Signs of Autism Ad How ASESA Can Help

Generally, the cases of autism are diagnosed during the toddler years. This doesn’t imply that the disorder is common during this stage of life, but most of the symptoms and signs of autism can be seen during this period. Or in other words, children start to show the symptoms of autism during this period. So, during this period parents should be paying special attention in observing the signs of autism. Toddlers are children between the ages of 12 and 18 months and are between infancy and childhood.

Autism is characterized by impairment in social interaction and communication and by repetitive behavior. Some of the most common autism symptoms include:

Communication: Children with autism say fewer words make fewer sounds and gestures, as compared to children of same age with normal development. They are also shyer and have a different gaze.

Repetitive behavior: Children with autism show stereotypes or repetitive behaviors. This is one of the most evident signs of autism. Autistic children display head-banging, flapping even when in the bed. They eat only particular food and do things in same manner. They are also attached to one particular object or toy. This behavior shows their difficulty in adopting changes.

Lack of interest: Children with autism like to live in their own world. Autism damages the social development of person. Autistic children seem disinterested in other people and the environment. They hardly smile or respond to their own name.

Fortunately there are organizations and communities like ASEA (Autism Society of Edmonton Area). Societies and organizations like embrace and support people on the autism spectrum throughout their lives. Organizations like this provide information, programs and support through its Resource Centre, including discussion and activity groups, and new online resources. This and many more such organizations are working to increase the awareness about the autism in the society and help make lives of people with autism and their families easier and less complicated.

To increase the awareness world autism awareness day is also celebrated on 2 April.

Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Wide Range of Disorders

Basically, autism spectrum disorder can be defined as a wide range of developmental and behavioral disorders that results from a combination of some traits. It ranges from low functioning autism to high functioning autism to normal behavior and to perhaps hyper socialization.

Autism is considered to be a persuasive development disorder, which basically means that it interferes with a child’s normal developmental abilities like speech and communication. The term spectrum is used because on one side there are children with different autism symptoms and on the other side, children are experiencing completely different signs of autism. For example, let’s take a look at the Autism spectrum and communication. You might have one child on one end of the spectrum that is non-verbal and will only use gestures to communicate. Then on the other end of the spectrum, you might have a child that can tell you every small detail. Both of these children have Autism, but they are on opposite ends of autism spectrum for their communication skills.

All of the primary deficits of autism are a spectrum: social skills, communication and behavior. Each child with Autism has skills that differ on each of the spectrums. Also, all of the types of autistic disorders make up “autism spectrum”. The different types of autistic disorders include: Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger syndrome, and autistic disorder. PDD-NOS is a moderate form of autism. It is diagnosed when a patient doesn’t have as severe of a case of autistic disorder and it is not as severe as Asperger’s syndrome.

Asperger’s syndrome is the least severe form of autism. Generally, it is also referred as high functioning autism, as it causes one to talk about his or her favorite stuff, non-stop. Also this is more common a problem in boys as compared to girls. Autistic disorder is the most severe case of autism which doesn’t affect the child with more impairment than the other two forms of Autism that we discussed. This wide range of disorders makes it really confusing for an individual to understand what is autism? Taking expert help is advised in case you notice some uncommon behavioral traits in your child.