What Is Autism? Symptoms, Causes, Tests, Treatment, and More.
What is Autism?
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that impacts social skills, speech and language development, and can present as repetitive behaviors.
Autism spectrum disorders are typically diagnosed in children before the age of three years old.
It is not curable, but there are many effective treatments that can allow a child with autism to live a happy and productive life.
A child who is diagnosed with autism has an impaired ability to communicate.
This can be seen in the way they talk and interact socially, as well as their unusually repetitive behaviors like rocking back and forth or flapping their arms.
Autism also affects a person’s life by making it difficult for them to go outside of routines that are established- such as changes in clothing before going out into public spaces, which causes anxiety because they’re not sure what people will think about how different these children appear from others around them.
As defined by IDEA, autism refers to “a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication social interaction”; this federal definition then proceeds onto list traits commonly related: Other characteristics often associated with autism include engaging in repetitive behaviors, unusual sensory interests and specific patterns of behavior.
In this post we will discuss common traits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), including communication difficulties, unusual behaviors or interests, repetitive movements or patterns of behavior and learning problems.
We’ll also take an in-depth look at what it’s like for parents raising children on the autistic spectrum!
Autism Common Traits
Difficulty understanding social interactions.
Unusual fixation (for instance, only playing with round toys)
Inability to focus without first completing a routine.
Unusual communication habits
Disruptive behavior when an ordinary schedule is interrupted.
Understanding that the phrase “autism spectrum disorder” is gaining momentum because it better captures similarities between autism and other conditions under this category, a variety of common traits can be found associated with those diagnosed.
The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) acknowledges five subcategories: autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS).
There are three major areas of focus when determining a diagnosis: social interaction, behavior and communication. NICHCY explains that a particular case’s traits determine the exact diagnosis for those aspects.
Such characteristics might include the following:
- Unusual communication habits (from not talking at all to repeating over and over certain phrases).
- Difficulty understanding social interactions.
- Unusual fixation (for instance, only playing with round toys)
- Inability to focus without first completing a routine.
- Disruptive behavior when an ordinary schedule is interrupted.
Autism Educational Challenges
Education is a challenging task to undertake, and when special needs are included it can become even more difficult.
Autistic students have many different struggles in the classroom: from trouble following directions or understanding what’s being said all the way down to behavioral problems that disrupt other students’ learning experience.
These barriers make for an arduous journey through school life – but thanks to incredible teachers and staff members like yourself, they’re not unbeatable!
Students with autism often face academic difficulties such as:
- Disruptive behavioral problem
- Hampered ability to communicate
- Trouble following directions
- Disinterest
Autism, Tips for Teachers and Parents
With a few dynamic factors, children with autism can be effectively educated.
For example, if you are giving directions on how to fold paper one step at a time, starting by verbally saying the steps and then demonstrating them while repeating each instruction; don’t rush through this process; do it slowly so that students have enough time to follow along.
If they cannot get their footing after being given instructions multiple times or if certain methods aren’t working for your student try using different cues such as tactile ones (such as having the child touch an object first before touching another) or visual ones (explaining what is happening in pictures).
Assistive technology can reduce communication issues, but it often just becomes a way for students to avoid the hard work.
Teachers must balance being creative and interesting so that you grab their attention while still staying on task with your lesson plan.
For instance, if one of your student’s interests is airplanes then write word problems incorporating situations relating to them in order to keep him interested!
Teachers, getting to know a student and what calms him or her can help you avoid disruptive behavior.
Find out about your child’s interests so that when it becomes time for group work they have something in common with the other students who might otherwise be frustrated by doing tasks because of his or her inability to participate without being hassled.
Parents are an excellent resource here as well; after all no one knows their kids better than parents!
Does anyone have experience with autism worsening with age? I’ve noticed over the past few years that I’m more anxious, less focused, and more exhausted than I used to be.
I am going to go on a limb here and say you are in your thirties are you adhd too?
