What It Is Like Living With A Low Functioning Autism
No parent is ever prepared with their childs diagnosis that they have autism, especially when it is level 3 autism. Thankfully, with the increase in the awareness of autism, there are various support options available for you and your child. The information is readily available regarding its symptoms and treatments.
One of the most important steps is to select a team of professionals that help treat your child. The team usually consists of a psychologist, therapist, pediatrician, and others depending upon your childs diagnosis and symptoms. The professionals help you understand your childs behavior, give you advice on interacting with them and things you can do to keep them safe and improve their symptoms.
Another crucial step is to get support for yourself. There are various challenges and unexpected twists and turns living with an autistic child. It becomes overwhelming and emotional and you will require people to share your experience and understand your circumstances. Joining a group of parents or individuals that deal with the skills necessary for autism and those who can share their experience is invaluable.
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.
What Is Low Functioning Autism An Overview
The only difference between high functioning autism and;low functioning autism;is mainly behavior. The behavior is low functioning autism prevents the ability to perform day-to-day activities. Children or adults diagnosed with low functioning autism require more support. They face obstructions in communication and managing their behaviors.
In children, the symptoms are easily identifiable in early childhood. Children having autism spectrum disorder do not meet the benchmarks of neurodevelopment on time. children may experience learning delays in self-soothe, talking, and forming bonds. Children having serious autism are likely to have medical conditions that co-occur with another. It includes conditions like tuberous sclerosis, fragile X syndrome, and epilepsy. Check out the;lactose intolerance symptoms in children.;You can also check How to improve Gut Health.
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High And Low Functioning Autism
Low and High Functioning are very common terminologies that are utilized in determining levels of autism. Usually, their use is based on the subjectivity of the observer and do not have a precise measure of intelligence or mental capacity.
With recent studies and updates on DSM-5 or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5, autism is generally categorized as Autism Spectrum Disorder and is segregated into three levels. The terms High and Low Functioning persist though as these are more colloquial terms, but it must be emphasized that these terms are outdated and dont accurately describe a person diagnosed with autism, or simply ASD.
The following are some points to consider when it comes to the subject of high and low functioning autism:
- Both have no prevailing measures for intelligence, talent, anxiety, aggression, or sensory challenges levels.
- Both are non-descriptive of a persons performance in school as intelligence is just one measure of educational acuity.
- Both are non-descriptive of the capability to function in a public setting.
- Both provide no measure for success in job capability and performance.
- Both have no means to identify aggression as it is present in autism of all levels.
Perception Versus What Is Normal
High and Low Functioning Autism are terms used by observers to categorize the behavior of people with autism against what is perceived as normal.
The Three Levels Of Autism
According to DSM-5, the three levels of Autism are as follows:
How Labels Hurt Individuals With Autism And Their Families
As descriptors of autism, high and low are simply inadequate. They place brands on individuals that affect the way they are treated and the level of interaction they receive. This can be detrimental to a care and education program, especially once we accept that the degree of symptoms can be shown to fluctuate. This is partly because parents are more likely to be reluctant to accept the title of low-functioning, for instance, rather than referring to a specific type of autism which includes so-called low functioning behavior patterns.
In both high and low functioning individuals, the care and educational process should be tailored around that individual rather than a generic program which addresses a cognitive or behavioral level.
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Other Support For People With Aspergers
Therapists, doctors, and counselors can help people with Asperger’s live a healthy and adjusted life. Sometimes, families need to add more people to the team. That’s especially true for people with low-functioning Asperger’s syndrome. They may need help to live independently.
Additional help can come via:
- School. Children with high-functioning Asperger’s may not qualify for an Individualized Education Plan and special considerations in class, but those on the low-functioning side of the spectrum might. The assistance they get in school could help lay the foundation for their ongoing education.
- Work. Activists write meaningfully about the importance of a career for people with Asperger’s. A job is more than a place to visit each day. An important, rewarding career can lead to a sense of accomplishment and self-fulfillment. Colleagues can also become friends and additional sources of support. Career counselors can help to match people to the right position for their strengths.
- Peers. Joining an Asperger’s support group can offer critical help. People with Asperger’s often feel alone, misunderstood, and stressed. They may feel as though they can’t be themselves without facing criticism. Talking with peers who understand them can be freeing.
