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What Does Autist Mean

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Diagnosis Of Autism Spectrum Disorders

What Is Considered Mild Autism? | Autism

Early signs of this disorder can be noticed by parents/caregivers or pediatricians before a child reaches one year of age. However, symptoms typically become more consistently visible by the time a child is 2 or 3 years old. In some cases, the functional impairment related to autism may be mild and not apparent until the child starts school, after which their deficits may be pronounced when amongst their peers.

Social communication deficits may include1:

  • Difficulty appreciating their own & others’ emotions
  • Aversion to maintaining eye contact
  • Lack of proficiency with use of non-verbal gestures
  • Stilted or scripted speech
  • Difficulty making friends or keeping them

Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors may include1:

  • Inflexibility of behavior, extreme difficulty coping with change
  • Being overly focused on niche subjects to the exclusion of others
  • Expecting others to be equally interested in those subjects
  • Difficulty tolerating changes in routine and new experiences
  • Sensory hypersensitivity, e.g., aversion to loud noises
  • Stereotypical movements such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning
  • Arranging things, often toys, in a very particular manner

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.

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What It Means To Be Autistic

By Rachel Andersen

Im standing in a room full of people who are cheering, laughing, and collectively enjoying an extremely noisy event. Suddenly, I feel very ill, and I know I am in danger. My attempts at getting the attention of the people around me fail, they are busy and it is too loud.

In that moment it is imperative to make them hear me. My survival depends on it. The stress level rises to the point of panic, then I wake up.

As parents of autistic children, understanding what it means to be autistic can mean the difference between us and/or our child feeling desperate to communicate and understand, and achieving true connection as we bond together. Reducing the stress level of both parties is paramount to mental health and wellness and the forming of strong relationships.

Though autism spectrum disorder is experienced differently by each individual, there are common factors that can give us an idea of what our autistic child may want, need, or see. Understanding them better, being able to anticipate their needs, and joining in their interests builds our relationship with them. In this article I want to explore what it is like to be autistic, and provide insight that can help bring clarity to our childs behavior, autism symptoms, and social communication.

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You Get Upset If Your Daily Routine Needs To Be Changed

If youre a routines person, with everything just so and a very specific way of getting to each of your tasks in the morning, and if you get seriously upset if those routines become obstructed, you may have a place on the autism spectrum. Routines are, for the autistic, often a way to cope with overwhelming amounts of information and sound, and a very necessary way to get through every day.

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Understanding The Three Levels Of Autism

Autism

Steven Gans, MD, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Anyone who meets the criteria for having autism spectrum disorder will be further diagnosed as having ASD level 1, ASD level 2, or ASD level 3, according to criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition .

These levels are based on a persons strengths and limitations in regards to their ability to communicate, adapt to new situations, expand beyond restricted interests, and manage daily life. They specifically indicate how much support an autistic person needs, with level 1 meaning relatively little support is required and level 3 indicating the need for a great deal of support.

The three levels of autism make it possible for doctors to make a specific diagnosis and also helps people who are taking care of someone with autism have a clear understanding of that persons strengths and limitations. The levels described in the DSM-5 reflect a more refined way of diagnosing autism than that of the previous DSM.

In the previous versionthe DSM-IVautism was divided into five distinct diagnoses ranging from Aspergers syndrome to autistic disorder, which indicated severe autism.

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Differences In Citing A Dsm

The main difference between the 7th and 6theditions in APA is the use of initials and versions. For the APA 7th edition, parenthetical in-text citations should include the version of the manual and initials. In this case, the actual in-text citation should appear . Also, these details should appear inside the rounded parenthesis. Then, the narrative in-text citation should appear as Author Title of the DSM-5, . In particular, one must include the publication date, and the manuals version and initials inside the brackets.

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Restrictive / Repetitive Behaviors May Include:

  • Repeating certain behaviors or having unusual behaviors. For example, repeating words or phrases, a behavior called echolalia
  • Having a lasting intense interest in certain topics, such as numbers, details, or facts
  • Having overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects
  • Getting upset by slight changes in a routine
  • Being more or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such as light, noise, clothing, or temperature

People with ASD may also experience sleep problems and irritability. Although people with ASD experience many challenges, they may also have many strengths, including:

  • Being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time
  • Being strong visual and auditory learners
  • Excelling in math, science, music, or art

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Other Terminology You May Have Heard For Types Of Autism

Terms like mild or high functioning arent official diagnoses. Some people find these terms useful, but many in the autistic community havent found them to be helpful or accurate, largely due to the range of abilities that can be present in an autistic person.

