About Autism
Autism is one of the most common developmental disorders that severely disrupt the normal developmental process. Autism is usually diagnosed between 24-36 months. There is no known cause for autism. However research points to physiological causes such as neurological abnormalities in certain areas of the brain.


Children with autism do not learn the same way others do. They seem unable to understand simple verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and leisure or play activities. This makes communication with others difficult. Perplexed sensory inputs causes withdrawal in varying degrees from others and the world around them. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present.
They have unusual responses to people, attachement to objects and resistance to change. Little or no interest in other children and preoccupation with certain activites/objects. In addition to this, repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking) causes inability to learn by observing and imitating.


Autism and its associated behavior have been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 500 individuals. It is four times more prevalent in boys and knows no social, racial and ethnic boundaries.

In the Philippines there are about 60,000 children affected with autism. Of this number, only less than five percent are being provided with appropriate intervention.

It is important to understand that children with autism, at whatever level of functioning, they can learn productive behavior and show many gains given appropriate intervention.


How do you tell if your child is Autistic?

WHAT TO LOOK FOR - SIGNS OF AUTISM

(Usually apparent in toddlers; watch for cluster of symptoms.)

• No Pointing by 1 year

• No babbling by 1 year; no single words by 16 months; no two-word phrases by 24 months

• Any loss of language skills at any time

• No pretend playing

• Little interest in making friends

• Repetitive body movements, such as hand flapping, rocking

• Intense tantrums

• Fixations on single objects such as a spinning fan

• Unusually strong resistance to changes in routine

• Oversensitivity to certain sounds, textures or smells
 

SIGNS OF ASPERGER'S
(Usually diagnosed at age 6 or older.)

• Difficulty making friends

•Difficulty reading or communicating through nonverbal social cues such as facial expressions

• No understanding that others may have thoughts or feelings different from his or her own

• Obsessive focus on a narrow interest, such as reciting train schedules

• Awkward motor skills

• Inflexability about routines, especially when changes occur spontaneously

• Mechanical, almost robotic patterns of speech

Even "normal" children exhibit some of these behaviors from time to time. The symptoms of Autism and Asperger's by contrast, are persistent and debilitating.

By Amy Lennard Goehner

 

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Behavioral Management for Autistic Children Foundation, Inc.
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