Autism

1. Autism Brittany Douville Meagan Ellsworth Addison Reed

2. What is Autism? • Autism is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others • Signs of Autism are usually visible within the first three years of a person’s life

3. Characteristics • Impaired ability to make friends with peers • Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others • Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play • Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language • Restricted patterns of interest that are abnormal in intensity or focus • Preoccupation with certain objects or subjects • Inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals

5. The Autism Spectrum • Autism, like many other neurological disorders, takes many forms • Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) represent a wide range of psychological conditions illustrated by varying degrees of social inhibitions, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior • It is important to remember that not all disorders on the spectrum have the same cause, but they do share similar characteristics

7. The Autism Spectrum • The varying degrees of the disorder range from individuals with severe mental impairments to less impaired individuals who may be socially inhibited, but capable of complete (and sometimes amazing) levels of brain activity

8. Savants • “Savantism” is a rare condition in which people with developmental disorders possess one or more areas of expertise in contrast with their disabilities and beyond that of a regular person • Only about 10% of people on the autistic spectrum are savants, but about 50% of all savants have some kind of autism spectrum disorder

9. A Savant in Action Stephen Wiltshire: The Human Camera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YXZTlwTAU&feature=related Kim Peek: The Real Rain Man (no longer diagnosed as autistic)

10. Historical Cases • Though there is not a definite consensus, some noteworthy individuals who likely possessed an autism spectrum disorder include: • Albert Einstein • Ludwig van Beethoven • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart • Thomas Jefferson • James Joyce • Adolph Hitler (you didn’t think they’d all be good did you?)

11. What causes Autism? • Though scientists and doctors have no concrete explanation for what causes Autism, it is generally believed that both genetics and the environment play a role • Scientists have identified genes and trends associated with Autism • Studies may show environmental trends associated with Autism (i.e. mercury exposure) • Childhood Vaccines

12. Treatment • Although there is no cure for Autism, there are ways to cope with the disease on a professional level • Educational/Behavioral Therapy • Used to develop social skills • Medications • Anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsiveness can be curtailed with prescription medication

13. Treatment • Ultimately, it is the day-to-day life of an Autistic individual that determines whether or not they can successfully cope with the disorder • Family Education • Structured, routine-based lifestyle • Social Interaction • Social Integration • With the right therapy and lifestyle, many Autistic individuals are fully capable of happy, successful lives with much to offer society

14. Awareness The number of ASD diagnoses is GROWING. It is becoming more and more important for the public to learn about this condition that affects 1 in every 150 American children. Though there is debate whether increased diagnoses is a result of new diagnosis techniques, it is generally believed that there is a real increase of ASD cases.

15. Awareness • Affects 1 in 150 births • Affects 1 to 1.5 million Americans • Fastest-growing developmental disability with a 10 - 17 % annual growth • $90 billion annual cost,90% of which is spent in adult services • Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention • In 10 years, the annual cost will be $200-400 billion