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Autism. What is Autism?. Neurological Disorder Affects Communication and Social Skills Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors Before age 3 More boys than girls All races and nationalities From 1 in 10,000 10 years ago to 1 in 110 Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Spectrum.
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What is Autism? • Neurological Disorder • Affects Communication and Social Skills • Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors • Before age 3 • More boys than girls • All races and nationalities • From 1 in 10,000 10 years ago to 1 in 110 • Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Spectrum • PDD-NOS: Many characteristics of autism, but does not meet full diagnosis • Asperger’s Syndrome- No significant verbal delays, high intelligence • Kanner’s Syndrome- Significant Speech delay, may be non-verbal • IF you’ve met a child with autism, you have met a child with autism
Communication • In most severe cases may be non-verbal • Children with Asperger’s will not have significant speech delays • May not initiate conversations or respond to name • May use gestures instead of words • Speech Therapy often used • For those who are non-verbal, PECS or sign language may be used
Social Behavior • Children with autism often lack or have unusual eye contact • Will often be unable to initiate conversation or only on cue • Have trouble expressing and understanding emotions or social cues
Preoccupation and Restricted Interest • Like routine and may get upset if routine is disrupted • Often have follow rules literally and consistently • May have perseveration (pigs, circuits, ect.) • May “stim” (stand on toes, flap arms, ect.)
Motor and Sensory Issues • May be both hyper- and hypo- sensitive to sensory stimulation • Children with autism often have fine and gross motor issues • “Fidgets” often help with concentration
What causes autism? • We don’t know • Heredity- Parents tend to be engineers, mathematicians, and scientists • Environment • Brian and Circuitry Abnormalities • Vaccines?-General consensus is that is does not cause autism
Reference:Top Treatments Used by IAN Families Is there a cure? • There is no cure, but there are treatments • Early intervention is key! • 381 different treatment are being used according to IAN • 1. Speech and Language Therapy • 2. Occupational Therapy (OT) • 3. Applied Behavior Analysis • 4. Social Skills Groups • 5. Picture Exchange Communications System (PECS)
Resources • Autism Speaks • TouchPoint Autism Services • STL Arc • MO-FEAT • Productive Living Board