Individuals With Autism example essay topic

AUTISM Autism is a life-long developmental disability that usually appears in the first three years of a child's life. It interferes with normal development of the brain, preventing individuals with this rare disorder from understanding what they hear, sense, and observe. Although this severe disability is considered a child's disability, autism is found in adults, interfering with normal social and emotional development. Anyone can acquire autism; it is put in place at birth. Boys, however, are more prone to it, as they are four times more affected. In describing the characteristics of autism, what causes autism and how it's being diagnosed, and treatment to help people with autism we will discover that the life of an autistic individual is a much more challenging one.

An autistic individual lacks the socialization skills needed to succeed in society. Much like a normal individual's characteristics, an autistic individual's characteristics can greatly vary. Characteristics of autism could include any of the following. Abnormal or severe delays in language. People suffering from autism commonly have problems speaking. Many of those who have this symptom never speak at all.

Some mumble, utter small words, but they usually cannot have civilized conversation. Some may repeat words they have heard on the television or on the radio this is known as echolalia. Whatever the case may be, this characteristic is found in most autistic's. Another characteristic is unusual movements. Many people with autism tend to repeat the same movements, for example, rocking back and fourth, twiddle their thumbs, twirl in circles and so on. Most beings with this symptom tend to be hyperactive and they are constantly on the go.

They move from one place to another for what seems to be no reason at all. Many typically insist on sameness. People with autism have a low tolerance for change in their environment. Changes to their surroundings, their daily routines could set an autistic into tantrums, or fear.

Unfortunately a common trait in autism is retardation. More than eighty percent of all individuals with autism are mentally handicapped. Some do display special skills however, leading to the next sign of autism. Special skills such as memorization of long lists of numbers or names, the skill of being able to tell what day of the week a date will fall in any year, these skills can be seen in only a few autistic's but is still a characteristic. One of the most important signals that a person has autism is social detachment and unresponsiveness. Many autistic children won't smile, don't want to be picked up or cuddled, usually don't want to play, will often stare off into space as if they were in their own little world, are unaware of things around them, and usually have little or no concern for others.

This characteristic is usually the most serious one. Their insistence in not socializing makes it very difficult for an autistic to fit in. Other symptoms may include negativism, fascination with physical objects, insensitivity to pain, impulsive behaviour, frequent crying and tantrums for no reason. Knowing what causes autism and how it is being diagnosed may help individuals understand the difficulties autistic's face when trying to socialize with the rest of the world. Right now there is no known cause of autism. It has been linked however to several other diseases.

It has been linked to untreated rubella, celiac disease and chemical exposures to pregnant women. Diagnosis of this disability can be a difficult task as well. There are no medical tests that can diagnose the disorder. Doctors must observe the patient to determine whether their behaviour patterns comply with those of autistic individuals. This is the only way autism is diagnosed. Many children live with autism for years not knowing it.

Because of autism's unknown cause and the difficult task of diagnosing it, parents are unable to search for the treatment that their child may need for proper socialization to take place. Unfortunately like many disorders there is yet to be as cure for autism. However there are many forms of treatment that can be used to make autistic's life a little easier. "There are six goals of treatment for children with autism.

Stopping the bizarre and inappropriate behaviour that prevents a child with autism from relating to and communicating with others. Increasing attention to purposeful activity span develop perceptual skills needed to work on educational tasks. Helping the child with self-care skills. Providing opportunities for the child to socialize appropriately with others. Stimulating the quantity and quality of language to increase communication skills. Training parents to help provide these educational and social experiences".

(Autism Society of America, 1999) Through specialized education and counseling these six important goals can be accomplished. Education that is very structured, very one on one can benefit an autistic tremendously. People with autism will usually require some speech therapy; they will focus on developing language and other day to day activities. Education for autistic's focuses on helping the individual learn to associate with family, peers, and friends as best they can. Counseling is usually designed for the families who have children with autism.

Dealing with autism is not easy, so counseling allows parents and other family members to better cope with the disorder. It also helps the person with autism because now the family can relate a little better to them and their world. These forms of treatment are sometimes unsatisfying because some people unfortunately cannot relate to the therapy. The medical attention that one needs if they have autism shows us that these beings have little to no social skills. Proper socialization is needed in order to succeed in the world, in order to communicate to the world, and in order to survive in the world.

These unlucky persons who handle autism everyday sometimes don't know where they are, what they " re doing, can't talk, and feel completely withdrawn from the world. Successful treatment hopefully will lead to the demise of these serious problems that autistic's face. Because of the scarcity of knowledge that medical experts have on the topic of autism it is very difficult for the people who have it to develop regularly. Some are so withdrawn from society that even educational treatment can't reach them.

There is yet to be a cure, yet to be a medical test to diagnose it, and yet to be an autistic who is truly social with the rest of the world.