What is Autism?
Submitted by The Fraser Organization
What Is Autism?
Autism is a
collection of neurological disorders that affect
the way a child’s
brain develops.
Autism affects a person’s
ability to communicate, to reason, and to interact
with others.
Autism
is a lifelong disability.
What Causes Autism?
Researchers
suspect that autism is caused by a combination of biological and
environmental variables, although there is no consensus regarding
the exact cause.
What are the signs of autism?
Because autism is a spectrum disorder, the symptoms and characteristics
of autism can present themselves in various ways, from mild to
severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors,
individuals can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in varying
degrees. People with autism process and respond to information
in unique ways. The following are some common characteristics exhibited
by people who have autism.
Resistant to change
Difficulty
in expressing needs
Repeating words or
phrases in place of normal, responsive language
Emotional
displays (laughing, crying) for reasons not apparent
to others
Preferring
to be alone
Tantrums
Aggressive
and/or self-injurious behavior
Difficulty interacting
with others
Aversion to physical
contact
Making little or
no eye contact
Unresponsive to normal
teaching methods
Sustained odd play
Spinning
objects
Inappropriate attachment
to objects
Over-sensitivity
or under-sensitivity to pain
No fear of danger
Obvious
physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
Uneven gross/fine
motor skills
Unresponsive to verbal
cues
How Is Autism Diagnosed?
There
are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. An accurate
diagnosis must be based on observations of the individual’s
communication, behavior and developmental levels.
When Should Autism Be Diagnosed?
The
characteristics of autism may or may not be apparent in infancy,
but usually become evident during early childhood (24 months to
6 years).
How Is Autism Treated?
While
there is no cure for autism, research shows that early intervention
results in positive outcomes for children with autism.
Because autism
is a spectrum disorder, no one treatment method alone is effective.
A multidisciplinary approach is often the best way to achieve results.
People
with autism tend to respond to a highly-structured, specialized education
and/or psychotherapy programs specifically tailored to their needs.
Other
helpful treatment methods include medicine, diet, vitamins, occupational
therapy, sensory therapy, music therapy, speech therapy and parent
guidance.
Fraser’s extensive services
provide diagnosis, treatment and support for children
and adults with autism spectrum disorders and the families who
care for them. Fraser takes a multidisciplinary approach and partners
with each family to determine which services are the best fit.
Our programs are nationally recognized for their high quality and
innovation and our staff is skilled and caring.
How Common Is Autism?
Over
the past decade, the incidence of autism has increased at an alarming
rate, from 1-in-10,000 births to about 1-in-250 births.
Autism is
the fastest-growing developmental disability affecting children today.
It is more common than juvenile diabetes, Down syndrome, and childhood
cancer.
Based on government statistics,
autism is growing at a rate of 10 to 17 percent per year.
The overall
incidence of autism is consistent throughout the world. Autism knows
no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries, but is four times more prevalent
in boys than girls.
In the past 10 years, the
number of children with autism in Minnesota has multiplied by 15
times.
It is estimated that 1.5 million
Americans (children and adults) have autism today, and another 15
million Americans (family and friends, health care professionals,
caregivers and educators) are directly affected by autism.
Where Can My Family Receive
Services Related To Autism?
Fraser’s extensive services
provide diagnosis, treatment and support for children and adults
with autism spectrum disorders and the families who care for
them. Visit www.fraser.org or call 612-331-9413.
