Before Progressing ...Please Take the "What do you know about Autism" quiz. If answered HONESTLY, you will be able to provide information and learn something from this experience, both for you and myself. Please Click on the link Below to take the quiz.
What do you know About Autism?
SO WHAT IS AUTISM?
Autism is a complex, life-long biological disorder of development that results in social interaction problems, communication difficulties, and restrictive or repetitive interests and behaviors.
THE DSM-IV has a Criteria that has to be met in order for a diagnosis of Autism to occur. The DSM-IV stands for " Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Fourth Edition " This is the manual used to match behavioral and Mental criteria to a diagnosis. A large book of "Checklists" I guess you could say.
DSM-IV Criteria for an Autism Diagnosis:
DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR 299.00 AUTISTIC DISORDER
A. A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3)
(1) qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
a) marked impairments in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial
expression, body posture, and gestures to regulate social interaction
b) failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
c) a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people,
(e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest to other people)
d) lack of social or emotional reciprocity ( note: in the description, it gives the following as
examples: not actively participating in simple social play or games, preferring solitary activities,
or involving others in activities only as tools or "mechanical" aids )
(2) qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
a) delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied
by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture
or mime)
b) in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain
a conversation with others
c) stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
d) lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
(3) restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities, as manifested by at least two of the following:
a) encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of
interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
b) apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
c) stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g hand or finger flapping or twisting, or
complex whole body movements)
d) persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
B. Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:
(1) social interaction
(2) language as used in social communication
(3) symbolic or imaginative play
C. The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder
A MORE in DEPTH look at Diagnositic Criteria Identifying Pevasive Development Disorders (including Autism), Please go to the Links Page of this site.
Studies have shown that 1-2 or even more within 500 Births will be children diagnosed within the Autistic Spectrum. Three out of Four Autistic Children that are born are male. The Number of Autistic Children being born each year is steadily increasing at an alarming rate. So what has caused these increases? There are many Theories, but nothing has been scientifically proven to Cause Autistic Spectrum Disabilities.
One of the most significant factors of the rising rate of Autism is its awarness AND the broad range the diagnosis of Autism now has. To understand what the "Spectrum" is all about...you need to take a look at the symptoms of Autism.
The Severity of the Diagnosis of Autism depends on the severity of the Symptoms and how much it "Stands out" with being NOT the norm for socially acceptable behavior or standards.
Example: The Symptom Innappropriate response to sound or no responce to sound. There are DOZENS of ways this could go. What would be considered an Innappropriate response? Less Severe Autistic responses could be hands over ears and humming to drown out the sound. More severe response would be Screaming and tantruming. There are all variences to each symptom that contributes to the interpretation of the severity of the Diagnosis.
Other Key words contribute to the Interpretation of severity...Words such as "MAY", "Difficulty", and "Innapropriate". There is a Wide range of what can be considered as "Innapropriate" and "Difficult". It is these Ranges that creates the spectrum. Each symptom for each child can be unique. Like a puzzle, each piece interlocking, uniquely shaped, to form the same "Picture". That picture being the diagnosis of Autism.
In fact, The Puzzle piece is used as a way of representing Autism and it's Puzzling aspects. April is known as Autism awarness month and often you will see people wearing Autism awarness Ribbons. These ribbons are printed with multi-color puzzle pieces.
INTERVENTIONS AND THERAPIES Section is UNDER Construction on a Seperate Site...the link will be INCLUEDED on this page once it is completed. The LINKS on the Link page will Lead you to Various Interventions and theapies (both controversial and Standard) for helping children with Autism.
In the Interventions and Therapies Page, I will talk about ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy, Speech Therapy, Music Therapy, Sensory Integration Thearpy, Gluten & Casin Free Diet, B Vitamin Therapy, Homeopathic Therapy, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), Occupational Therapy, and Physical therapy to name a few. You will be able to look these up manually on the link page at the moment until my page on this topic is up.
Above Pic is an Item Sold by information below.
THIS IS A GREAT PERSON TO GET AUTISM AWARNESS BUTTONS AND SAFTY ITEMS FROM!! I have Personally bought Stickers and Buttons from this man before. He is a father of an Autistic child who KNOWS what people need to raise awarness and help provide safty for their child. He goes by the Selling name "FATHERFUN" on EBAY and his Website for ordering things on and not on Ebay is Here:
http://www.Buttonsandmore.com
http://stores.ebay.com/ButtonsAndMore-Fatherfun
A VERY useful sticker that I bought off of "FatherFun" and I put on Each side of my Vehicle and My Doors of my house to inform Emergency Personel.
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