Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism is a neurological development disorder that occurs in early childhood which leads to defective verbal and non-verbal communication. Such children may refrain from social interaction. They may also have difficulties in expressing themselves. The symptoms can be observed in first three years of age. There are 2 persons behind 10,000 people who are affected with autism. The number of males affected with autism is 3 to 4 times more than females.

Not two children show exactly same signs of autism. So there is range described for autism also called as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which categorizes the same. Let us see some major spectra below.

The first one in spectrum is called Autism. Here child fails to interact effectively with the people, lack in developing relationships, sharing thoughts, empathizing with others etc. You can isolate an autistic person from others by the typical signs such as their stereotypic movements, restricted and repeated use of words while speaking. An autistic child may look like a normal child but its behavior is different in comparison with others. Persons affected with autism may not like the changes in their daily activities and are obsessed some activities. Autism may last with the person forever.

Another spectrum is Asperger's syndrome, the name given after Hans Asperger, who described the distinctive behavioral patterns of children, in 1944. The typically observed characteristics in this syndrome are abnormal and delayed responses in the child. For example, the child may not respond immediately if you call by its name. One may need to call him/her several times. Some may also lack in language development skills. The child may carry some symptoms of autism also but are less severe than autism. The Asperger's patients are usually diagnosed in the age between 5 to 9 years. The syndrome can be cured over period of time.

The third one in the list is Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) which carries some features specified in autism but some of them are severe and others are not. These people are very close to their parents. The child especially lacks in communication and social skills. The child has limited interests.

One more important category is Rett Syndrome found only in girls characterized by developmental disorders in using language and defect in using hands purposefully.

Even though autism patients behave differently, they show some great qualities. These people may have normal or very high I.Q. The cognitive skills may develop fast in such kids while lacking in language development skills. In fact, some skills they may learn faster than other children. The good thing about them is that they do not carry any lies most of the times but the problem is that they may trust on anybody around them.

There are no medicines, injections or pills available to cure autism. Some pills are available which help to decrease anxiety or depression but they are not curative measures. However, an autistic person can be helped providing different therapies, like speech therapy. Picture presentation, pointing towards the things can help such people to understand better. One may use sign language for better understanding. With the support of parents, doctors, therapists, teachers an autistic person can be live a normal life others.

Disclaimer: The article does not promote any treatment or therapy for autism. One should consult doctor before using any kind of pills. There is lot more information available than described above. The article contains only primary guidelines to help people to know about the syndrome.

Original article

The Psychiatrist and Your Child With Autism Spectrum Disorders

If you have a child with an intellectual disability such as Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, or Pervasive Development Disorder then chances are you have a psychiatrist in your life. They are responsible for putting mood altering substances into your child. Often times this is very necessary, and is done for good reason. The problem that occurs is that often times the psychiatrist is making their determination based on ten to fifteen minutes of face time. With fewer and fewer providers accepting Medicaid, it is just a fact of life that they are stretched so thin. They are the experts when it comes to pharmacology, but you are the expert when it comes to your child.

Here are a few things to remember when you are going to see the psychiatrist. The first thing that is inevitably going to happen is that they are going to talk to you rather than your child. They may talk briefly to your child, but 90% of their determination of treatment will come from what you have to say. You should be prepared for this ahead of time. Write down your concerns. Possibly in short bullet points and give it to the doctor when you walk into their office. You want these issues thought out ahead of time for two reasons. The first is that you want plenty of time to think about these before you get into the office. You don't want to say "Oh he seems agitated lately", only to think about it later and realize he hasn't been sleeping well. He could be agitated because he hasn't been sleeping. The doctor may prescribe a med to control the agitation, that doesn't address the sleeping. You want the time to think thing through. The second reason is that you want all of your concerns addressed. If you hand the doctor a short concise bullet pointed note, then you have a much better chance of succeeding in this. Don't make it long and drawn out. Remember the psychiatrist is well intentioned and wants the best for your child, but is limited on time.

The last thing you should do before you leave the psychiatrist's office is ask them how they would prefer you communicate with them in between visits. I have found that a lot of doctors would appreciate a short email from time to time. Emphasis on the word short. The psychiatrist is a part of your child's team, but they are often the outsider. Find out from them how, and how much they would like to be informed on your child.

