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Autism
Autism is a developmental disorder that manifests itself in the first years of life. Characteristics of this disorder include impaired social interaction, repetitive behavior and delayed language development. Ask questions about disorders in the autism spectrum here.
1,402 Questions
Do autistic people think different to people without it?
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.
Why are some kids that are autistic like spinning objects?
Not all autistic children spin, some display other 'stimming' behavior.
Stimming is a means of self-stimulation, often used by autistic people to regulate sensory input as a means of keeping themselves calm or expressing emotions. Autistic people have sensory problems, it's not that their senses are stronger but that what they feel neurologically from their senses is stronger to the point where it can cause discomfort. Stimming is a way of controlling sensory input, rather than a bunch of sensory stimulation from the environment around them autistic people will stim in order to give themselves one very clear form of stimulation that they control.
Spinning is just one example of this, another example is rocking. For example I'm autistic and when I'm upset I tap my fingers: the feeling of the finger tapping and the sound of the tapping is a strong constant rhythm of touch and sound so it's easy to focus on that rather than the mass of irregular sounds or sensations around me.
How do you get tested for Asperger's Syndrome?
Asperger's Syndrome isn't something you "get", it's something you're born with, like being left-handed. It is often referred to a milder form of autism, though that definition is under some debate. AS is a difference in the way the brain processes information, which makes it hard for the individual to connect with most people socially. Many aspies are very intelligent, even gifted, but often have a limited range of expertise. Many successful engineers, computer programmers, journalists, artists and scientists have Asperger's Syndrome.
How do you know if you have overcome autism?
You or your child can recover from autism if you or your child go to special sessions they teach you fine motor to eat by yourself and to fix up your oral communication also not to be so hyper and start jumping around and humming and cobvering your ears autistic children or adults have very sensitive ears so you must make sure not to yell at them to cure autism find a local Bethesda center and ask them to sign up you or your child to have sessions there.
Does having Asperger's autism mean that you are disabled?
Autism is a neurological developmental and behavioural disorder that affects people's ability to communicate and interact socially.
Many people have a narrow range of interests that border on obsession, as well as stereotype behaviour. The most obvious signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) appear between the ages of two and three years, though it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months in some cases. The timing and severity of autism's first symptoms, on the other hand, varies greatly.
The symptoms range from mild to severe, and DSM-5 has now classified them as "Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)." The term "spectrum" has been added to indicate the wide range of symptoms that it covers.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Rett's syndrome are terms used to describe Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's syndrome, Childhood Disintegration Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Delay (not otherwise specified).
Though the exact cause of autism is unknown, a number of factors are thought to play a role, including
Genetics
Exposure to heavy metals, for example, is a factor in the environment.
Prenatal and postnatal exposure to certain viruses, such as Rubella and other TORCH infections
Vaccines such as MMR
During birth, there is a hypoxic (low oxygen) condition.
Premature birth or Birth weight that is too low
Parents' ages at the time of conception
The health of the mother during pregnancy.
Autism does not have a single diagnostic test. It is based on a trained doctor or psychologist analysing and assessing a child's behaviour pattern and development. If a child exhibits signs of Autism, he or she is evaluated using various scales such as the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
The child's social, communicative, and cognitive abilities are assessed using a variety of questionnaires. Many parents overlook early signs of autistic behaviour, such as mood swings or delayed milestones, and seek medical help much later. Early evaluation and diagnosis aid in the normalisation of the child, and the prognosis is far better than late diagnosis.
Treatment- Unfortunately, there is no conventional treatment for autism. Counseling, behavioural corrections, a healthy diet, and vitamin supplements can all help. Medicines are prescribed for symptoms such as sleep disturbances, seizures, and so on.
We have the experience and expertise at Dr. A. M. Reddy Autism Center to care for people with ASD and to help them improve their lives in any way we can. Take Homeopathy Treatment for ASD at Dr. A. M. Reddy Autism Center.
What are signs of moderate autism?
There is no such thing as 'moderate autism'. A person is either autistic or they are not, how they are affected can vary but they cannot have 'moderate autism' as this is just not how autism works.
What are the characteristic of autism?
