What does a child with autism look like?

Answer 1

This article is very good. But let me just elaborate a little. This comes from much experience in this area. I have a 15 year old daughter with autism. Autistic children are not always diagnosed by age 3. My daughter was 5 before being diagnosed. She was in early intervention since age 3 though. At first, we thought she had sensory integration disorder. This is very common among many autistic children and adults. Then more signs started appearing and we went to a pediatric neurologist who made the diagnosis. Remember that no two autistic children are alike. What one responds to the other may not. Many autistic children are not social, but many are. My daughter is very social, but the academic skills are VERY far behind. There are many challenges, but also many, many rewards. A good book to read is called "Thinking in pictures". The author is Dr. Temple Grandon. She has autism and tells her story of what is was like for her as a child. It is very good. You can also here her lectures. If you pay attention, you can definitely see the characteristics. Autism is a very wide and complicated spectrum. It is so different for each person. There are also many different forms and severities. The best advice I have for anyone is early intervention. You should really take the time to know an autistic child. They will teach you more than any profesor in the world. This article I found on http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts+for+Families&name=The+Child+With+Autism The Child With Autism No. 11; Updated November 2002 Most infants and young children are very social creatures who need and want contact with others to thrive and grow. They smile, cuddle, laugh, and respond eagerly to games like "peek-a-boo" or hide-and-seek. Occasionally, however, a child does not interact in this expected manner. Instead, the child seems to exist in his or her own world, a place characterized by repetitive routines, odd and peculiar behaviors, problems in communication, and a total lack of social awareness or interest in others. These are characteristics of a developmental disorder called autism. Autism is usually identified by the time a child is 30 months old and always by three years of age. It is often discovered when parents become concerned that their child may be deaf, is not yet talking, resists cuddling, and avoids interaction with others. A preschool age child with "classic" autism is generally withdrawn, aloof, and fails to respond to other people. Many of these children will not even make eye contact. They may also engage in odd or ritualistic behaviors like rocking, hand flapping, or an obsessive need to maintain order. Many children with autism do not speak at all. Those who do may speak in rhyme, have echolalia (repeating a person's words like an echo), refer to themselves as a Ahe or Ashe, or use peculiar language. The severity of autism varies widely, from mild to severe. Some children are very bright and do well in school, although they have problems with school adjustment. They may be able to live independently when they grow up. Other children with autism function at a much lower level. Mental retardation is commonly associated with autism. Occasionally, a child with autism may display an extraordinary talent in art, music, or another specific area. The cause of autism remains unknown, although current theories indicate a problem with the function or structure of the central nervous system. What we do know, however, is that parents do not cause autism. Children with autism need a comprehensive evaluation and specialized behavioral and educational programs. Some children with autism may also benefit from treatment with medication. Child and adolescent psychiatrists are trained to diagnose autism, and to help families design and implement an appropriate treatment plan. They can also help families cope with the stress which may be associated with having a child with autism. Although there is no cure for autism, appropriate specialized treatment provided early in life can have a positive impact on the child's development and produce an overall reduction in disruptive behaviors and symptoms. For more info check out answers.com and search under Autism Good book is "Let me hear your voice" by Catherine Maurice.

Answer 2

It is different for everyone People with autism can fall into one of three categories. Depending on what category they fall into, their experiences with autism will be different. -Low functioning autism: People with low functioning autism are not very verbal. They are severely socially impaired, and tend to feel better concentrating on non-human things than listening to people. People with low functioning autism tend to also be mentally delayed. -High functioning autism: People with high functioning autism are not naturally verbal, but may learn to be verbal as time passes. Their social and verbal impairments cover a wide range from mild to severe. They also tend to feel better concentrating on non-human things than on people. People with high functioning autism are not mentally retarded, and many are actually gifted. They are best taught social skills by learning them as they would information in school by being told, reading, or hearing examples of how to act and why.

Occasionally, those with very mild autism can learn to figure out social basics by their own social experiences. They often go on to lead fairly normal lives, with jobs, family, and sometimes friends. -Asperger's syndrome: I, personally, have Aspergers. It is like high functioning autism in that people with it are not mentally retarded, and tend to even be gifted. Their social impairments tend to range from mild to moderate, and like people with high functioning autism, they learn social skills best in classes, from books, examples, and teachers. Eventually, those with mild Aspergers may also learn social basics from experience rather than lessons. People with Aspergers tend to be more verbal. If someone with autism is told they talk too much, to the point where people become annoyed, chances are they have Aspergers.