These tips will take you a long way when it comes to your visits with the psychiatrist. Everyone wants whats best for your child, you just have to assert a little. To ensure that your child gets the best care possible.

More information and resources about Autism Spectrum Disorders can be found at my website http://www.autismspectrumresources.blogspot.com/.

Original article

My Child Has Been Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - What Do I Do Now?

Once your child has been diagnosed with ASD, begin researching best practices for effective learning. Autism is a lifelong disability, however, research indicates early intervention using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) can make significant changes in your child's ability to learn and meet his or her potential. ABA therapy is one of many programs available however, when researching different programs, talk to other parents who have gone through the program, examine data, and research the professionals in the program's credentials as a therapist. Be cautious of programs offering "cures" or "recovery" as autism is a lifelong challenge and effective means to prevent or cure autism do not exist at this time.

Although most public schools do not offer the intense ABA therapy needed for a child diagnosed with autism, there are many private agencies or professionals that can help develop an appropriate program to meet your child's individual needs. The most important step for a parent is to make sure the professional you choose is licensed by the state in which you live and or is a board certified behavior analyst with experience in working with children on the spectrum.

Programs should be individualized, use positive reinforcement strategies and increase wanted behaviors while decreasing unwanted behaviors. The philosophy of applied behavior analysis is to look at the function of a behavior. For instance, if your child screams every time you run water for a bath, then you either postpone the bath or skip the bath, the function of the screaming is to avoid a bath. By giving in and delaying or skipping the bath, the parent is then reinforcing the escape and avoidance behavior. At the same time, screaming can also mean something different when it occurs when a child wants a cookie and the parent says no. If the parent gives the child a cookie to stop the screaming, the behavior has been reinforced again, thus guaranteeing the behavior will be repeated again in the future because it worked for the child; he got what he wanted.

Parents should be involved in the development of the plan and asked what they would like to see their child learn in the process. Be thinking of what is most important to you, your child and family. Therapy should be preformed 20-30 hours per week even with children as young as 3 years. Early intervention and intensity are keys to success with someone diagnosed with ASD.

Kerri Duncan has been supporting families with children diagnosed with autism. She aims to increase awareness and educate those involved in the lives of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you need more information and support, click here to see how she can help you and your child reach a brighter tomorrow.

For more information contact Kerri Duncan, Ed.D., BCaBA at 417.860.7640 or at http://www.facebook.com/hart4autism

Original article

What Are Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?

ASD is a group of developmental disabilities that greatly affect a person's social, communication and behavioral abilities that a person typically deals with throughout their lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate the rate of autism occurrence is 1 in 100 children in the United States. This high number of occurrences makes ASD more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. There is not a blood test or x-ray that can detect autism. It is generally diagnosed through observation in the areas listed below. Autism has a wide range of symptoms and looks differently with each child, but typically includes difficulty in one or more areas each category listed:

COMMUNICATION:

* Poor or limited eye contact

* Limited language skills, both receptive and expressive, verbal and nonverbal.

* Repetition or echoing of phrases in place of normal language usage

* Loss of language skills as a toddler

* Lack of reciprocate language skills when language is present

SOCIAL SKILLS:

* Lack of shared attention with others

* Inability to play with other children, parallel play may exist.

* Not showing an interest in other people, sometimes even significant others such as parents.

* Not able to understand and learn social cues most children pick up on naturally.

BEHAVIOR:

* Unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, feel or sound.

* Little or no fear of common things.

* Unusual or unrealistic fears.

* Craving physical contact or avoiding physical contact.

* Restricted or limited interests; repetitive patterns of behavior.

* Difficulty with changes in routine.

* Insistence on things being done the same way.

* Using behavior as a means to communicate needs.

* Using people as objects to get things done.