Autism is a neurological condition, which means one feature of autism is a brain that is a little different than the brain of a person who does not have autism. Other features of autism are:
- impairment in social interactions, including inability to make friends
- impairment in or atypical use of language
- restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities (some of which are referred to as stimming)
- preoccupation with special interests which can involve memorizing every fact they can find about a topic (and can be parts of things such as tires instead of vehicles)
- difficulty understanding and using nonverbal language
- insistence on specific routines or rituals, becoming stressed when they are disrupted
- often sensory integration disorder
- often retardation, but greater occurrence of savantism than in those without autism
- lack of imagination, at least in early years
Does it take longer to potty train an autistic child?
No more than other children but the training can take significantly longer because autistic children can only cope with one behavioral change at a time. See the related link for more information.
Is Asperger's Syndrome a type of autism?
Asperger's Syndrome is related to autism. Both are in the family of autism spectrum disorders. The two conditions have very similar symptoms, but Asperger's Syndrome is less likely to have a delay in the development of language use. When a child has the symptoms, autism is often diagnosed when IQ is below average, while Asperger's Syndrome is more likely to be diagnosed when IQ is known to be average or above average.
Why are boys more likely to have autism?
Autism isn't something that you can 'get' - you are Autistic, it's a variation in human beings just like skin color or sex. Boys are not more likely to be Autistic per say but more likely to be diagnosed, there is a theory that Autism is actually just as common in girls as it is boys but presents differently so can be missed - as it is it's said autism is four times more likely to be diagnosed in boys, but this is changing.
When was autism first diagnosed?
Dr. Leo Kanner (1894-1981), who was born in Klekotow, Austria, is one of the first persons to study autism. He was a psychiatrist and physician who published a paper in 1943, "Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact", describing his work with children who would now be labeled as having autism.
Dr. Hans Asperger (1906-1980), another pediatrician born in Austria, also studied autism, but he studied children who, from his descriptions of them, had high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome. His first paper on this was published in 1944.
Both Kanner and Asperger were studying children with autism at the same time, and their work has contributed to our current understanding of autism.
What is the difference between ADHD and Autism?
ADHD is a disorder where the individual is hyper-active and cannot focus his/her attenion on a perticular objject for the normal length of time.
Autism is a disorder where the individual have poor Social Skills, don't know how to read body language and lack the ability of empathizing with others. This may be as a result of lack of mirror neurons in the brain. Try to read about mirror neurons in order to know what exactly they are.
Are there any cures for Asperger's Syndrome?
A:
Asperger's is not a disease. Therefore any cures for it = void
A:
There are no cures for Asperger's, and Asperger's is not an ailment. I am an aspie and I know that it is more likely to to be an ailment to not have Asperger's then have it.
There is no known cure for AS as yet, but there are many behavioral techniques to improve the quality of life for people with AS.
There are many people would say that even asking if there is a cure implies that AS is even a disease, which those people claim that it is not. It is an alternate way of thinking, according to them, and perhaps does not need to be "cured." The goal of most people with AS is to learn how to interact with other people, not to change who they themselves are.
A:
Although orthodox medicine generally maintains that Asperger's Syndrome cannot be cured; there are other professions who are trying and succeeding. I have a twelve year old son who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome by a chiropractic neurologist. This particular chiropractic neurologist is trained in Brain Based Therapy (BBT) as taught by Dr. Ted Carrick, DC. http:/www.carrickinstitute.org We had to drive over two hours to get to my son's chiropractic neurologist, but it was worth it. We has to complete a very thorough twenty page history form and his examination took two hours. Our son's pediatrician also wanted him to see a medical neurologist. The medical neurologist took a brief history, did an extremely basic examination that lasted ten minutes and then told us he disagreed with the diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome and ADD.
Fortunately, my son's pediatrician paid attention to the findings and conclusions of the chiropractic neurologist and was willing to prescribe a medication to help him as he goes through the treatment program set up by his chiropractic neurologist and his parents.
We have found the book Disconnected Kids by Dr. Robert Melillo to be a valuable resource. Dr. Mellilo is a chiropractic neurologist also and his book outlines things that parents can do to help a child who has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), such as Asperger's Syndrome.
