Autism

there is no real cure for Autism. the only thing that can help stop the process of autism from getting worse is to have the affected child be in Programs that will help him cope with his disability. but the only way that autism can really be cured is if someone is not born with it, but otherwise there is no Known cure of autism

Autism Awareness day is April 2nd and Autism Awareness Month is April.

Be aware that many Autistic people dislike Autism Awareness because the issue is no longer a lack of awareness but a lack of acceptance, also because Autism Awareness campaigns are heavily connected with the likes of Autism Speaks which is considered to be a hate group for the harmful propaganda and abuse it uses towards Autistic people. Consider looking into Autism Acceptance instead of Autism Awareness, do not support Autism Speaks and avoid puzzle pieces as well as the color blue in April, promote supporting Autistic people and always center Autistic voices.

For the same reason so many adults have autism, also for the same reason so many children and adults are neurotypical - it's just how we're born. This question is like asking 'why are so many children black?'.

As no two children with autism are alike, the best approach is an individualized one. The answer to your question depends on A) THE AGE OF THE CHILD IN QUESTION and B) The severity of the syndrome ie. Is the child very high functioning or is he/she severely affected?

The very first thing to do is EDUCATE yourself on the education law (IDEA) and on autism. Keep all records, behavior, doctor's visits, medical records, etc.

If your child is younger than three, the first thing to do is have the child evaluated by an "Early Intervention" team, Preschool Assessment Center or infant/ toddler connection. They will then inform you of your child's needs and the services available.

If the child is of school age, request an evaluation through the public school system.

The approach for a child who is severely affected will be very different from the approach for a high functioning child. There are a lot of sites claiming a CURE-- AVOID them like the plague!! They are nothing but quacks---THERE IS NO CURE FOR AUTISM--ONLY APPROPRIATE AND EARLY EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION.

Finally, find out what programs are offered through the public school system and if the teachers have been trained in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Some states are known to be further advanced in autism programs--California, New York. Look into the services and talk to Occupational therapists, physical therapists and developmental specialists; they usually know the best programs/ schools but I can't stress enough that your own homework will provide the most accurate answers as to what is best for your child. BECOME AN EXPERT IN AUTISM AND THE IDEA-- THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT .

Diana (nurse and parent of a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder)

You don't - if an Autistic child is upset then increasing their stress by touching them isn't going to help. Autistic people usually have sensory issues, invading their space and touching them when upset is thus at best a bad idea and at worst could be considered to be abusive.

How you cope with your Autistic sons behavior depends on what behavior he's displaying and what problems it is causing. One of the most important things to remember is that your child is Autistic, too often neurotypical parents of Autistic children try to force their children to act like they're neurotypical - this puts a lot of extra stress on a child so can make their Autism worse, but also it is telling your child you don't respect them. The more you work WITH your childs Autism the easier life will be for you, your child, and everyone else in your lives.

Essentially none.

Medical recognition of autism has come only in the past few decades--the first use of "autism" in its modern sense was in 1943. As late as the 70s, many blamed lack of parental attention for autism in children.

In the 1930s, it seems most likely that autism would have been diagnosed as a form of schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia did not come about until the 50s. Insulin shock therapy came about in the 30s as a treatment for schizophrenia, but the odds of it doing anything for autism are less than remote.

Some would claim that 'Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified' (PDD-NOS) or 'Atypical Autism' is the least severe (note: I did not use the term 'mildest' as Autism is never mild) form of Autism, but it has become widely acknowledged of recent that these separate categories are best included under the heading of 'Asperger's Syndrome' as there are no real valid reasons left existing for them to have separate labels.

More and more, professionals are realising that the differences between people with Asperger's syndrome, and their developmental differences especially, are the result of the myriad of strategies such people employ to cope in an often hostile or aversive world, a result of the unlikeliness of any given person with AS being influenced much by those around them, a result of the wide range of impacts their environments and upbringing have on them. E.g. it is possible for a person to be mute at one end of the Asperger's spectrum and yet another to be prosaically articulate and exceedingly verbose at the other end. With every permutation imaginable between.

There is no age when a child can develop autism. Autism is a neurological difference, it developsin the womb while the brain is developing - thus a person is born with autistic, they do not develop autism.

No, as far as we know there are no environmental factors that lead to autism - autism isn't 'triggered' it is a neurological variation. This however does not stop people using autism to try to support their agenda, for example some people claim vaccines, GMO's or pesticides cause autism.

Yes, autistic children can be taught in mainstream schools. Most autistic children are likely to be mainstreamed, one reason being that autistic children thrive in mainstream school when they're allowed to learn and interact with their neurotypical peers. Often in special education autistic children aren't challenged enough, this is true in mainstream schools too but worse in special education.