ASD is a complicated disorder and affects 1 in 100 children according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). It affects boys 4:1 when compared to girls. Most children are diagnosed as young as age 3 by a pediatrician, neurologist or developmental specialist. Some children will show signs of autism but not be diagnosed. The key is know what to look for and be sure all areas listed above have at least one or more characteristic observable in a child. If as a parent you feel certain that something is going on with your child and the doctors won't listen, or feel you are being over protecting, get a second opinion by someone trained in autism. Most of the time, parents are generally accurate in their assessment of their child. After all, a parent knows their child better than anyone else.

Kerri Duncan has been supporting families with children diagnosed with autism. She aims to increase awareness and educate those involved in the lives of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you need more information and support, click here to see how she can help you and your child reach a brighter tomorrow.

For more information on ASD, contact Kerri Duncan, Ed.D., BCaBA 417.860.7640 or go to http://www.facebook.com/hart4autism.

Original article

Autism Spectrum - Know The Facts

Autism is a developmental disorder that can affect the way that the individual communicates as well as socializes. In addition, there are also language skills as well as motor skills involved. A child with autism spectrum may have high IQ's or they may be mentally disabled. People with autism can be very talkative or they may be silent, very affectionate or completely distant, very organized or very disorganized. There are so many autism spectrum disorders and a wide variety of symptoms accompany them too.

Because parents are more aware of autism spectrum who is more at risk of developing autism? Boys are more at risk for developing autism than girls are. If a child has a twin, chances are the other twin will also develop some degree of autism spectrum.

There are many different symptoms of autism and they each react differently on every individual. While two people may have the same symptoms, they will not have the same degree of symptoms. People are not able to predict how mild or severe autism symptoms will be.

Autism is usually discovered around the age of two but it can have an impact on a child as early as infancy. When a child doesn't develop through the age appropriate milestones like they should this may be an indication that something is not completely right and must be checked out by the doctor. Developmental milestones are simply a way that doctors and health care professionals along with parents can determine if their child is on the right track. If by the age of two a child is not talking or doesn't socialize properly then you may want to have him or her tested to see if they do have autism.

When a child suffers from autism spectrum disorders there are various social skills that may make up the severity of the disease. A person with autism may become completely withdrawn in a crowd while others may feel intimidated by large crowds but function fine in a classroom setting. Most autistic children will not make any eye contact while others can make eye contact to a teacher or parent but not to strangers.

Autism is misunderstood and can be passed off as behavioral problems however when it is diagnosed it can be something that can improve with time. Be patient, learn what you can, and love the person with autism even if you think they don't want love; they need it.

Your child's doctor will know what to look for and can test your child to see if autism is a factor or not. If your child has autism then he or she can begin treatment immediately and can learn to live with this condition. It is also important that the family learn to live with autism just the same. There are many times that family feels at fault for the condition however this does not help the child. It is only beneficial to work with the child and the rest of the family to create a stable home environment where the child can feel safe.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

At What Age Does Autism Spectrum Disorder Begin?

Autism spectrum disorder can be complicated to diagnose because there are no set symptoms that everyone can look for. It varies from child to child and so does the severity. Each disorder has a range of symptoms that sometimes can imitate more than one condition. However, with a parent's awareness and a doctor's diagnosis, a child's autism spectrum disorder can be diagnosed and progress made.

Signs that Autism spectrum disorder should be suspected

If by the age of twelve months your child is not making cooing sounds or babbling like babies do by this age, you may want to mention it to your Pediatrician. Your child should be gesturing at the age of twelve months; pointing, waving hello or good-bye, grasping at toys or a bottle. When your child doesn't do any of these then you may want to talk to your Pediatrician by the time the child is twelve months old. By the age of sixteen months, a child should be able to say their first word.

This is a single word that is plain, simple, and easy to interpret however if your child does not say the word by this age then you may also want to mention it to your child's doctor to make him aware of it. He or she may want to send your child to a speech therapist to determine if there is something else causing the interruption in speech or if your child could possibly have the autism spectrum disorder. By the age of two, your child should be saying two-word phrases without assistance or without mimicking you. If your child has started talking but suddenly stops saying anything or suddenly has a change in their social skills no matter what age, then you need to mention that to your doctor.

So a child can begin developing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder as early as twelve months of age but the most common is around sixteen to eighteen months when you are sure that the developmental milestones are not being reached. Your child may not make eye contact with you by this age, may have trouble pretending to play, cannot imitate you, has delayed communication skills, cannot point to people, objects, or animals to have you look at what they see, or cannot show attention to anything.