The Three Levels Of Asd
Before comparing high-functioning and low-functioning autism, its important to describe the three levels of ASD, as these levels are used to describe individuals with high- and low-functioning autism:
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When Should I Diagnose My Child With Low
You should let your child get diagnosed with this kind of psychological disorder when you notice 2 or more symptoms of this autism spectrum disorder.
You should also observe if your child is severely affected by this kind of autism spectrum disorder in his or her life.
Diagnosis can help your child with this kind of autism spectrum disorder the treatment he or she needs.
The symptoms that are predominant and distressing to the affected child will be treated first before trying to improve other mild symptoms.
This kind of treatment is done to get those distressing behaviours for the sake of the affected child with this kind of autism spectrum disorder and others who care about the child.
The following are symptoms that the diagnostician will be taking note of during diagnosis:
- First is your affected childs ability to communicate even with this kind of autism spectrum disorder. Your childs doctor will assess his or her verbal skills and nonverbal communication during the diagnosis.
- Next, the medical team will observe your childs behaviour during the diagnosis. This kind of team will watch for stimming and self-injurious behaviours in the affected child. This kind of team will pay attention to how restrictive and repetitive the behaviours are in the affected child.
- Finally, this kind of team will consider the everyday impact of behaviours and communication complications.
Isoniazid Iproniazid And Imipramine
In 1951, and , working out of on , began clinical trials on two new agents developed by Hoffman-LaRoche, and . Only patients with a poor were initially treated; nevertheless, their condition improved dramatically. Selikoff and Robitzek noted “a subtle general stimulation … the patients exhibited renewed vigor and indeed this occasionally served to introduce disciplinary problems.” The promise of a cure for tuberculosis in the Sea View Hospital trials was excitedly discussed in the mainstream press.
In 1952, learning of the stimulating side effects of isoniazid, the Cincinnati psychiatrist tried it on his patients. In the following year, he and reported that isoniazid improved depression in two-thirds of their patients and coined the term antidepressant to refer to its action. A similar incident took place in Paris, where , head of psychiatry at Sainte-Anne Hospital, heard of this effect from his colleagues at Cochin Hospital. In 1952 , Delay, with the resident , reported the positive effect of isoniazid on depressed patients. The mode of antidepressant action of isoniazid is still unclear. It is speculated that its effect is due to the inhibition of , coupled with a weak inhibition of .
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Does Autism Worsen With Age
There has not been a lot of scientific studies done yet to show whether or not autism improves, stays the same, or worsens with age, but those that have been done have had interesting results. One of thelargest studies that followed 300 children ages 2 to 21 demonstrated that only about 10% of these children showed significant improvements with their symptoms over time. Approximately 80% of the children showed little to no change at all by their teen years.
Of the studies that have been conducted, the children that showed the most improvement in their symptoms were tested and shown to have a high IQ from the beginning, and they also received intensive speech and communication therapy early-on to improve their communication skills. A strong ability to plan and complete complex tasks at a young age was also aligned with a later ability to understand other peoples thoughts and emotions more clearly with increasing age.
Thus, its uncommon for autism symptoms to worsen as a child grows older. But it is possible, with the right treatment and increased parental engagement, for a childs symptoms to lessen as with increasing age as they reach adolescence and adulthood.
Dementia And Alzheimer’s Disease
Between May 2007 and April 2008, Dementia and Alzheimer’s together accounted for 28% of atypical antipsychotic use in patients aged 65 or older. The U.S. requires that all atypical antipsychotics carry a that the medication has been associated with an increased risk of mortality in elderly patients. In 2005, the FDA issued an advisory warning of an increased risk of death when atypical antipsychotics are used in dementia. In the subsequent 5 years, the use of atypical antipsychotics to treat dementia decreased by nearly 50%.
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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.
Other Levels Of Autism In The Dsm
There are other levels of autism aside from this kind of autism spectrum disorder that the article is discussing.
These kinds of levels are located in the manual of mental disorders to help clinicians determine what kind of support the affected person needs.
There are several kinds of support depending on how the affected person can deal with the social, academic, technical, and personal aspects of life.
These kinds of levels are not the accurate ones but these levels will become clear if you will get your affected child or your affected self to diagnosis.
These kinds of levels are there to let professionals know what kinds of treatments will be good for you.
