Unit 56
What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to other people. The range and intensity of disability varies widely, but all individuals affected by autism have difficulty with communication, learning and social skills. Autism usually manifests during the first three years of life. Impaired social interaction is the hallmark symptom. Many people affected by autism do not have even one friend. This is very stressful to them and to their families. Individuals affected by autism may also exhibit repeated body movements, unusual responses to people or attachments to objects, resistance to changes in routine, and extreme sensory sensitivity. This commonly includes severe reactions to noise and touch, may contribute to increased levels of anxiety and often means that significant levels of supervision are required. There is no definitive cause or cure, but specialized interventions can give individuals affected by autism the tools they need to lead full and productive lives.
There are many different myths surrounding autism in the world. Here, are some of the truths about it.
Autism is not rare. The latest statistics indicate one in 165 Canadians is affected by Autism, an increase of over 600% in the past ten years. What was once viewed as a rare disorder is now recognized as the most common neurological disorder affecting children.
Autism is not an emotional disturbance, but a neurodevelopmental disorder.
Parents do NOT cause autism. It's not the fault of poor parenting. However, parents DO need support to manage difficult behaviors with structure and consistency.
People do not "grow out" of autism. With early intervention and good educational programs progress may be significantly better. The autistic need to be learning, living and working in settings where there is ample opportunity to communicate and interact with others who have the skills they need.
People affected by autism range from those with a severe developmental disability to those who are intellectually gifted. In a similar way, the spectrum includes individuals who are non-verbal and can learn to use augmentative communication systems and those who are highly verbal but have difficulty using language in social situations and understanding non-verbal communication. It is very rare for someone affected by autism to demonstrate the fantastic mathematical and artistic abilities exhibited by Dustin Hoffman's character in the film "Rainman", but many people with autism have isolated skills in areas such as date calculation, statistics or rote memory. |