By the age of three, autism spectrum disorder symptoms are easy to recognize and should be treated as quickly as possible to help the child understand and learn to live with the symptoms too. They will need support from their parents, siblings, family members, caregivers, teachers, friends, neighbors, and more. Autism spectrum disorders can control how the day goes for everyone in the house so its important to seek help as soon as you find out whether your child has it or not. If your child is suffering from autism, you need to team up with other parents who may have children who are dealing with autism as well.

When you notice that your child is not reaching developmental milestones then you need to make your doctor aware even if he or she does not think that anything is wrong. Keep a watchful eye on your child and when it is time for the next developmental milestone to be crossed he or she may catch up and make it however if they do not then your doctor needs to listen to your concerns because you are the one taking care of your child and you are his or her advocate.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

What Are Autism Spectrum Disorders?

The term Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) refers to the range that experts put people in, based on the various autistic traits that they have. The "low end" of the spectrum includes all of the major characteristics of Autism. Meanwhile, the "high end" of ASD includes fully-socialized people whose behavior is nearly entirely "normal."

While there are several symptoms of ASD, here are some of the most common ones:

1. Communicative Impairment

a. Difficulty comprehending the meaning of figures of speech

People with Autism often have difficulty understanding the implied meaning of various figures of speech. These include:

antithesescolloquialismshumorhyperboleidiomsmetaphorsparadoxessarcasmslang

This is due to the abstract nature of such language functions. The verbal communication of people with Autism tends to be quite literal. To them, the words that they say only have literal meaning. However, the good news is that people with Autism can often be taught the meaning of different figures of speech. This will improve their overall communication skills with other people.

b. Inability to comprehend non-verbal communication

Children with ASD often don't naturally develop the ability to communication by using non-verbal communication. That can significantly impact a person's overall communication skills, since non-verbal communication comprises up to about three-fourths of a person's total communication. People with ASD often avoid eye contact when talking with someone. Sometimes they are unable to perform gestures such as pointing at an object or event. Vocal outbursts often result due a person with ASD becoming frustrated about his or her inability to communicate by using non-verbal communication effectively.

c. Repetition of phrases or sentences

People with Autism often make statements whose meaning and context seem incorrect. This can be due to various causes, such as simply hearing a certain word, phrase, or sentence. It can also result from various sources, such as people, commercials, or TV programs.

2. Imaginative Impairment

a. use of poetic conversation

This involves the expression of strong feelings and thoughts, and sometimes involves rhyme and rhythm.

b. intense focus

This typically involves intense focus on certain things and certain activities.

c. strict adherence to a routine

These routines aren't just ordinary day-to-day schedules, but instead tend to involve rituals and compulsions that can seem absolutely necessary to people with ASD.

d. inability to think abstractly

Just as people with Autism often have difficulty with figures of speech, so they also often have difficulty with the ability to think abstractly. As a result, instruction about abstract concepts is typically done by using concrete visuals.

e. excessive attention to details

Those people with ASD often show a keen sense of attention to detail. This can provide pros and cons in their day-to-day lives. However, it's important to note that it also can be an asset in the job market, where the skill is an extremely valued one.

3. Social Impairment

a. inability to notice tricks and scams

b. indifference or failure to make friends

c. lack of empathy

d. awkwardness

e. avoidance of eye contact

f. awkward social interactions

Get more information about non-invasive, Denver alternative autism treatments at the Life Vessel of the Rockies.

Original article

Coping With Autism Spectrum Disorder Meltdowns and Behaviours

What is an Autism Related Meltdown?
A child with Autism can be very prone to meltdowns in public and unfamiliar places. Meltdowns can be described as a tantrum or fit of rage as the child may be confused or stressed due over loaded sensory inputs or an unfamiliar place and situation.

An Autistic or ASD meltdown can be difficult to control and can be a very emotional trauma for both the ASD child / person and the carer. It can also put the ASD child / person and carer in danger of personal injury purely from a reaction to a situation, event or even emotional vibes.