A person with autism's experience can vary according to gender. Girls with autism tend to have more mild autism than boys do. People with autism can be hard to understand because: -There are so many theories on what causes autism. Only a short while (20-40 yrs.) ago, it was held that autism was caused by a distant mother neglecting her children. This is not true and has never been true. People with autism can come from all sorts of families. Autism has nothing to do with the mother. -People with high functioning autism can seem smart when it comes to one situation, like school, piano, tae-kwon-do, or their "fixation" subject and then in another situation, like organization, a school dance, or even just a task like grocery shopping, seem very dumb all of a sudden. This can lead people to the conclusion that the person is mentally deficient or that they are being manipulative. Actually, it is neither. Autism can cause some areas of thinking (like logic) to be very finely tuned and others (like street smarts) to not come naturally at all.

Certain actions that people find odd or disturbing can feel comforting to some people with autism. These include hiding in dark enclosed spaces or under things, doing motions such as spinning, jumping, flapping their hands, flicking their fingers, banging their heads against walls, pacing, or talking to themselves. These behaviors frighten others, because they are so odd, but that is not the person's intent. They find the behaviors comforting. -On the flip side, social rules that others find comforting and simply accept, like lining up and waiting a turn, or never wearing the same outfit twice, can seem confusing or exasperating. People with autism tend to have "Fixations." It is like when a song gets stuck in someone' head. For someone with autism, a whole topic gets stuck in their head, and all they wish to think about is that topic.

Answer 3

being autistic is like being afloat in a world that exsists in your head. It's easy to get distracted by things like bits of sting because... well, just because. something about it is intoxicating, like one of the hypnotiser swirls or something. And it's hard to understand feelings, because even though you have those feelings, looking at other people is like looking at life size dolls, and you can't imagie them having lives and feeling of their own, and that makes it really hard to talk to them. And when people touch you, it sort of sends off a danger signal in your head, and it's really uncomfortable. And everything has to be just so. Things being out of line of things being where they shouldn't drives you abbsolutely insane. imagine all of this, and then multiply those feelings by like, ten thousand, and then you'll know what it's like to be autistic

Answer 4

A child with autism looks physically the same as a child who does not have autism. Autism does not affect physical appearance, although some people who work with them occasionally comment that they seem to have a more youthful appearance or age better.

However, the behaviors of a child with autism will differ from those of a child who does not have autism, such as avoidance of eye contact, becoming upset when routines are changed, and not playing with other children.

Answer 5

Autistic people use identity-first language, this it is 'Autistic people'.

Autistic people are as varied and different as any other people. They say 'once you've met one Autistic person, you've met one Autistic person', we're all very different from each other.

Answer 6

Having never been anything else, how would I describe what it is to be Autistic?

As an Autistic person I'm constantly expected to act like a neurotypical person - this is very stressful because even on a good day I cannot pretend not to be Autistic, it means I'm often blamed for being different and for the prejudice I face from others. It's constantly being forced to behave in ways that are totally alien to you, that goes against everything that comes naturally to you. It means I have restricted access to education and employment because everything is set-up in favour of neurotypical people, and if I ask for accommodations I'm seen as weak or difficult, and if I am given accommodations it's on their terms rather than my own so end-up working against me half the time.

As an Autistic person I have higher empathy so I'm very sensitive to the suffering of others, I spend far too much time trying to help other people while having very few people in my life to help me. It can be very lonely to have so few friends in your life, to have friends so easily forget about you, not to have a connection with your family or people you think of as friends, and to see how neurotypical people behave with each other in ways that you will never be able to.

You have executive dysfunction which makes it difficult to get things done, and sensory problems that make certain environments uncomfortable. You have meltdowns, these are uncontrollable emotional outbursts as a result of the stress of trying to be someone you're not and dealing with issues like sensory problems, they leave you physically, mentally, and emotionally drained.

Autism is not all bad, the problem is not autism itself but how Autistic people are treated - see the first two paragraphs, these are more social issues and lack of acceptance than a result of autism. Autism means you tend to be independent and not reliant on friends to hold you up, you tend to understand things in different ways, your empathy and honesty makes you a better person, your attention to detail and ability to absorb information on your 'special interest' can make you exceptional at school or work given the right support and situations. I wouldn't want to be anything but Autistic, however I do wish people were more accepting of us.

Answer 7

Kids with autism tend to be very active children. This is because many things have the ability to stimulate their senses.

Answer 8

Infants with the disorder won't cuddle; they avoid eye contact and don't seem to want or need physical contact or affection