we should stop saying person with autism:
In the 19 years since these words were written, many have built on Sinclairs points, and now it seems the modern day argument against using person first language surrounds the idea that its not about how we see ourselves, but how we want others to see us.
Simply put, many people who are against people first language now believe that there is a fourth reason for using the opposite: if we put our diagnosis before anything else, we show that the person and the condition are inseparable. This helps to raise awareness of how autism looks and, as a result, progresses general attitudes during a time when autism is being hotly discussed.
Ways To Build Relationships And Rapport
- Be patient while having a conversation, giving the person time to answer.
- Always strive to be encouraging and compassionate.
- Learn about their favorite interests, games or hobbies and try to find common ones.
- Be aware of the tendency by autistic people to speak at length about their favorite topics which may require some gentle prompting or redirection.
- Sustaining conversation can also be challenging. You can support them by offering choices, suggesting topics or bridging the conversation to a topic you know they can discuss.
- Offer concise directions or clear choices. For example, Would you like to take a walk or ride our bikes?
- Provide specific praise such as I liked the way you waited for me before leaving the room instead of a vague good job so they understand what behavior you are seeking from them.
- To make your own communication clearer, share with the individual what you want them to do rather than what you don’t want them to do
- Dont be offended by lack of eye contact, motor tics or a lack of understanding personal boundaries. These are common challenges for an autistic person.
- Understand that autistic people like routines and schedules.
- Autistic people tend to think literally, so it is best to avoid idioms and slang.
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Some People With Autism Show No Outward Signs Of It One Of Your Friends Coworkers Etc Could Be Autistic And Youd Never Notice Anything Strange About Them Maybe Theyre A Bit Shy Or Awkward In Certain Settings But Nothing Major As A General Rule Of Thumb Don’t Assume Anything About An Autistic Person Find Out What They’re Like And Respond Appropriately Don’t Assume They Have The Same Strengths Or Struggles As Your Autistic Nephew Or An Autistic Celebrity
“I should probably clarify that I am only speaking for a specific group within the community here people who dont want or need special treatment just because they have autism.
As an autistic person, thats how I feel. But there are also a lot of people with autism who depend on special treatment and couldnt survive without it, especially people with low-functioning autism. It’s a very broad spectrum.” u/AlPalpacino
To Everyone Who Tells Me Not To Say Autistic Person
This is going to be one of my shorter articles largely, I imagine, to be posted in reply to those who correct my language when I refer to myself or others as autistic, as opposed to having autism.
First things first, I understand that the vast majority of the time, the intentions of the person are good. I too was taught, way back when I started work in special education, that the correct way of speaking about our students was person first language , and that the phrase autistic person was disrespectful or even offensive.
However, many years in the autism community have taught me that, in the majority of cases , the autistic population tends to prefer identity-first language. And in my experience, the phrase autistic person far from being offensive often leads to people without autism* taking offence on my behalf.
Sarcasm aside though, the majority of this article can be summed up by the following two sentences:
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Carry On The Conversation
What do you think? Is it time to do away with people first language or do you believe its fine right where it is? As always I would love your input in the comments below.
Alternatively I can be found on Twitter and via my email: .
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Thank you for reading and I will see you next Saturday, for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
Autistic People May Act In A Different Way To Other People
Autistic people may:
- find it hard to communicate and interact with other people
- find it hard to understand how other people think or feel
- find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable
- get anxious or upset about unfamiliar situations and social events
- take longer to understand information
- do or think the same things over and over
If you think you or your child may be autistic, get advice about the signs of autism.
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In The 2010s And Through Today
A new version of The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was published in 2013. This is the manual doctors use today.
Asperger’s syndrome is no longer a diagnosis in the DSM-5. Instead, the manual provides just one diagnosis for all people with autism symptoms: autism spectrum disorder .
People with ASD have problems with social communication. They may resist changes in routine and be hypersensitive to noise, smell, touch, and other types of sensory experiences. These problems can range from mild to extreme.
People with mild symptoms and those with severe speech delays or sensory issues are all diagnosed with ASD.
The DSM-5 does identify the “level of support” a person with autism might need. These functional levels range from 1 to 3 based on the severity of one’s autism, with 1 describing people who need the least support because their symptoms are mild.
However, few people outside of the medical community refer to someone as having level 1 autism. Often, the terms Asperger’s syndrome or mild autism are still used.
What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. The term spectrum refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment that people with ASD can have.
ASD affects people in different ways and can range from mild to severe. People with ASD share some symptoms, such as difficulties with social interaction, but there are differences in when the symptoms start, how severe they are, the number of symptoms, and whether other problems are present. The symptoms and their severity can change over time.
The behavioral signs of ASD often appear early in development. Many children show symptoms by 12 months to 18 months of age or earlier.