To add to the drama of a meltdown in public places there is always the onlookers and concerned individuals. It is only human nature to be concerned if a child / person is acting in a manner which may be perceived as if the person is in danger or in trouble. It would be a sad world if this wasn't the case, as in a recent event in China where a small child was hit by a vehicle and ignored on the street by passers by.

I recall when Isybee was just 3 or 4 years old, one of the first outings we had in a busy shopping center, the surroundings, lights, noise and crowd was too much for her to handle and she had a meltdown. For passers by it would have seemed as if we were trying to harm her or kidnap her, people were trying to intervene and looked upset and concerned, we felt like we had to try and explain that our daughter was Autistic, however at the time your focus is on calming the child. Some even went as far as commenting on what terrible parents we were. We ignored them however it still affects you.

Coping with an Awkward Situation
So how do you go about coping with these sort of situations? Everyone would have their own way of dealing with such an event, and you have to quickly learn to not let others perceptions bother you. You could try and avoid outings, social gatherings or anywhere where there might be a chance of the ASD child having a meltdown, however at some stage you will have no choice and at some stage you will need to accustom the child with Autism to everyday living situations and slowly modify their behavior by making them feel comfortable and understanding what is going on around them.

One clever way we found to handle onlookers and concerned citizens when a meltdown or perceived disruptive behavior occurs by your miss-understood child with Autism, is to hand out an Autism Awareness card that gives in brief, an explanation of why the child is in this state. It can be a very effective way of communicating without having to go into verbal explanations and allows you to focus and deal with the task at hand - calming your child!

Print Your Own Autism Awareness Cards
We made up the Autism Awareness cards into a template which can be printed out into business card style and size cards. These can be printed out directly by any home Ink Jet or Laser printer using the IJ39 Business Cards format which matches most word processor software formats. Printing sheets are available at any Office Supplies outlet. This template will print 10 business style cards per sheet. See link below.

Below is a link to the Autism Awareness Cards Template Free Download page:

http://isybeeautism.com/autism-asd-insights/coping-with-autism-spectrum-disorder-meltdowns-and-behaviours/

Hi, my name is Henry, I am Isy Bee's father

My wife and I originally started Isabella's Autism Pages and Isybee Autism web pages to help other parents in similar circumstances, and to give recognition to other people and organisations who have helped them help me.

We hope to cover a lot of ground writing articles and providing information and resources for families and persons affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Please visit our website for more information and resources:

http://isybeeautism.com/ - Autism information and resources.

Original article

Understanding the Autism Spectrum

The terminology that is oftentimes used in order to describe and diagnose disorders that are classified as pervasive developmental disorders is referred to as the Autism Spectrum. Pervasive developmental disorders include Autism, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, and Rett Syndrome. They are typically characterized by cognitive delays, communication difficulties, repetitive or stereotyped behaviors and interests and social deficits.

Despite the fact that these diagnoses have some features in common, the individuals who are afflicted with these disorders are considered as being "on the Autism Spectrum" because of the differences in severity exhibited from one individual to the next.

As we mentioned above, there are five categories of pervasive developmental disorders and are broken down as follows:

Autism - characterized by abnormal functioning or delays prior to age 3 in one or more of the following areas communication, repetitive, restrictive, and stereotyped patterns of activity, behavior, or interest and poor social interaction.

These deficits are all characterized by specific aspects and elements that are unique to each of those three areas.

Most of the developmental delays are distinguished in each child by the deviance of or lack of delays in early language development. Additionally, those individuals who have been diagnosed with autism typically do not exhibit any cognitive delays.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder - unlike the aforementioned two areas, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is usually characterized by the loss of functioning or significant regression after the first two years of development. The child afflicted with this might lose their communication skills, motor functioning, nonverbal behaviors, and certain skills that have been learned already.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified - a "sub-threshold" form of Autism because of the fact that it is characterized by milder Autism symptoms or those symptoms that exist in a single domain such as social difficulties.

