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WHAT
IS AUTISM
Autism, the result
of an unknown neurological disorder, is a developmental disability that
typically appears during the first three years of life and is marked by
significant problems in communication, behavior, and social relatedness.
According
to the Autism Society of
America, autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental
Disorders, affecting an estimated 1 in 150 births (Centers for Disease
Control Prevention, 2007).
It is now the third
most common developmental disability. Autism is found world wide in
families of all racial, ethnic, and social backgrounds.
Historically,
children with autism were not expected to lead productive lives as
adults.
WHAT
ARE EARLY SIGNS
OF AUTISM?
*
Little or no eye contact
*
Repetitive movements (hand flapping, rocking)
*
Insistence on sameness/resistance to change
*
Inappropriate attachment to objects
*
Spins objects/sustained odd play
*
Over or under sensitivity to pain, light or sounds
*
Echolalia (repeats your words instead of responding to a question or
command)
*Severe
language deficits
*Prefers
to be alone/difficulty mixing with others
*Laughs,
cries or shows distress for no apparent reason
*Appears
deaf/unresponsive to verbal cues
*Resists
physical touch such as hugs and cuddling
*No
real fear of danger
*Uneven
fine and or gross motor skills
Individuals
with autism may exhibit many but not all of the above symptoms. This
list is not a substitute for a full scale diagnostic assessment.
Please
seek a physician's opinion if your child has one or more of the
symptoms listed above.
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