Those who approach ASD from the standpoint of BBT, work to balance the functioning of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. There are many non-invasive ways to do this. Another therapy we are using on my son is Neuro-feedback Therapy. http:/eegspectrum.com
Interactive metronome therapy has also been found to be useful in treating ASD.
Anyone dealing with ASDs needs to be managing the patients nutrition. Generally, gluten-free and casien-free diets are beneficial.
I hope this is beneficial. Dr. Melillo reports many success stories in his book, so I would advise being optimistic and seeking out alternatives to orthodox medicine.
How does Asperger's Syndrome affect the person?
It's different for everyone. I, myself, don't drive because I don't coordinate well and can't respond instantaneously in dangerous situations, so I take public transportation. I also worry a lot about "misbehaving" in public places.
A:
As the above person says, it's different for each and every individual person. There are many habits that I, myself, follow - such as avoiding large groups of people and resorting to pacifistic behaviour. While I know one or two people with Aspergers that would "lash out" at others and stand up for themselves, most I know (including myself) would either walk away or put up with it. However, the rare times we do lose our temper, we're known to have no empathy or sympathy for others - showing no mercy as we attack the opponent with a flurry of punches and kicks.
As for lying, we are completely honest and only lie when we know for certain the other person knows it's a joke. Unlike many people in today's society, we have standards and moral ethics. Even if we lie we'll confess within 10 minutes of lying, we'll open doors for others politely, we'll (rarely) disobey authority, we'll do things honourably (E.G: Forget "gangs" and "weapons", if we're forced into fighting - we'll only do so one-on-one, if that.), we hate groups - trying to avoid them as much as possible, we're terrible socially, we react terribly to danger and, most importantly, we need alot of convincing that "friends" are actually kind and will stick by us before we can trust them fully (Which is brilliant for today's society, but it doesn't make us very popular. We take it to the extremes where we judge everyone on first impressions and act unsociably towards them to begin with. We have a "the world is against me" mindset - as we really don't know who we can trust.).
Also, in my case, I fear authority - so it may restrict my actions slightly (E.G: I would never fight unless I'm certain that the teachers, police etc. would allow it - and even then, only if absolutely necessary). This may also make us appear gullible (and, in some situations, we are incredibly gullible), but that could just be us agreeing with everything the person says - attempting to make friends while not disagreeing in-case a fight breaks out or the "friend" stops befriending you.
This is quite normal for someone with Asperger's. Computers seem to be very popular amongst this group, because they are logical and rational -- black and white...
Facial cues are difficult for someone with Asperger's. Computers allow us to socialize without face-to-face interaction. Do not, however, isolate from society -- it will be a sad life. If you must obsess, find as many healthy obsessions as you can. Make one of those obsessions running or walking.
How autism affects its victims?
The following sentences describe a few ways that Asperger's Syndrome affects families in order to provide an idea of the different ways in which it can affect families, but it is by no means a complete description. Family members, especially parents, can be exhausted from taking care of the child with Asperger's Syndrome because of the child's special needs. Because of the time the parents spend with the child with Asperger's Syndrome, siblings might feel neglected. Family members might feel embarrassed by the child's behavior in public. The child might have special skills, such as an amazing ability to do mathematical calculations in one's head or remembering the dialogue of a movie word-for-word after one viewing, which could prompt feelings of pride in the child from the parents. Paying for different therapies that might help can cause financial stress for the family. This short list illustrates that Asperger's Syndrome can affect families in physical, emotional, and financial ways.
^^^ All the above examples are ableist, presumably taken from a source such as Autism Speaks which uses such propaganda against autism in order to increase it's profits. Autism does not destroy families as this answer suggests, for many families it makes no difference or a positive difference.
Seriously, all the examples above seem to be negative - ableist tripe!
What gender is more likely to get autism?
Autism affects more boys than girls. The ratio of boys to girls with autism is about 4:1. The National Autistic Society's site (link below) explains more about the different level of occurrence in males and females.
For the most severe cases of autism, the ratio of autism in boys and girls is nearly 1:1. This has led to speculation by some of the most noted experts in the field that girls with autism have a few symptoms that differ from boys and thus are underdiagnosed. (The original description of autism was based on case studies of males, and the underlying reason for some of the behaviors might manifest differently in males and females.) For example, instead of acting aggressive, they might withdraw and be viewed as very shy and passive. Also, their obsession-like special interests (such as animals) cause less concern. So, even though they might have a great many behaviors identified with autism, girls with autism might not come to the notice of parents or educators because of those few behaviors where they differ from males might mean that no concern is triggered despite matching most of the characteristics.