Rett Syndrome - is characterized by numerous deficits that follow a period where functions appear normal after birth while only occurring in females. It is characterized by a loss of acquired language and social engagement skills, loss of expressive or meaningful hand skills, decelerated growth of the children's head and poor physical coordination

The risk of comorbidity tends to increase as the individual ages and may make things difficult for the younger adults. This makes intervention or treatment extremely challenging. Furthermore, distinguishing between Autism Spectrum disorders and other diagnoses is a challenge in itself because they will sometimes overlap the symptoms that characterize other disorders.

So, characteristics of current Autism Spectrum disorders make it difficult for the more standard types of diagnostic procedures to be done accurately. In spite of this, comorbid disorders tend to fall into the following six categories where they can be easily identified as anxiety disorders, behavior-related disorders, intellectual disabilities, medical conditions, mood disorders and sensory processing disorders.

You want to remember that the more you know regarding the Autism Spectrum, the easier it will be for you to learn how to manage your child's symptoms.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Puberty

Explaining Physical and Emotional Changes

At some stage your child within the Autism Spectrum of Disorders will reach puberty. It can be a difficult time for a child and parents of a child without a disability, and so for a child with a disability like Autism it can be all the more difficult.

How do you go about explaining to an Autistic child who has difficulty in communicating and understanding, about how and why their bodies and feelings are making such a drastic change at puberty? For girls it can be an even greater challenge as they go through major physical changes to which if they don't understand can be a very traumatic event.

Expel Myths and Fears

For some cultures and religious beliefs this can be a very difficult situation as it can be deemed taboo to talk about such subjects, however if you want you and your child to get through this unscathed it is time to put these beliefs away. As a parent or carer of a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder you have to take the approach that you have to prepare the child well in advance of the changes and attempt to make them understand or at least be prepared for what is about to come.

When you look at it in a logical way it is only something natural, it is part of who we are and even though it is considered a very personal matter you must make every attempt to make the child feel comfortable to discuss it. Even for a child without a disability this applies.

Resources and Advice

There are some disability services which can help and or guide with tips and reading material on the best methods for getting the child to understand about puberty, however they differ from state to state and country to country. However always seek out as much information as possible - don't be shy, as it is only a natural part of life, always try to see it that way.

We can speak from experience and pass on information which helped us with our daughter's "puberty blues", and thanks to her mum - Liz and her foresight and no nonsense approach it was not an issue.

Recommended Books

There are three books that we used and can recommend; here are the details:

Secret Girls' Business - by Heather Pritchard, Rose Stewart, Julie Davey and Fay Angelo.More Secret Girls' Business - by Heather Anderson, Fay Angelo and Rose Stewart.Secret Boys' Business - by Heather Pritchard, Rose Stewart, Julie Davey and Fay Angelo.The books aim to:Present a simple brief account of changes to boys and girls at puberty.Celebrate changes to the body.Dispel myths, legends and fears by presenting accurate information in a colorful, friendly format.Promote comfortable discussion.Enhance confidence and self-esteem.Provide hints for parents, teachers and carers.

These books are great for reading to the child, Liz started reading these books to Isy around two years before she was a teenager. Isy's mum also made up some social stories explaining how these changes would affect Isy and what she needed to do when it happened. We also bought some cheap pads and showed Isy how to put them on dolls and dolls underwear so she was comfortable with the idea.

Prepare Autistic Children

The end result was when the time came Isy had no surprises, it was all exactly how she had read about it, had been told about it and was prepared for. She now can look after herself in that respect so the preparation was well worth it.

For boys it's pretty much the same, possibly not as challenging as their situation requires somewhat less however the same principles apply. Preparation and understanding, so when the changes occur they are expecting them and know how to deal with them.

As we always say, with children in the Autism Spectrum of Disorders planning and preparation are the main key factors for everything. You have to give them plenty of time to soak up the information and be comfortable with the outcome.

Hi, my name is Henry, I am Isy Bee's father

My wife and I originally started Isabella's Autism Pages and Isybee Autism web pages to help other parents in similar circumstances, and to give recognition to other people and organisations who have helped them help me.

We hope to cover a lot of ground writing articles and providing information and resources for families and persons affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Please visit our website for more information and resources:

http://isybeeautism.com/ - Autism information and resources.

Original article

What Is Autism Spectrum?

