Hey guys...I really hope someone can help me answer a few questions (preferably if you are a parent of a child with autism, an expert on autism, or even someone who has autism themself). These are some questions I am asking several different people to put into my project.
1. How would YOU define autism?
2. Why do you think there has been an increase in the number of people diagnosed w/ autism?
3. What do you think is the best way for parents to deal with the discovery that their child has autism?
4. Do you believe someone can be cured or can fully recover from autism?
5. What do you think is the best or most effective treatment to cope with autism?
6. Do you think the way society behaves affects people with autism in any way? How SHOULD they behave?
7. Autism has become a hot topic and has been portrayed in the media. Do you think this is an accurate portrayal? If i were to show a film about autism, do you have any suggestions (any documentaries/movies)? If you guys could also give me your information (name and where you live) that would be great because I want to have a source for these answers...you can e-mail me this info at vkookiemonster@yahoo.com and i promise this is for educational purposes only--if it makes you feel better I promise to delete the e-mail right after I read it. Thank you. "1. How would YOU define autism?"
There is a manual called the DSM IV TR which is what psychiatrists and psychologists use to define autism. That is also what I use.
http://www.autism-in-the-christian-home....
"2. Why do you think there has been an increase in the number of people diagnosed w/ autism?"
Due to more physicians being aware of what AS is. The DSM III defined only "autism." The DSM IV TR defined all the spectrum disorders, which made the number of diagnoses increase by 400% minimum. As the criteria spread, so does the ability of physicians to diagnose autism.
"3. What do you think is the best way for parents to deal with the discovery that their child has autism?"
With love and joy. Autism is a gift and a blessing.
"4. Do you believe someone can be cured or can fully recover from autism?"
Nope. 137 scientists in over 50 locations worldwide mapped the autistic genome last year, proving once and for all that it is genetic in origin and has no treatment or cure.
http://communications.uwo.ca/making_head...
Canadian-led research identifies new genetic regions linked to autism
"5. What do you think is the best or most effective treatment to cope with autism?"
Love and understanding. Studies show that the more the parent tries to communicate with an autistic person on the autistic person's level, the more progress they make. The more parents try to change the autistic, the more they worsen the situation.
"6. Do you think the way society behaves affects people with autism in any way? How SHOULD they behave?"
People tend to be ignorant of what autism is and behave ignorantly toward autistics. Dan Aykroyd has Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism. He has admitted to having such. I suspect if people KNEW he had AS, they would be less inclined to treat him with respect. Same goes for Stephen Speilberg, bram Cohen, and Bill gates, all of whom are autistic.
"7. Autism has become a hot topic and has been portrayed in the media. Do you think this is an accurate portrayal? If i were to show a film about autism, do you have any suggestions (any documentaries/movies)?"
The media either portrays autistics as debilitated sub-humans, dangerous criminals, idiot savants, or lovable hug-a-bears.
The FACT is, there is a whole spectrum of autistic conditions and most of the people on it are not discernable from people who are not on the spectrum. If you were going to MAKE a movie about autistics and portray autistics in a film, I would suggest you would portary them like you would a non-autistic, and then conclude the movie by saying "Oh, by the way, every character in this movie is autistic." It would baffle everyone except autistics, who would know that your portrayal was accurate.
As it is, there is no film that I know of that has accurately portrayed an autistic to date, including Rainman. Autism is a SOCIAL disorder.
It has nothing to do with lack of intelligence.
On the contrary, AUTISTIC ones are extrememly smart.
Most people with autism do not have the luxury of explaining their needs in a way people can understand, so I have to explain for them. Most aggressive behaviors associated with autism are not meant to harm, they are frustrated attempts to be understood and an inability to 'get rid' of 'bad feelings' that are internal and cannot be 'willed or thought away.'
It may take a lot of hours and effort on your part to help your child develop skills that come to other kids intuitively. But consider that your determination, patience and commitment are teaching your child a lesson that can help him build not just social skills, but also a critical armor of self
esteem.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/ What form of Autism do you mean?