You must be referring to an autistic savant. Basically, its an autistic person who has savant syndrome.

Paranoia can become a symptom of AS (more oftenly during teen years as they become more aware of themselves in public).

Paranoia is not a rare thing for people with AS as some may have it due to not being able to understand what to do in a social event.

Weight loss is all about tracking calorie consumption so if you simply monitor his/her calories for them and not let them consume more than they are supposed to, they can lose weight.

You are either autistic or you are not, there is no such thing as 'severe autism'. How you are affected by autism can be severe, but equally it can be mild, and how you're affected can change throughout your life.

I have a serverly Autistic brother and a son with Autistic traits. Basically every Autistic child has deferent obsesstions and behavours. Some Autistic children become attached to objects and others to just one person usually the mother. Some autistic babies talk jabber talk to their hands, most autistic child will not accept change. All autistic children are highly intelligent. Autistic children they say become autistic adults, not true. I taught my son to clap his hand when he started jabber talking to his hands. Having an autistic brother i learnt alot about early inconvention. Knowing the signs of austistic behavours with my brother, enabled me to intervene and cox my child out of these obsessive haviours. please don't give up if your child has been diagnosed with autisim as you as a parent can work with your child and teach them normal behavours, and make them accept change by not letting them get into a routine. good luck

No, there is currently no prenatal screening for autism.

There is research being carried out to determine autism while the baby is within the womb, however many within the autism community are concerned that this will lead to abortion of autistic children, which in turn has knock-on effects on autistic rights.

Autism does not directly affect the life expectancy of a person with autism. That person can have a normal lifespan. However, autism can increase the chances of suffering from depression, which could increase the chance of suicide. No, they tend to have much shorter life spans. There are conditions that occur at a greater rate than average in people with autism that can make it more likely for them to have shorter lifespans, but autism is not the condition causing it.

While there is still no medicine that will cure Autism, there are two FDA approved medications that help with the irritability and aggression associated with ASD. These are Risperidal and Abilify. THey are both anti-psychotics and work as a mood stabliizer. My son has Taken Risperidal for the last 4 years, and it has worked great. You would need to look them up for the side effects, which can be serious if not followed by a licensed physician (blood sugar is most common). The benefits have outweighed the risks involved. There is a study being done on a medication to help with social withdrawal. It is in the early stages, but has had some very positive results. The name of that medication is Arbaclofen. You can google that for more information. This medication is still a couple of years away from being approved by the F.D.A., but gives new hope for people with Autism.

Yes, there can be speech delay without autism.

Impaired hearing or chronic hearing infections can result in speech delay. A lower than average IQ can result in speech delay. Another possible cause is a lack of oral interpersonal experiences (e.g. parents unavailable to spend time with the child such as when working long hours or one is extremely ill, mute parents, isolation due to a medical condition). Other conditions that can cause speech delay include tongue or other mouth problems, brain lesions, or seizures.

The term autism came about decades before the disorder was recognized. Autismus, the New Latin word that autism is derived from, was coined by the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1910. He used the term as a descriptor of symptoms of schizophrenia. The word Autismus was derived from the Greek word autos meaning morbid self-admiration which is in reference to the tendency of his patients to have a preference to be alone. It was not until 1938 that this word was used in its current sense. Austrian Hans Asperger began using Bleuler's term "autistic psychopaths" when studying an autism spectrum disorder that was eventually named after him, Asperger's Disorder. This disorder was not classified as a different diagnosis from autism until 1994 (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Around the same time of Asperger's studies in Austria, American Leo Kanner (1943) began studying what he called "early infantile autism." He was also the first person to use the English word "autism" in 1943 when he identified 11 children with very similar behaviors. Many of the characteristics that Kanner used to describe early infantile autism are still used today when describing autism, such as social impairments and insistence on sameness.

Autism Spectrum Disorder encompasses a wide-spectrum of individual people whose intelligence levels mirror much of the typical population. Some autistic children are intellectually gifted, while others have cognitive delays and disabilities. Children and adults with Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, tended to have normal to higher than normal IQ's and a higher level of fluid intelligence than the general population. Measuring intelligence is a difficult feat, especially among a those children with developmental delays that can hinder the typical measurement process (i.e. IQ tests, etc.). It is sometimes assumed that those with communication difficulties/delays, or those who are non-verbal (having little to no speech) have lower levels of intelligence; this however, is not the case. The ability to communicate is not indicative of the ability to understand, or the intelligence level of the child.