There are several treatments but you should know when you can get your child diagnosed with this kind of autism spectrum disorder if he or she is showing signs of it.
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What Is The Difference Between Low Functioning And High Functioning Autism
The difference between low-functioning and high-functioning autism is behavioural distinctions.
Low-functioning autism triggers behaviours that restrict the ability to conduct everyday life.
Children with high-functioning autism have similar abilities to his or her neurotypical peers in the early years.;
Can A Child Outgrow High Functioning Autism
Yes, a child can outgrow high-functioning autism. This kind of conclusion was reached when most children have been found in a study to have outgrown this kind of autism spectrum disorder.
There is also a new study where researchers have found that the vast majority of those children still have complications that obligate therapeutic and educational support.;
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Autism Levels Of Severity
Autism is referred to as a broad spectrum because the autism levels of severity can be extremely different amongst those diagnosed. Despite this, the DSM-5 has categorized autism into three levels of severity. Level 1 refers to those who require support but are able to live independently with symptoms that may not be overly obvious, this is controversially labeled as high functioning autism. Level 2 autism requires more substantial support with much more apparent symptoms. Level 3 refers to those who require the most substantial support and is often referred to as low functioning autism, these individuals also tend to have an intellectual disability. They display the most severe symptoms of autism and usually have the hardest time socializing and communicating with many being nonverbal. Although there are treatments and several ways to help them experience a better quality of life, they require the most support and it is nearly impossible for them to gain independence as they continue to need help with basic activities throughout their lives. They are also more likely to have other conditions like epilepsy, tuberous sclerosis, and Fragile X syndrome.
When Should I Have My Child Screened For Autism
If you notice two or more of these signs in your child, it is time to have him/her screened. Not meeting typical developmental benchmarks is also an indicator to screen. A multi-disciplinary team will help you with a diagnosis for your child. The process starts with a questionnaire to determine how your child functions. It will ask about your childs behavior at home, school, and social settings. The evaluation might ask for your childs pediatrician and teachers input.
If the pediatrician suspects ASD, your child will meet with a team to further test him/her. This team is usually comprised of a psychologist/psychiatrist, neurologist, and speech therapist. An audiologist might administer a hearing test to rule out auditory processing disorders.
Doctors diagnose low functioning autism on three major criteria:
- First is your childs ability to communicate. Your childs doctor will assess his/her verbal skills and nonverbal communication.
- Next, the team will observe your childs behavior. They will watch for stimming and self-injurious behaviors. The team will pay attention to how restrictive and repetitive the behaviors are.
- Finally, they consider the daily impact of behaviors and communication difficulties.
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Impaired Social Interaction In Low
Children with this autism spectrum disorder are more likely to show episodes where they have regressed to an early developmental age.
This is where these affected people will show some younger behaviours such as peeing on the bed even when they have grown this sign.
These affected children with this autism spectrum disorder are less likely to show empathic behaviour which is needed in social interactions.
These affected children are also less likely to act considerately of their peers which can make them be considered as unlikely friends in a friendly relationship.
These affected children with this autism spectrum disorder are more likely to exhibit inappropriate affect in a social situation.
For instance, these affected children will laugh when a fellow peer got hurt in the midst of a game.
This behaviour in a social situation can make their peers feel uncomfortable about having these affected children as their friends.
In this case, these affected children are more likely to need support when they are trying to socialize with peers.
These affected children with this autism spectrum disorder are also more likely to be uncooperative and restrained when it comes to playing with other children.
This behaviour in a social situation can only make peers feel awkward when they have to let these affected children in their games.
There are a lot of social opportunities that these affected children can do through therapy which can help a lot.
How To Keep Your Child With Autism Safe
Most parents with autistic children always worry about how to keep their children safe. There are issues and obstacles that parents of normal children do not even have to consider. Certain symptoms of autism-like wandering, hiding, self-harm, eloping, head-banging, and running are more common in autistic children. It is necessary to make your home and your childs surrounding safety proof.
Autistic kids are not much aware of their safety concerns. They have no idea that some things can be dangerous and are also not aware of their impact. When they get overwhelmed, they may run into the streets without even noticing the cars on the roads.
A recent;study;has shown that 50% of children with autism wander or elope. Despite several safety measures, parents report their child eloping.
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