There are two main types of Autism, Low and High Functioning Autism. High Functioning Autism is otherwise known as Aspergers. Autism is a disorder that affects social skills in many different ways. I'll explain some of the usual symtoms, although not everybody with Autism will share these exact symtoms.
In severe cases somebody with Autism is unaware of their surroundings and are wrapped up inside their own world. They have to have their routine the same or else they'll break down (This is actually true for somebody with High Functioning Autism as well, but they're more prone to getting overwhelmed then to throw a temper tanturm) Much of the time they cannot speak. They seem to have no imagination and are very distant. They will stim, which is usually wringing their hands, clucking with their throat or rocking back and forth.
In milder cases, somebody with Autism usually have a fasination with words. They don't understand sarcasm and facial cues, and they seem robotic at times.
I think that the media's portayal of Autism is a bit stereotypical. I have yet to see anything about the struggles about people with High Functioning Autism like myself have to deal with.
I think that if you get early intervention, then there is a great chance of change. I was diagnosed with Low Functioning Autism when I was 18 months (and it was a really severe case), and with hard work and a lot of support, I am now in a normal high school and have straight A's. I also have many friends that don't care that I don't always get their jokes.
People with High Functioning Autism often struggle with the desire to be "normal". Try as they might, they just don't have the natural social abilities, and it is really frustrating. This can lead to depression and anxiety. People with Low Functioning Autism don't see that they're abnormal, so they can't change for society.
If you need anymore information, I would google Autism. Also e-mail me at juli608392@yahoo.com.sg if you need more of my personal experiences. Good luck! 1. An inability to socially interact
2. Because of increased knowledge - previously they were probably diagnosed as m.r.
3. Get them help immediately and join a support group
4. I think they can become functional
5. Social skills training for one
6. No, I believe it has organic causes
7. No, most movies and shows inaccurately portray autism - they usually show characters with savant abilities, when in reality, only a small number of people with autism have such abilities.
Go here for more info:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/au... Well my younger bro has autism so let me brake down the answers
1. The way I would define autism is mostly verbal and learning disability but there is different types. There can be kids who dont talk at all and have no social skills and cant learn that well. Or there can be the more social (even though they talk gibberish like my bro) but can understand what ppl are saying. But it just depends on how bad it can be.
2. I really dont know why there is a increase.
3.The best way a parent can deal with a discovery of there child of being autistic is to be ready for obsticales and just wait and see what will happen. Be strong.
4. I wish this could actually happen but I dont think autism can be cured. It is something to do mentaly with a child. Something as drastic like that cant be cured.
5. Im sorry I dont know if this is the most effective treatment but telling them whats what is a good treatment. For example:
My name is _______
or
The sky is blue
colors, shapes, people. Try to always teach them things like that. Mostly school will cover things up like that. Learning how to spell there name. Responding when talked to. Things like that are good for them to understand people around them better. Also there's types of therapy for autism to.
7. I dont think the media's portrayal of autism is accurate. My suggestions on a documentaries/movies to show the different types of autism. Ive seen in many movies the child thats potraying a autistic child and there always quiet not social and seem to sit there. Im not saying that some autistic kids are like that but there is different types, like i said before. They can still be social, they can still say words. There not all mute.
Sorry I didnt answer all. Hoped this helped you in a way. Also sorry if this has bad grammar in it lol >< 1. Disability affecting social interaction and communication.
2. Children are being diagnosed earlier before secondry diagnoses set in, eg anxiety, depression.
3. Read, read and read some more.
4. No, you can teach them coping strategies to help.
5. Still looking.
6. YES. People need to give them a bit of slack, understand that their proscessing skills are inhibited. Recognise the fact that quite often there are secondry diagnoses.
7. I don't live in the US so don't know what has been portrayed, in New Zealand it is still pretty much ignorred or treated like a dirty secret. |