There is something called the adhd burnout in women at thisnage….. and Man THE struggle is real!!!!! Basically the brain becomes EXHAUSTED of all the extra work it has been doing which exacerbates all symptoms.
Yes. As adults we’re much more prone to burn out since we have so many more responsibilities constantly and not enough time to recharge and recover from it.
I was told that it doesn’t get better. It gets worse.
Medicine helps me Tamp it down. Also I’ve been reading books and understanding it more. The more I understand it the less anxiety and heartache.
Counseling.
I started jogging again. I am an absolute freak Show unless I’ve been exercising. All range of emotions. And very sensitive to certain sounds. Sensory. So I got to exercise.
I feel it, they say it doesn’t happen but I have been haywire emotionally for the last 2 years.
Hi I hope your all well I am looking for advice my girlfriend has always said I am autistic we both carers and she is doing a in-depth course on it my main signs are I observed with the Beatles really obsessed I hate crowds I freak out when in them again I observe about things for example once I thought I went through a red light I didn’t but for the next month I went back to the traffic light and check for cameras also I googled how they work so I knew actually how it works this has happened more than once I am 34 am I to old to go see a doctor also I got a brilliant memory just want some advice many thanks
You’re never too old to get assessed by a doctor. Not sure if you’re in Cambodia but I am in Phnom Penh and the waiting list can be quite lengthy but definitely you can get assessed. I am 36 and I am going to get an assessment in the next couple of months
I’ve been involved in my close friend since she told me that she have autism and I’ve put whole lot of effort not for myself at all I did of for her I’m interested in her not only person even a friend I Interested in everything about her I’ve been putting an effort in learning about autism with nothing in it for me I’m doing for only her i have accepted and expect her for who she is when she told me that she has autism I accepted and expect her for who she is doesn’t matter if she haves autism because I not only care a whole lot about me I’m too interested and involved with her since she told me her about her autism I enjoy being interested and involved with my close friend because she makes me feel something I’ve never felt before like someone really cares a whole lot I’ve also been there for her when ever she needed me the most she knows that I care about her but doesn’t know the true main reason why I what i do for her I’m not only care. About her she may never know the other reason why what i willing to learn and understanding autism she has a boyfriend but won’t tell her that I care a whole lot about her and then the true main reason I interested and too much involved with her I afraid she’ll get mad at me for saying this i know she likes as a friend but I’m not only interested in her as a person and a friend I’m interested in her completely I’ve been willing give up a whole lot stuff for her like my time for her whenever she needs me the most especially when she starts to have a meltdown and a showdown and even need someone to meet her needs the most
If your kids are rough on the ipad and cases like mine are, definitely look into these cases. They hold us against the dropping, throwing, stepping, rough housing… you name it. It comes in handy to keep on all the ipads so you don’t have to worry about ipad repair fees. Been there, done that. Way too expensive. It also locks so your child can’t take the ipad out of the case. My kids have been known to try to do that as well and this puts a stop to that. I thought other parents would appreciate my find so thought I’d share!
on’t know if I can ask for advice really. My child (5yr) has recently been “half-diagnosed” as autistic, (likely Aspergers) When I say half its because in the country where I reside there are several tests/visits over the course of 3 or so months for a full diagnosis.
At a social level he had problems interacting but has always been quite verbal and articulate, he’s also bilingual. He has some very restrictive interests (certain objects and birds) he’s highly obsessed with these and easily stressed by them. It’s about 2-3 years on repeat. On the latter interest (certain birds) he talks non stop about them and will run after them, making any outing very complicated and now extremely dangerous as he’ll chase them in the roads and its impossible to bring this under control. Its so impulsive and he’s very strong now.
May I ask anyone if they have experienced this aspect? and if it reduces over time? And how to bring this under control? It’s very very worrying.
Pls don’t judge me on this post, I’m a very concerned parent and just wanted some advice. I don’t want to treat this group as a help desk, I’m just wondering if I can ask for advice.