You may also have heard about three levels of autism, with level 1 being the mildest and level 3 the most severe.

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What is Autism?

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  • Highest rating: 5
  • Summary: Autism, or autism spectrum disorder , refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors,

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  • Highest rating: 4
  • Summary: Autism is a lifelong, nonprogressive neurological disorder typically appearing before the age of three years. The word autism means a developmental

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Meaning Of Disorder In Asd

When considering what ASD means, it can also be helpful to understand that a disorder is not a term that is good or bad. It is simply an explanatory term that summarizes a set of characteristics or behaviors that a person may experience.

So, by using the term disorder in the phrase autism spectrum disorder, this is referring to how the diagnosis of ASD includes a set of characteristics or behaviors that typically make up a person who would qualify as having autism spectrum disorder. Generally, this means that a person with ASD has a cluster of certain behaviors related to social skills, communication skills, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors.

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You Dont Seem To Understand Feelings

A person on the autism spectrum can understand what emotions are in theory but have a hard time putting that knowledge to work in real time. This can lead to awkward or upsetting interactions.

Dr. Marsh says, You have successfully learned to imitate and engage in small talk through observation, but you find yourself unable to converse about anything personal, emotional, or in-depth.

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How Common Is Autism Spectrum Disorder

Based on most recent CDC report, ASD is estimated to affect about 1 in 54 children, with boys being more likely to have ASD than girls. There were more than 5 million adults in the US, or 2.21% of the population, with ASD as of 2017. Government statistics suggest that the prevalence of ASD has risen 10% to 17% in recent years.

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Autism Symptoms And Behaviors

autism symbol the truth

Individuals with autism may present a range of symptoms, such as:

  • Reduced eye contact
  • Not engaging in imaginative play
  • Repeating gestures or sounds
  • Closely focused interests
  • Indifference to temperature extremes

These are just a few examples of the symptoms an individual with autism may experience. Any individual could have some, all, or none of these symptoms. Keep in mind that having these symptoms does not necessarily mean a person has autism. Only a qualified medical professional can diagnose autism spectrum disorder.

Most importantly, an individual with autism is first and foremost an individual. Learning about the symptoms can help you start to understand the behaviors and challenges related to autism, but thats not the same as getting to know the individual. Each person with autism has their own strengths, likes, dislikes, interests, challenges, and skills, just like you do.

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Know The Common Symptoms

Knowing the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder is a start. If we understand how our childs behaviors, social communication skills, and daily life skills are affected by autism, we can better understand what their struggles, needs, and desires may be in a given situation.

The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders vary, but knowing them can be extremely beneficial to parents and other family members. Some common symptoms of autism spectrum disorder can include but are not limited to:

  • repetitive behaviors
  • seeing the world through a different lense
  • poor coordination
  • sensory input or output regulation difficulty

Children with autism often feel misunderstood. Social interactions can be painful or confusing. They may engage in repetitive patterns that cause them to act in ways that are socially unacceptable creating a vicious circle.

Reading facial expressions, humor misunderstandings, and crossing social boundaries can increase the childs risk of losing friendships. As parents, our relationship with our kids with ASD can provide a strong structure of support as they learn to interact with the world. Advocating for them and teaching them to advocate for themselves will show them they are worthy of love, and give them the courage to keep connecting with others.

What Are The Symptoms Of Autism

The most obvious symptoms tend to involve communication and interaction with others.

Autistic people may have different ways of learning, thinking, and problem-solving. Intellectually, autistic people can fall on a range from severely challenged to gifted.

Everybody is different. Some people will have many symptoms, and some will have only a few. Signs of autism in a 3-year-old or 4-year-old may look different from those who are teens or adults. Some autistic people may be able to mask their symptoms.

General signs of autism may include:

  • not responding to their name
  • avoiding eye contact or not showing an awareness when others are speaking
  • not understanding sharing or taking turns
  • not looking at objects shown to them
  • not pointing or responding to pointing
  • having difficulty understanding facial expressions

In older children and adults, you might also notice:

  • having difficulty reading body language, facial expressions, and other social cues
  • not getting sarcasm, teasing, or figures of speech
  • speaking in monotone

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Is The Term Autists Offensive

By Claire Delano, BA

Most people strive to be respectful when discussing someone with different abilities. This often leads to questions about what language is appropriatefor example, is it better to say autistic person or person with autism?

