EXIT 303: AUTISM

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EXIT 303 AUTISM

• Paul and Erin.
• (Just Call Us Perin)

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Autism Defined

• Physical disorder of the brain
• Causes a lifelong developmental disability
• Varies widely in abilities and behaviors

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Causes

• No single cause
• Generally accepted that its caused by
  abnormalities in brain structure or function
• Heredity, genetics, or inherited?
• Environmental?
• Diet?

In the 1990s disability rose 16 Autism rose
172 WHAT IS GOING ON?
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Symptoms

• Failure to develop normal socialization
• Disturbances in speech, language, and
  communication
• - About 40 of children with autism dont
  speak at all
• 3) Abnormal relationships to objects and events

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Symptoms Cont.

• 4) Abnormal responses to sensory stimulation
• 5) Developmental delays and differences
• 6) Begins during infancy or childhood
• - Born with autism

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RED FLAGS

• Impairment in Social Interaction
• Lack of appropriate eye gaze
• Lack of warm, joyful expressions
• Lack of sharing interest or enjoyment
• Lack of response to name
• Impairment in Communication
• Lack of showing gestures
• Lack of coordination of nonverbal communication
• Unusual prosody
• Repetitive Behaviors Restricted Interests
• Repetitive movements with objects
• Repetitive movements or posturing of body, arms,
  hands, or fingers

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Diagnosis

• Routine development screening
• AAP urging early screening for ALL children
• Physicians rely on caregivers for observational
  information
• Various medical tests

To recognize a childs risk for developmental
disorders, then, is to also recognize and
maximize a childs potential.

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Treatment

• No single cure (like there is no single cause)
• Questions about if it is even treatable
• Early diagnosis can lead to improvements
• Some believe the brain can adapt to neurological
  deficits (not scientifically proven)

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Treatment Cont.

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• DIR Method (or Floortime)
• Son-Rise
• GFCF Diet Theory that some autistics cant
  digest gluten or casein and it alters their
  behavior

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Data

• Local Resources
• - Schools
• - FACES Northwest
• - The Arc
• - University of Washington Autism Center
• - FEAT
• - Sisu Childrens fund
• Statistics
• - Occurs in 1 out of 150 children
• - If extrapolated works out to 560,000
  nationwide
• - Fastest growing developmental disability
• - 90 billion annual cost

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Savants

• Some individuals with autism have extraordinary
  abilities
• Around 10 of people with Autism have some
  special skill
• Three types of skills
• 1. Splinter skills - the most common type
• 2. Talented skills - the person has a more
  highly
• developed
• and specialized skill.
• 3. Prodigious skills - the rarest type.

http//www.you tube.com/watch?vv050lDyfQOQ
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Interview

• Set up and setting is important
• Adapt within a routine
• Lots of family communication-- just want their
  child to have a friend
• Adapt to social community, huge on independence
• Well thought of because within regular classes

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ENCORE?