Autism

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 A preschool age child with "classic" autism is generally withdrawn, aloof, and fails to respond to other people.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.

Yes, a person (child or adult) can have both narcolepsy and ADHD. While these conditions can be independently present at the same time (i.e. one is not causing the other), it is often the case that the narcolepsy ends up creating the symptoms of ADHD. This is primarily because the poor sleep regulation and excessive sleepiness associated with narcolepsy can make it difficult to concentrate. They can also lead to various degrees of depression, which in turn can make concentration difficult. If your child has been diagnosed with narcolepsy, and you are concerned he/she may have ADHD also, you should have him/her evaluated for learning issues by a child psychiatrist. Alternatively, if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and you now suspect narcolepsy, it would be best to have him/her evaluated by a sleep specialist. These people are equipped to administer either a sleep latency test or polysomnogram test to diagnose even mild cases of narcolepsy. Finally, if your child does end up having both narcolepsy and ADHD, you will want to monitor treatment carefully. Both disorders are treated primarily using psychostimulants like amphetamine or methylphenidate (Ritalin). The drug modafinil (Provigil) is also sometimes used to treat narcolepsy. Adequate treatment of both disorders will likely mean a higher than usual dose of stimulants (or a combination of stimulants)--definitely watch out for adverse reactions so the dose can be adjusted if necessary. If different doctors see your child for each condition, you should make sure the doctors communicate regularly to ensure they are on the same page with the chosen treatment.

I have Asperger's syndrome, and am 13 years old. I was diagnosed at age three when I started preschool and wasn't interested in the other children. My parents knew that wasn't normal so I was sent to a doctor and that's when I was diagnosed. Asperger's syndrome is a disorder that you are born with, on the autism spectrum. It is also called aspie, or just plain Asperger's. It causes people particularly children, to have trouble making friends, lack eye contact, have one particular interest, have repetitive behaviors, and take expressions literally. As for mild, that means to not show severe symptoms or to not have it very bad. A lot of people with Asperger's syndrome are very smart and became very successful, such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Benjamin Franklin all had Asperger's syndrome. As of me, I don't think of it as something wrong with me, nor am I ashamed of it, I think of it as something that makes me unique and special. It's just a part of who I am. It makes me... Me! I wouldn't change that about myself for anything, I have lived my whole life with it. I'm smart and funny and am proud of who I am.

It is uncertain.

Some people who diagnose or work with people with Asperger's Syndrome describe Asperger's Syndrome (AS) as high-functioning autism (HFA), while others of them think there is a difference. The following is a list of suggested differences between Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism.

* Children with AS might seem normal in family situations and have extreme stress when family is not present. Children with HFA have difficulty in all situations, including those with family. * Children with AS are more likely to form attachments to family but not to strangers, while children with HFA tend to withdraw from everyone. * People with AS want friendships, whereas people with HFA do not care. * Children with AS might have precocious language development while children with HFA do not and might even have delayed language development. * People with AS usually do not have repetitive, stereotyped patterns of behavior except for the all-absorbing preoccupation with a special topic about which an extensive number of facts might be memorized, whereas people with HFA are more likely to engage in repetitive behaviors that draw attention such as head-banging, hand-flapping, and chewing. * People with AS are more likely to exhibit motor clumsiness. People with HFA are more likely to have average or above average motor skills. * People with AS are more likely to be diagnosed as teenagers or adults while people with HFA are more likely to be diagnosed as children because of the slight differences in symptoms. * People with AS might be more imaginative than people with HFA.

my sister as ADhd and she is not a bad kid she just couldn't understand things as well and was full of energy all the time and if you think your kid might have ADHD then you should take he or she to the doctor to get tested.

Yes, of course aperson with autism can get a gun. There are no restrictions on autistic people when it comes to purchasing guns.