Another term you may have heard and have questions about is autist. Where does this word come from, who uses it, and is it offensive? Lets discuss.

Possible Causes And Risk Factors

What it actually means to be on the autism spectrum | Love On The Spectrum

The cause of autism remains unclear. However, it appears that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the disorder. A study published in 2011 that assessed pairs of twins in which at least one twin was affected by an ASD suggested that, while genetic factors contribute moderately to susceptibility, environmental factors contribute to a greater degree. Other research has indicated that genetic vulnerability to autism differs between males and females, with more mutations being needed to produce the condition in females compared with males. Increased genetic resiliency to autism in females lends support to the so-called female protective model, which attempts to explain the increased prevalence of autism in males. Interactions between genes and the environment likely play an important role in influencing susceptibility to autism.

An environmental risk factor that has been proposed for autism and other ASDs is maternal infection during pregnancy. Indeed, certain maternal infections have been associated with an increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Infection with agents such as the rubella virus activate the mothers immune system, and such immunological activity in the early stages of pregnancy has been linked with damage to the developing brain of the embryo or fetus.

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You Find It Much Easier To Be Alone

Autism in many forms is distinguished by feelings of social difficulty: not quite understanding, integrating, keeping up, or doing the âright thingâ in social situations. Many autistics feel, obviously, that being on their own is a much easier option. Interestingly, some scientists believe that autistics could actually have originally been early âsolitary foragers,âwho survived in the wild on the strength of their attention to detail and ability to see patterns rather than their social ties. Itâs still early days for that hypothesis, but itâs an intriguing idea.

What Is The Difference Between Autism And Autism Spectrum Disorder

The term autism was changed to autism spectrum disorder in 2013 by the American Psychiatric Association. ASD is now an umbrella term that covers the following conditions:

  • Autistic disorder.
  • Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified .
  • Asperger syndrome.

People with ASD have trouble with social interactions and with interpreting and using non-verbal and verbal communication in social contexts. Individuals with ASD may also have the following difficulties:

  • Inflexible interests.
  • Insistence on sameness in environment or routine.
  • Repetitive motor and sensory behaviors, like flapping arms or rocking.
  • Increased or decreased reactions to sensory stimuli.

How well someone with ASD can function in day-to-day life depends on the severity of their symptoms. Given that autism varies widely in severity and everyday impairment, the symptoms of some people arent always easily recognized.

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Restricted And Repetitive Behaviors

ASD includes a wide variety of characteristics. Some of these include behavioral characteristics which widely range from slow development of social and learning skills to difficulties creating connections with other people. They may develop these difficulties of creating connections due to anxiety or depression, which autistic people are more likely to experience, and as a result isolate themselves.

Other behavioral characteristics include abnormal responses to sensations including sights, sounds, touch, taste and smell, and problems keeping a consistent speech rhythm. The latter problem influences an individual’s social skills, leading to potential problems in how they are understood by communication partners. Behavioral characteristics displayed by autistic people typically influence development, language, and social competence. Behavioral characteristics of autistic people can be observed as perceptual disturbances, disturbances of development rate, relating, speech and language, and motility.

The second core symptom of autism spectrum is a pattern of restricted and repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. In order to be diagnosed with ASD under DSM-5 or DSM-5-TR, a person must have at least two of the following behaviors:

Autistic individuals can display many forms of repetitive or restricted behavior, which the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised categorizes as follows.

Self-injury

Level : Requiring Substantial Support

8 Signs of Autism in Infants

People with ASD level 2 will have more obvious problems with verbal and social communication than those diagnosed with level 1. Likewise, they will find it harder to change focus. They might, for example, get very upset when they have to move from one activity to the next or to leave school at the end of the day.

Children with level 2 tend to have very narrow interests and engage in repetitive behaviors that can make it difficult for them to function in certain situations.

A person diagnosed with ASD level 2 tends to speak in simple sentences and also struggles with nonverbal forms of communication.

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You Find It Difficult To Socially Read People

Autism is, in its many forms, often about looking at the world very literally. And that means social situations can seem extremely weird, because there are a lot of unspoken rules, assumptions, communications, and other messages in any social situation, many of which may pass the autistic person by. If you feel perpetually as if youâre getting it wrong in social situations and donât know why, you may simply be âsocially deafâ to these kinds of cues.

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