I don't agree with above poster regarding girls being under-diagnosed and reasons why. There are not a "few symptoms" that lead to a diagnosis of autism, like there are for other medical maladies. Basically, a very well trained person must observe the child, speak to the parents and review anecdotal reports regarding the child's behavior. Then and only then can the trained individual say that the child (may) have some degree of autism. There is no absolute test, and anyone that says there is, is not a true trained professional. When making a diagnosis, there is a list of target behaviors, about 20 or so. If the child exhibits a high degree of these behaviors, (like 12 or 15 out of 20) then it's pretty safe to say that the child fits somewhere on the autism spectrum. Every child is different and acts out in different degrees. That is why I question the answer above. AGGRESSIVENESS in and of itself is not necessarily a sign of autism. However, combined with 10 other target behaviors, it may well fit the autism profile. Same with OCD or ADHD. Alone, these behaviors don't really tell you the whole story. However, combined with 10 or 12 other target behaviors, then you might be talking autism. AND, boysand girls would be evaluated on the same scale, looking for the same target behaviors that would suggest autism in the first place! I hope this helps clear things up a bit for some folks. I've been working with adults and children with autism for 30+ years and it is a very complicated, misunderstood disorder....<<>> The female differs from the male in her enhanced ability to rid her body of environmental foreign toxins such as fluorine, chloride, and bromine compounds. These compounds, found in paints, cleaners, plastics, fire retardants in new clothing, bedding, towels, coatings to keep oils and greases from leaching (microwave popcorn bags, carpet coatings), etc, are absorbed by the infant and stay there from 5 to 8 years. This also accounts for the fact that the first child is at a greater risk of having autism, because he/she is the one with the new crib, BFR (brominated fire retardant) treated mattress, freshly painted or cleaned room and carpet, new toys, etc. This is why products such as "Scotchgard" and "Stainmaster" have disappeared, and Biphenol A (BPA) is under fire. see: AutismApocalypse.com
What are the symptoms of Asperger's in kids?
Asperger's Syndrome (AS) has many characteristics in common with autism and is thus viewed as a variant of it. It is a neurological condition. If a person has an IQ under 70, it is typically labeled as autism. If a person has average or above average IQ, it is typically labeled as AS. Asperger's Syndrome is also known as high-functioning autism, although there is some disagreement about whether they truly are the same. Some people describe AS as a mild version of autism, but actually it is just as severe. (The conditions are similar but have differences, and both autism and AS can range from mild to severe.) One difference is that the people with Asperger's Syndrome have better language abilities and typically have higher intelligence; thus, they might be more able to compensate to function in society.
Here is a list of some of the possible signs or symptoms in those who have AS (many of which are also common to autism), compiled from several sources. No person with AS has all these traits, and they do not have them at the same levels. Some traits are opposites, but stem from the same underlying issue. Although neuro-typical people (ones without an autism spectrum disorder) might experience some of these characteristics, the problems are usually tenfold to a hundredfold worse for the person with AS or autism. These characteristics are based on observation of males with AS; it is thought that females could exhibit AS in different ways because they might react to the same difficulty in a different manner. In adults, some of these traits only occur in specific situations or when under stress. Compensating for some traits and learning ways to do some things can be accomplished with explicit instructions. Some of these characteristics usually occur only in children because adults have learned to compensate through trial and error or observation of other people. Some of these characteristics are comparisons to the development of neuro-typical children.
