CHILD AUTISM
Child autism symptom and treatment help...
Child Autism
By Vanessa Rasmussen, © 2006-2008, All rights reserved.
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Autism
is not a disease, but a developmental disorder of brain function. It is usually
identified by the time a child is anywhere from 30 months old to three years
of age. More often than not, it is discovered when parents become concerned
that their child does not appear to be normal like other children. Most common
concerns are that the child may be deaf, is not yet talking, resists cuddling,
and avoids interaction with others.The various syndromes of autism have been called
infantile autism, autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder and
childhood psychosis. The basic criteria for the autistic syndromes are as
follows:
1. Early onset (before 3-5 years of age)
2. Severe abnormality of reciprocal social relatedness
3. Severe abnormality of communication development
4. Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests,
activities, and Imagination; and possibly
5. Abnormal responses to sensory stimuli.
Many areas can be affected by autism, such
as:
Communication: Language develops slowly
or not at all; uses meaningless words or words that mean something else in
that particular reference; gesticulates instead of verbally talking; possesses
short attention span.
Social Interaction: Child is often a
loner; is not interested in making friends; less responsive to social etiquettes
such as eye contact or smiles.
Sensory Impairment: Child may have sensitivities
in the areas of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste to a greater or lesser
degree.
Play: A lack of spontaneous or imaginative
plays; does not mimic others' actions; does not initiate pretend games.
Behaviors: Child may be hyper-active
or very passive; throws tantrums for no apparent reason; excessively perseverant
(shows an obsessive interest in a single item, idea, activity or person);
perceptible lack of common sense; aggressive behavior; can't easily adapt
to a different routine or environment.
The cause of autism remains unknown, although
current theories indicate a problem with the function or structure of the
central nervous system. However, autism is not transferred genetically from
parents to their children.
While there is no cure for autism, appropriate
treatment can have a positive impact on the child's development and produce
an overall reduction in disruptive behaviors and symptoms.
Copyright 2001, 2006-2008. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this article in
whole or in part without written or verbal permission is strictly prohibited.
For information about reprinting this article, contact the copyright owner:
Vanessa Rasmussen, Ph.D,
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