A person with autism is said to be autistic. There are also specific forms of autism, such as Asperger's Syndrome, but there is no handy description for such a person, who would still just be called autistic, not Aspergeristic. A person with autism can be described as "a person with autism" or "an autistic person." Some individuals prefer the people-first phrasing - "a person with autism" - because they do not want others to think that autism is the entirety of their being. A person with Asperger's Syndrome is usually not described as autistic because it is not autism. Both autism and Asperger's Syndrome are autism spectrum disorders, also known as pervasive developmental disorders. Some people with Asperger's Syndrome refer to themselves as "Aspergians" or "Aspies," but others do not like them.

The following numbers are approximations since different studies have found slightly different results. The chance of having one child with autism might be as high as 1 in 100. After having one child with autism, the chance of having a second child with autism is 1 in 20. After having two children with autism, the chance of having a third child with autism is 1 in 3.

Research has shown people with autism often have structure and chemical differences.

Every person with autism is different,like people with down syndrome.

Not EVERY person with autism (or DS) has the same "issues" as another person with the same diagnoses.

The speech,sensory,motor,mirror neurons....etc can all be affected by autism

No, not necissarily. Although some children with autism will bang their heads this isn't true for all autistic children - the head banging is a form of stimming, it's a way of focusing one type of sensory stimulation in order to make other forms of sensory input easier to cope with. Other forms of stimming can include flapping, hand clapping, chewing, and a host of other behaviours.

The early symptoms of RS are not always noticeable in stage 1. The infant may not make eye contact with family members and may not show much interest in toys. She may be considered a "good baby" because she is so calm and quiet.

== Currently, autism can not be cured. But with your efforts, you can make improvements. There are many therapists to help autism, like caisen-free diet therapy, music therapy, animal therapy and so on. straight answer no but im autistic and if you dont tell them atall and make them function like a child without autism then it can get better but cannot be cured no

...or it can just end up like me. I also have autism and wasn't told about it. I ended up in a mental hospital. Tell your kid--they deserve to know.

i don't know. probably not. Sometimes you can tell if a child is a little ''quirky'' and doesn't quite understand others verbal and non verbal cues. Some people have autistic tendencies yet don't have autism, and some have autism which is a little harder to detect. If you are worried it is best to consult a paediatrician or other professional. A person with autism does not differ in physical appearance compared to people without autism, although it has been suggested that as they grow older they might look slightly more youthful than others their age. Autism cannot be detected by physical appearance; it is detected by behaviors.

yes

Even if not diagnosed until adulthood it will have been there since birth as it's a lifelong condition.

Greater strides have been taken to involve mentally challenged children and adults with others who are not mentally challenged. They are also more accepted into 'special' sports and given challenges and it seems to be working in leaps and bounds. It's getting better every day and much less stigmatism is attached to a mentally challenged child or adult.

Depends on the person with Asperger syndrome, the person doing the hugging, what sort of hug, and what the context is.

I for example can cope with hugs if I know the person who's doing the hugging and trust them, and know they're about to hug me, and they don't over-squeeze or just leap at me with the hug.

Because of the skin sensitivity issues many of us have, unexpected hugs can feel hugely painful or frightening for some people. Always ask, go slow, do so respectfully.

Some people on the autism spectrum absolutely love being hugged.

She is still alive as of February 11, 2010.

No, Asperger's Syndrome is not communicable. You cannot "catch" it from another person.

Tony Attwood's and Carol Gray's "Discovery Criteria" describes people with Asperger's Syndrome in a positive way. So as not to infringe on copyright, I am only including a few brief phrases from it here, but links are provided below: "absolute loyalty", "unique perspective in problem solving", and "focused desire to maintain order and accuracy".

I have also included three links to parodies on neurotypicality, although some people could find them offensive, showing how certain neurotypical behaviors appear to be problems. These give different, negative perspectives on common behaviors, but might inspire thoughts on wording more positive views on Asperger's Syndrome - in contrast to the "flaws" of neurotypicality.

Autistic people can be affected in a variety of ways, it can change over time or change depending on situation. Generally speaking Autism symptoms improve as a person goes into adulthood, but they can regress as a result of stressful life events or as they enter old-age. In a child Autism may worsen if they are put under pressure to act Neurotypical or not fully supported as Autistic people.