Social interactions
- seems content when left alone
- does not understand social cues and thus might act inappropriately, appearing rude, uncaring, and tactless
- might be able to function in one-to-one interactions but not with multiple people
- has strong sense of loyalty; very loyal to friends
- has strong sense of social justice; tends to defend others and causes
- achieves social success by intellectual analysis rather than intuition
- often has a sense of humor as an adult that is not frequently understood by others, often a very dry sense of humor
- might or might not desire friendships; most seem to desire friendships but the stress involved makes them decide it is not worth it
Child development:
- does not play turn-taking games
- is more likely to play by him- or herself, or next to other children, than with them
- uses adult's hand as a tool
- does not interact socially with same age group; indifference to peer contacts; difficulties interacting with peers
Verbal communication
- rarely initiates communication; might speak only when discussing favorite subjects (special interests)
- when trying to participate in conversations, it might seem odd or awkward; does not know how to keep a conversation going
- understands and uses words literally, resulting in misinterpretations; might not understand idiomatic expressions and metaphors; might not pick up double meanings; might not understand subtle satire and irony; might not understand when exaggeration is being used; is often the last person to understand the point of a joke
- discusses objects and facts, not feelings
- might sound overly formal or excessively technical; pedantic; includes too much detail
- is more comfortable writing than speaking; more comfortable in situations where body language is not an issue, such as in the dark or back-to-back
Child development:
- fails to imitate actions or sounds
- might have echolalia - repeats or echoes words and phrases just heard
- might have delayed language acquisition; might have precocious language acquisition
Nonverbal communication
- eye contact is limited/fleeting, staring, or otherwise seems atypical; might make appropriate eye contact when talking but look away when listening or processing an answer; more likely to look at mouth than eyes
- has atypical body language; does not accurately express intents, thoughts, and feelings via nonverbal language
- might not use gestures; gestures might seem stilted or clumsy; gestures might be exaggerated
Child development:
- has a deficit in joint attention; does not point at object to share interest and does not realize that gaze should be directed where other person is pointing
Relating to surroundings (including change)
- is upset by or resists changes; inflexible; desires predictability; should be warned about changes to environment and routines
- develops rigid routines; prefers to know rules for all situations; seemingly simple activities that are not part of the routine, such as going out to eat, can be extraordinarily stressful
- might be reluctant to enter unknown places or visit friends' homes because of not knowing the "rules" for that place
- has a tendency to collect objects or information / facts
- tends to notice patterns; tends to notice license plates numbers; often notices details that other people do not
- might refuse to eat foods that are touching other foods on the plate
Child development:
- play is repetitive
Responses to sensory stimuli
- usually has sensory integration disorder - unusual perception of sensory input, sensory processing abnormalities
- might be oversensitive to sound, hearing sounds most people do not or panicking at certain sounds, or undersensitive to sound, appearing deaf at times
- might be oversensitive to sight, preferring dimly lit rooms or certain colors, or undersensitive to sight, desiring lots of colors and interested in flashing lights
- might be oversensitive or undersensitive to taste, preferring either extra spicy or very bland foods, or preferring sourness such as lemon slices
- might be oversensitive or undersensitive to touch; might become very stressed by light touches, but less stressed by firm ones; might feel calmer in Temple Grandin's "hugging machine"
- might be oversensitive or undersensitive to smell
- might be under or oversensitive to balance (vestibular stimulation); might frequently twirl or might easily become dizzy
- might have proprioceptive dysfunction - insufficient processing of information from muscles and joints so is unaware of where body is in space; might hit, kick, or bang head against objects intentionally to gain awareness of where one's body parts are in space; might watch one's feet or hands to be aware of where they are
- might prefer to wear the same clothing day after day (because of how it feels, as well as preferring the same routines)
- might prefer to sleep under many blankets for the pressure of the weight or similarly to wear heavy clothes for the comforting pressure
- might be oversensitive or undersensitive to pain
- is often very inactive or very active
Child development:
- plays with light and reflections
- flicks fingers before eyes
Motor clumsiness
- has a lack of coordination in physical activities; cannot synchronize leg and arm movement; might be described as clumsy or accident-prone
- might have problems with both fine and gross motor control; might have fine motor control but not gross motor control or vice versa
Child development:
- is behind age group performance on neurodevelopmental examination
Special interests
- are all-absorbing, narrow interests done to the exclusion of other activities, done with repetitive adherence, or done with more rote than meaning (as a child)
- often include a fascination with facts or numbers, science, or something related to transportation
