If a child has Autism, does it affect his height or weight? Is a child with Autism more likely to be overweight?
Also, what type of problems of general health do people with autism? (heard one was Gaustro problems?)
And finally, how are Gross and fine motor movements affected by Autism? Symptoms of Autism
From Lisa Jo Rudy,
Your Guide to Autism.
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About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD
All Autistic People Do Not Look Alike
There's a saying in the autism field: "if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." In other words: every person on the autism spectrum is unique, and one person's set of symptoms is just that ... one person's set of symptoms! This is, in part, becaue autism is a spectrum disorder: you can be a little autistic or very autistic.
But there's more to it. There are also a wide array of problems which are relatively common among autistic people - such as seizure disorders, gastrointestinal issues, mental retardation and mental illness. At this point, no one knows why these conditions are so common among people with autism spectrum disorders. It is possible that these additional conditions are indicators of different kinds of autism, each caused by a slightly different set of circumstances.
While the conditions listed above are more common among autistic people than among the general population, they are by no means universal among people on the autism spectrum.
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In fact, there are many autistic people with no apparent mental or physical illness at all.
What Do Autistic People Have in Common?
Top Autism Myths
Top Ten Terrific Traits of Autistic People
Social and Communication Symptoms
Most of the time, autism is suspected in a child or adult because of deficits or stereotyped differences in social and communication skills. Some examples of these differences include:
Delayed or unusual speech patterns (many autistic children, for example, memorize video scripts and repeat them word for word with the precise intonation as the TV characters)
High pitched or flat intonation
Lack of slang or "kidspeak"
Difficulty understanding tone of voice and body language as a way of expressing sarcasm, humor, irony, etc.
Lack of eye contact
Inability to take another's perspective (to imagine oneself in someone else's shoes
While many autistic people have terrific language skills, there are many who have no language at all. In between are people whose verbal skills are idiosyncratic: they may be perfectly able to talk, but have a very difficult time with conversation, small talk, and slang.
Communicating with PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
Speech-Language Therapy and Autism: The Basics
Social Skills Therapy and Autism: The Basics
Book Review: Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships
Sensory and Motor Symptoms
A majority of autistic people are either hyper or hypo sensitive to light, sound, crowds and other external stimulation. Some have both hyper and hypo sensitivities. This often results in autistic people covering their ears, avoiding or reacting negatively to brightly lit areas, or - on the other hand - crashing hard into sofas and craving strong bear hugs.
While it's unusual to find an autistic person who is obviously physically disabled as a result of the disorder, most autistic people do have some level of fine and gross motor difficulty. This often manifests itself in poor handwriting, difficulty with athletic coordination, etc. As a result, when autistic people get involved with sports, it's usually in individual, endurance sports such as running and swimming.
Physical Therapy and Autism: The Basics
Occupational Therapy and Autism: The Basics
Sensory Integration Therapy
Personality Differences
While autistic people do differ from one another radically, it is fairly typical for people on the spectrum to:
Engage in repetitive behaviors and ritualized activities, ranging from lining up items to following a rigid routine,
Have one or a few passionate interests,
Have difficulty in making and keeping multiple friends,
Prefer activities that require relatively little verbal interaction.
It also seems to be the case - for as-yet-undetermined reasons - that certain interests are of particular interest to many people on the autism spectrum. For example, an enormous number of young children with ASD's are fascinated by trains (and the Thomas the Tank Engine toy), while a great many older children and adults on the spectrum are very interested in computers, science, technology, and animals.
Tips for Understanding and Managing Your Autistic Child's Behavior
Play Therapy and Autism: The Basics
Behavior Specialists and Autism: The Basics
Developmental Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders
References:
The National Autistic Society, London, England. "Do children with autism spectrum disorders have a special relationship with Thomas the Tank Engine and, if so, why?" Research undertaken by Aidan Prior Communications. February, 2002.
National Institute pf Mental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) A detailed booklet that describes symptoms, causes, and treatments, with information on getting help and coping. 2004
Greenspan, Stanley and Weider, Serena. "Engaging Autism." Da Capo Press:2006.
Updated: May 21, 2007 other then not paying attention to you even when you try to catch it. They also tend to cover one ear with their hand and cover their mouth with the other when they are over stimulated. My mother helps autistic children. I'd say no to the height, that's determined by genes, not by mental anythings. Weight, probably not. That's more environmental. Same with gastro. Those two could be possible but not in every case and it certainly isn't something to base your diagnosis of autism on.
As for gross and fine motor movements, it is possible because autism affects learning and gross and fine motor skills are learned. I've heard of children not walking until they are 4. It doesn't affect weight or height. No. They usually don't have any other problems. If they do then it is not related to the autism. Some kids have problems or are slow at learning movements. You have to give them special attention to help them catch up to their age group. I have a brother who is autisitic. He is overweight. He always has eaten a lot and it is impossible to tell him that it will make him fat. He has the vocabulary of a 14 month old. He is of normal height. He is uncoordinated and his reflexes are very slow.
He does not have seizures, but that is common with autism. In & of itself, it does not have physical symptoms.
BUT...
because of sensory issues, children may be extremely picky about foods they eat, or gorge themselves...I know 3 children with asperger's syndrome...two of them are very thin, one is obese, one is very short (like his parents), and the other two are nearly 6' and not yet 15 (thier father is tall also)
Some people with autism have found issues with gluten & caesin, and cutting both out of their diets have reduces the severity of the autism symptoms.
Sometimes, the child with autism may be clumsy, seeming to have gross motor problems, because of proprioproceptive (sp?) sensory issues...they just don't know where their body is in space....so they trip over the carpet, bump into tables & walls, etc.
With my son, he has extremely refined fine motor skills, but that's from picking at the tiniest of crumbs & bits & scraps all of his life I assume. He focuses on the little things.
They may have hygiene issues, stemming from dislike of the sensations inherent in bathing, brushing teeth, etc.
It all varies widely from person to person, and it all stems from the roots of autism, but is not directly caused by the autism. |
