Introduction+to+Autism

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Video link for [|Autism Signs and Symptoms] Children with Autism: [|A Family Perspective]

The rise in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) has become an increasingly discussed topic in our nation’s news sources. Doctors are diagnosing children with autism at higher rates than in past years. Smith and Segal report that recent research suggests 1 in 150 children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism, with girls being less likely to be diagnosed with autism than boys (2007).

Autism is “a disorder that appears in early childhood, causing delays in many basic areas of development such as learning to talk and interact with others. The symptoms of autism vary widely, as does the impact of the disorder; some autistic children have only mild impairments, while others have more obstacles to overcome.” (Smith, 2007, p. 1). The autism spectrum disorders show impairments in a child’s typical development of language, play, cognitive, social, and adaptive skills (Leaf, 1999).

When a child with autism enters the school system, school districts use the federal IDEA definition of educational autism, which is defined as “a child is classified as having autism when the child has a developmental disability that significantly affects verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, that is generally evident before age three, and that adversely affects educational performance.” (Doyle, 2004, p. 6).

The //Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders IV// (DSM-IV) describes five diagnoses with their characteristics that fall under Autism Spectrum Disorders, which are Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Rett’s Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (National Autism Center, 2009). Students with Autism Disorder typically have challenges in the areas of social skills, communication, and behavior as described below.

Typical impairments in the child’s social domain are: understanding social gestures, eye contact, social smile (reciprocal), showing and directing, sharing/turn taking, offering/seeking comfort, appropriate use of facial expression, consistency of social responses, imaginative play, ability to play social games, ability to make friends, ability to judge social situations, imitative social play, interest in other children, response to other children, and the ability to “read” another’s non-verbal cues (Wagner, 1998, p. 17-18).

Typical impairments in the child’s communication domain are as follows: complexity of non-echoed utterances, functional language (often echolalic), social “chat”, reciprocal conversations, appropriateness of language, imitation of language, pointing to express interest, instrumental gestures, nodding/head shaking. attention to voice modulation, comprehension of simple language, direct gaze, reciprocal gaze, and 40-45% of students with autism are non-verbal (Wagner, 1998, p. 18).

Typical impairments in the child’s behavioral characteristics domain are as follows: circumscribed interests, unusual preoccupations, repetitive use of objects, compulsions/rituals, unusual sensory interests, hand/finger mannerisms, other complex mannerisms such as self-stimulatory behavior, and self-injury(Wagner, 1998, p. 19).

It is the challenge of educators to meet the needs and provide a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE) to these students with such significant social, communication, and behavioral concerns.

= References = =Doyle, B.T., & Doyle Iland, E. (2004). //Autism Spectrum Disorders//. Arlington, Texas: Future Horizons. = =Leaf, R., & McEachin, J. (1999). //A Work in Progress: Behavioral Management Strategies and a Curriculum for Intensive Behavioral Treatment of Autism//. New York: Autism Partnership. = = National Autism Center (2009). //Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools: A Guide to Providing Appropriate Interventions to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders//. Randolph, Massachusetts: National Autism Center. = = Smith, M., & Segal, J. (2007). Autism Signs, Symptoms, and Causes: Early Signs of Autism in Children. //HelpGuide.org//. Retrieved from  [] = =Wagner, S.(1998). //Inclusive Programming for Elementary Students with Autism//. Arlington, Texas: Future Horizons. =

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