- often involve a couple lifelong primary special interests; might include short-term, but very intense, secondary special interests; might acquire more primary interests over time so adults might have 4 or more
- are calming and reduce stress (as opposed to an obsession), but might give appearance of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Thinking and memory
- has excellent long-term memory for facts and routines; often have an excellent memory for dialogue
- might have difficulty with short-term memory
- is logical and detail-oriented; easily able to identify errors
- can focus on tasks intensely; persistent; difficulty leaving tasks unfinished
- often has poor imagination as a young child; might have extraordinary imaginative abilities as a teenager and adult
Brain differences
- the amygdala (the brain's social and emotional control center) is enlarged during early childhood and then shrinks; resulting in an amygdala that appears the same as the amygdala in children who were subjected to physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect; a person with a "damaged" amygdala might sense danger when there is none
- researchers believe that children with autism related disorders suffer chronic stress from fear of people that results in the atypical development of the amygdala
Child development:
- larger than normal head circumference is common
Other characteristics
- often only minimally affected by peer pressure, so does what is comfortable for him or her; or, tries to fit in by doing anything peers suggest without realizing peers' true intentions
- has an aversion to being interrupted; compulsion for completion
- is often very spiritual, but not necessarily religious
- is a perfectionist
- has an impaired fight or flight response - possibly because fight or flight is already activate in almost all situations; often does not recognize dangerous situations
- has difficulty making friends; often might misinterpret kindness as friendship; might never form long-term intimate relationships due to lack of social skills and ability; might invent imaginary friends, worlds, or scenarios due to social difficulties
- unusual attachment to objects; is attached to one particular object; might be preoccupied with parts of objects
- might be especially sensitive to mind-affecting medicines, such as anti-anxiety and anti-depressant ones; might have atypical side effects from medicines, such as codeine causing insomnia
- might have nicknames such as "little professor" and "encyclopedia" (more often male) or "little philosopher" (more often female)
- the combination of misunderstandings due to taking words literally, possessiveness and intense loyalty to perceived friends, and socially odd or inappropriate behavior can make others feel as if they might be being stalked
- often has family members with a smaller number of these traits or learning disabilities; has a genetic factor to autism related disorders which is probably then triggered by environmental factors
Other conditions that might occur with Asperger's Syndrome
- might suffer anxiety disorder and panic attacks due to effects of Asperger's
- might suffer depression and have suicidal tendencies due to effects of Asperger's
- might suffer post-traumatic stress disorder due to victimization which is due to effects of Asperger's
- might have prosopagnosia (face blindness) - difficulty with facial recognition
- might have learning disabilities
- might have dyspraxia, also known as sensory integration disorder (difficulty planning and performing complex movements such as drawing, writing, buttoning, or other fine motor skill tasks)
- might have sleep problems
- might have dietary intolerances, such as gluten, casein, or lactose intolerance; greater risk of immune system disorders related to digestion, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease; food allergies
- might not process B6 vitamins efficiently; a study on children with autism showed that they seem to benefit from what are normally toxic doses of B6, but this is not something to try at home
- might have chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation for years
- other co-existing conditions include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), antisocial personality disorder (APD or ASPD), and Tourette's Syndrome (TS) and other tic disorders
- has a slightly greater incidence of epilepsy
- has a greater incidence of tuberous sclerosis (benign tumors in the brain and other vital organs)
- has 10 times greater incidence of savantism, often in the form of mental calculation or fast computer programming skills
Sources include, among others:
- The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Tony Attwood
- The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome: Advice, Support, Insights, and Inspiration by Patricia Romanowski Bashe and Barbara L. Kirby
- Handbook of Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Volumes I and II, 3rd Edition edited by Fred R. Volkmar
- Understanding the Nature of Autism: A Guide to the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition by Janice E. Janzen
- Asperger's and Girls by Tony Attwood et. al.
- Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Issues: Practical Solutions for Making Sense of the World by Brenda Smith Myles et. al.
- Asperger Syndrome & Your Child: A Parent's Guide by Michael D. Powers and Janet Poland
- Mindblindness: An Essay on Autism and Theory of Mind by Simon Baron-Cohen
No, you cannot get rid of your autism.
If you're Autistic then your brain is autistic - it effects every single aspect of who you are, it is who you are as a person and that cannot be changed. You are born Autistic and continue to be Autistic throughout your entire life, which is absolutely fine. There is nothing wrong with being Autistic.