There are more and more children being diagnosed for autism and disorders of autism spectrum each and every day. Autism spectrum includes Rett Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and classic autism.

Asperger Syndrome is a disorder of the autism spectrum and is considered the mildest form. While most disorders of autism show signs of developmental intelligence and verbal complications, children who suffer from Asperger Syndrome only show a problem with making eye contact with others or displaying correct body structure. Children with Asperger syndrome will also have delayed motor skills and sometimes prefer routines without any changes.

Rett's Disorder is another disorder of the Autism Spectrum. This disorder is more common in females and can decrease the development of the brain over a shot period of time. A child may start out functioning normally but may display mental retardation or a certain intellectual disorder that can affect the way they think and learn.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is another part of the autism spectrum. It is not a common condition but it does occur. At first the child will develop normally however somewhere between the ages of two and four years old, autism symptoms may begin to be noticeable. A child may decrease their social activities and lose control of their bowels and also their bladder. There is a noticeable decrease in self care tasks as well. This was a condition that was first noted in 1908 by a special educator in Vienna.

Today, there are no vaccinations that can immune a child to autism or autism spectrum. That is because no one is completely and accurately sure of how it develops. It is important that parents or caregivers who work closely with a child learn the signs of autism and autism spectrum so they can know when it may be a problem with a child. Once autism and autism spectrum is suspected, it is important that a doctor be consulted in order to properly diagnose autism.

When a condition such as autism spectrum is diagnosed it is important that everyone learn all there is to know about the condition and how they can best help the child. Things are changing for the child and will never be the same. It is important that the families realize the severity of the condition and how it can drastically change the life of everyone involved in care; mother, father, grandparents, aunts and uncles, siblings, neighbors, and child care providers or teachers.

Autism spectrum is not only a condition that affects children in childhood. As a child grows, they do not grow out of the condition they simply learn to deal with it. However it does affect them differently as they get older and try to form relationships. Symptoms may not be as severe, they may mentally be able to handle things more, and they do learn to socialize as long as they receive constant support from those who love them in order for them to feel comfortable when they are around others.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on ADHD children please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

Original article

More About Autism Spectrum Disorder

Does your child suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder? If you are not sure, you may be looking for information on this condition in order to learn more and make a more productive choice of care for your child. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a disorder in the brain that affects the child's development. Signs and symptoms may begin as early as infancy or it can be delayed until around the age of two. Autism Spectrum Disorder includes several conditions; Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Each disorder has their own characteristics but they all share a common thread - autism.

Behavior

When a child suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder, they display a variety of behavior problems. These behavioral issues can include repetitive behavior, social withdrawal, or impairments that can hinder the way they child functions everyday. They can be disturbing if others are talking in the room such as a school environment or if a parent has their child out in public. When a child is out of their normal environment such as in a shopping mall or business office, the noises in these areas could seem intense at time for the child and cause the child to act out. Usually the first instinct of that child is to run away as quickly as possible in order to find somewhere they can feel safe again.

Along with behavior disorders in Autism Spectrum Disorder includes repetitive behavior problems. Those who suffer from any type of autism will show repetitive behavior that is restricted to certain areas only.
A child who suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorders will feel more calm and comfortable in a routine that doesn't change. If a child who has established a routine suddenly has their routine changed they may react with anger, verbal problems, or may try to escape the drama completely.

Socialization

When a child socializes with other children they can sit on the floor and play toys, mimic movements, and dance and play with another child. When a child suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorders the way they socialize is completely different. A child may withdraw from a crowd, prefer to play alone, will not talk to others, become fascinated with one particular toy or part of a toy and will not let it go, share, or put it down. Socialization is important to a child's growth and development however if a child has Autism Spectrum Disorders, socialization is no longer a automatic option. A child with autism must be taught to socialize a different way; one that makes them more comfortable and will not increase the symptoms.

Communicating

When a child suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorders, they may not talk after the age of two, even if they were starting to talk. The words that they learned will not longer be a part of their vocabulary. It depends on when the autism actually begin. Again, some children will show symptoms and signs of Autism as early as infancy while others are delayed until they begin making developmental milestones.

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