Tuesday, August 23, 2011

What Is Autism or Aspergers?

So, you find out from the doctor the dreaded diagnosis that your child has Autism, Aspergers, or one of the similar related to autism. You want to know, what does it mean to be autistic? You are very overwhelmed, very lost, and ask the question what is autism? Where do I start? Where do I find information on how to help my child get better?

This is dedicated to help parents of children with autism to find some answers. We have a daughter with autism and have been in your shoes as parents. Over the last 6 years we have tried a lot of different approaches and treatments to helping her improve.

Many have heard the word autism in the news over the last few years, but many are unfamiliar with what autism really is. Autism affects how cells and the brain communicate, and how information is organized. How this happens and what really goes wrong in people with autism is still a mystery, as there is not a pill or cure-all for autism.

Autism is a range of disorders on the autism spectrum. Think of autism as a large umbrella with smaller subcategories underneath it. Some subcategories being:

  • Asperger syndrome
  • Autism with Developmental Delay
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified
  • ADD (attention deficit disorder)
  • ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder)

The autism society and many specialist in autism report it to be a neurological disorder that occurs to varying degrees in individuals who express characteristics of the disorder. Characteristics include difficulties with verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, difficulties with everyday activities, and may demonstrate repetitive behaviors. The autism spectrum ranges from severely impaired to fully functioning.

These characteristics appear in early childhood development and are typically diagnosed on average around the age of 2 years. Parents will usually notice signs of autism in the first year or two of their child's life when things just don't seem right. Signs of autism usually develop over a period of time, and many autistic children first will have typical development which then leads to regression in many or all skill areas. Go with your gut instinct and get the help you need.

Researchers continue to investigate the potential causes of the disorder, including genetic and environmental factors. It is estimated that at least 1 out of every 110 children born today has some form of autism, and the ratio is 4 times higher in males than females.

No two people have the exact same characteristics of autism. So with that, there are several factors that will determine the extent to which an individual has autism. There will most likely be an underlying genetic predispositions. Other factors include environmental causes (such as heavy metal exposure, toxins in everyday household cleaners, pesticides, and vaccinations) to the food they eat and lack of certain nutrition that may be causing harm.

Autism Spectrum Aspergers is to help you understand the basics of what autism is. How can you help your child with autism? Click on this link to learn more about how you can help minimize some of the problems associated with Autism Spectrum Aspergers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=T._Rewerts





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