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Terminology And Distinction From Schizophrenia
As late as the mid-1970s there was little evidence of a genetic role in autism while in 2007 it was believed to be one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions. Although the rise of parent organizations and the destigmatization of childhood ASD have affected how ASD is viewed, parents continue to feel social stigma in situations where their child’s autistic behavior is perceived negatively, and many primary care physicians and medical specialists express some beliefs consistent with outdated autism research.
It took until 1980 for the DSM-III to differentiate autism from childhood schizophrenia. In 1987, the DSM-III-R provided a checklist for diagnosing autism. In May 2013, the DSM-5 was released, updating the classification for pervasive developmental disorders. The grouping of disorders, including PDD-NOS, autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, and CDD, has been removed and replaced with the general term of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The two categories that exist are impaired social communication and/or interaction, and restricted and/or repetitive behaviors.
The Internet has helped autistic individuals bypass nonverbal cues and emotional sharing that they find difficult to deal with, and has given them a way to form online communities and work remotely.Societal and cultural aspects of autism have developed: some in the community seek a cure, while others believe that autism is simply another way of being.
What Do You Call People With Disabilities
Men, women, boys, girls, students, mom, Sues brother, Mr. Smith, Rosita, a neighbor, employer, coworker, customer, chef, teacher, scientist, athlete, adults, children tourists, retirees, actors, comedians, musicians, blondes, brunettes, SCUBA divers, computer operators, individuals, members, leaders, people, voters, friends or any other word you would use for a person.
People First Language recognizes that individuals with disabilities are first and foremost people. It emphasizes each persons value, individuality, dignity and capabilities. The following examples provide guidance on what terms to use and which ones are inappropriate when talking or writing about people with disabilities.
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Am I Autistic Or Do I Have Autism
There are many people who say you shouldnt describe someone as autistic. Its better to say they have autism. Some say the term autistic is offensive, that it defines a person and that it means theyre nothing more than their autism.
Personally, I dont see anything offensive about the term autistic. I use it quite frequently to describe others and myself on the spectrum. First, let me ask a rhetorical question. Would it be offensive if someone said, the man is tall or the girl is blond? Does that sound offensive? Would it be better to say, hes a man whos tall or shes a girl who has blond hair? The answer of course is no. Nobody would find it offensive to say somebody is blond because theres nothing wrong with being blond, and saying she has blond hair really means the same thing as shes blond. The same applies to whether you say hes tall or hes a man whos tall.
Ive heard certain terms that do offend autistic people, but autistic hardly ever seems to be one of them, and if it is, it seems to be because someone has a problem with the term autism in general and dont like to consider themselves autistic or as having autism.
Ive also heard of a few people with autism who find the term having autism offensive because they feel that autism is a part of them and they want to be referred to as autistic. Even parents feel this way because they feel like autism is what makes their child who he or she is.
Signs And Symptoms Of Autism
You can often observe signs and symptoms of autism in very young children. But sometimes they are not very noticeable, and they might not be recognized until school age or even adulthood. Signs and symptoms my change as the person gets older, but there will always be challenges with communication, social skills, and behaviors.
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Autistic Community And Politics
Curing autism is a very highly controversial and politicized issue. What some call the autistic community has splintered into several strands. Some seek a cure for autism – sometimes dubbed by the term ‘pro-cure’. Others do not desire a cure, because they point out that autism is a way of life rather than a disease, and as such resist it. They are sometimes dubbed ‘anti-cure’. Many more may have views between these two.
Recently, with scientists learning more about autism and possibly coming closer to effective remedies, some members of the anti-cure movement sent a letter to the United Nations demanding to be treated as a minority group rather than a group with a mental disability or disease. Web sites such as autistics.org present the view of the anti-cure group.
There are many resources available for autistic people. Because many autistics find it easier to communicate online than in person, a large number of these resources are online. In addition, successful autistic adults in a local community will sometimes help children with autism, using their own experience in developing coping strategies and/or interacting with society.
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism is not a single disorder, but a spectrum of closely related disorders with a shared core of symptoms. Every individual on the autism spectrum has problems to some degree with social interaction, empathy, communication, and flexible behavior. But the level of disability and the combination of symptoms varies tremendously from person to person. In fact, two kids with the same diagnosis may look very different when it comes to their behaviors and abilities.
If youre a parent dealing with a child on the autism spectrum, you may hear many different terms including high-functioning autism, atypical autism, autism spectrum disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder. These terms can be confusing, not only because there are so many, but because doctors, therapists, and other parents may use them in dissimilar ways.
But no matter what doctors, teachers, and other specialists call the autism spectrum disorder, its your childs unique needs that are truly important. No diagnostic label can tell you exactly what challenges your child will have. Finding treatment that addresses your childs needs, rather than focusing on what to call the problem, is the most helpful thing you can do. You dont need a diagnosis to start getting help for your childs symptoms.
Whats in a name?
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