What Is Autism?

- Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.

- The term “spectrum” reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism.

- Autism’s most-obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some developmental delays associated with autism can be identified and addressed even earlier. Autism Speaks urges parents with concerns to seek evaluation without delay, as early intervention can improve outcomes.

Some facts about autism -

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in 68 children in the United States. This includes 1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls.

-An estimated 50,000 teens with autism become adults – and lose school-based autism services – each year.

- Around one third of people with autism remain nonverbal.

-Around one third of people with autism have an intellectual disability.-

-Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias.

ATTENTION-DEFICIT/ HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER

Overview Of Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder 

The essential feature Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and more severe than is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development.

  Symptoms / Characteristics Of Attention-deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder Inattention

* Inattention

ØInattention may be manifest in academic, occupational or social situations.

ØIndividuals with this disorder may fail to give close attention to details or may make careless mistakes in schoolwork or other tasks.

ØWork is often messy and performed carelessly and without considered thought.

ØOften have difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities and often find it hard to persist with tasks until completion.

ØOften appear as if their mind is elsewhere or as if they are not listening or did not hear what has just been said.

ØMay be frequently shifts from one uncompleted activity to another.

ØOften do not follow through on requests or instructions and fail to complete schoolwork, chores or other duties.

ØOften have difficulties organizing tasks and activities.

-ØTasks that require sustained mental effort are experienced as unpleasant and markedly. As a result, these individuals typically avoid or have a strong dislike for activities that demand sustained self-application and mental effort or that require organizational demands or close concentration (eg homework or paperwork).

ØWork habits are often disorganized and the materials necessary for doing the task are often scattered, lost or carelessly handled and managed.

ØEasily distracted by irrelevant stimuli and frequently interrupt ongoing tasks to attend to trivial noises or events that are usually and easily ignored by others (eg a car honking, a background conversation)

ØOften forgetful in daily activities (eg missing appointment, forgetting to bring lunch).

ØIn social situation, inattention may be expressed as frequent shifts in conversation, not listening to others, not keeping one’s mind on conversation, and not following details or rules of games or activities.