Autism is from birth, although autism-like symptoms can occur as a result of brain injury and illness etc. It is likely that autism is the result primarily of environmental factors triggering genetics that would not normally cause a problem to result in ASD, or autism spectrum disorder.
Vaccines have been suspected to cause autism for a while, but the evidence for them causing autism is weak.
The actual cause of autism is not yet known, although we do know that some drugs can cause autism when exposed to unborn babies in utero.
One example of this is the anti-convulsant sodium valproate, which is still commonly prescribed to women of childbearing age. Class action lawsuits in various countries (including the UK and USA) are currently underway.
How do you get autism spectrum disorder?
There are a lot of different speculations about why people get autism. Some researchers have theorized that autism is caused by heavy metal buildup in the body, but other evidence has shown that theory to be somewhat shaky and possibly untrue. Other evidence suggests that autism is primarily a genetic disorder. This theory seems to be gaining popularity, and so far no studies have been able to disprove this theory. In fact, there have been several reported cases of parents being diagnosed with asperger's syndrome (a more mild form of autism) after their children have received the same diagnoses.
Well said above and additionally, there is an environmental factor that triggers the genetic predisposition that basically kicks the autism into gear. What the trigger is remains unknown and has been speculated it varies from individual to individual.
How do you care for a person with autism?
If your spouse is Autistic you should learn what you can about the condition and help to provide an environment that does not cause them distress. (Usually sensory-related, such as noise or bright/flickering lights) Above all, when your Autistic spouse gets upset, back off and let them "recharge" for a while. Listen and observe. Other than that, the same things apply to Autistic people as anyone else: food, clothing, shelter, love (or at least companionship) and enough sunlight to synthesize their vitamin D. There is no reason why people on the Spectrum can not have successful marriages and careers if they have people who love them and believe in their abilities and talents... but it takes two to make a relationship work and Autism does not excuse anyone from being an equal participant, it just may change the nature of that participation.
How would you handle an Autistic child who was having a tantrum?
Bare in mind that there is a difference between tantrum and meltdown.
A tantrum is where a child is attention seeking and acting out to get something they want. A meltdown is an uncontrollable emotional response to stress and/or stimulation, often this causes temporary drop in function so the child is unable to communicate and may be more sensitive to stimulation, and for a few days following they may be more severely effected by their autism.
Your twin has autism will your baby have autism too?
Yes. However, it is more likely that the second child will not have an autism spectrum disorder than that the child will have one.
There is a genetic component to autism spectrum disorders. The chance of having a second child with autism or Asperger's Syndrome is greater than the usual chance of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder. If the next child does have it, it could be a milder or more severe case than that of the first child.
According to one study, if one child in the family has autism, the chance that another will also have autism is 10%. In that study, the chance that an identical twin has autism when the other does is 82%. Other studies give results ranging from a 5% chance of a second child with autism to a 15% chance. However, if there are two children in the family who have autism, the chance of a third child with autism increases greatly to about 30%. (One study indicates that the chance of a third child with autism is 50% if the child is male.)
How do you know if your child has Asperger's Syndrome?
A person with Aspergers' Syndrome will not talk much, not be very brave or courageous, he'll be normally nervous, sometimes talk back, and not be very reasonable in minor cases.
In major cases, they're basically vegetables, they have zero concern or respect for anyone they don't like, they like to think that they know everything, they bully, and normally gang up on someone without Aspergers' or someone with a minor case.
A:I am an adult with Asperger's and since being diagnosed I can now tell if others have the condition. I believe that there will be many people like myself who never knew about Asperger's itself let alone know that they have the condition. Asperger's covers a wide range of 'symptoms' 'difficulties' and 'oddities'. Adults with Asperger's generally don't like working in teams unless their role in the team is clearly defined and it is one where they feel confident. Sometimes an adult with Aspergers will repeat themselves in conversations, answer questions inappropriately. Social interaction is difficult because non verbal communication is often not understood. Although the diagnostic criteria and other professionals talk about 'special interests' many people with Asperger's dont in fact have these. However they may go through a period of time having obsessions about certain things. I will describe some of my own personal difficulties, visual spacial, often getting lost, not understanding if people are being serious or joking, unable to multi task (I am a female), very few friendships, easily upset with things like plans changing, people being late,
