AUTISM
...ymptom tend to be hyperactive and they are constantly on the go. They move from one place to another for what seems to be no reason at all. Many typically insist on sameness. People with autism have a low tolerance for change in their environment. Changes to their surroundings, their daily routines could set an autistic into tantrums, or fear. Unfortunately a common trait in autism is retardation. More than eighty percent of all individuals with autism are mentally handicapped. Some do display special skills however, leading to the next sign of autism. Special skills such as memorization of long lists of numbers or names, the skill of being able to tell what day of the week a date will fall in any year, these skills can be seen in only a few autistics but is still a characteristic. One of the most important signals that a person has autism is social detachment and unresponsiveness. Many autistic children won’t smile, don’t want to be picked up or cuddled, usually don’t want to play, will often stare off into space as if they were in their own little world, are unaware of things around them, and usually have little or no concern for others. This characteristic is usually the most serious one. Their insistence in not socializing makes it very difficult for an autistic to fit in. Other symptoms may include negativism, fascination with physical objects, insensitivity to pain, impulsive behaviour, frequent crying and tantrums for no reason. Knowing what causes autism and how it is being diagnosed may help individuals understand the difficulties autistics face when trying to socialize with the rest of the world. Right now there is no known cause of autism. It has been linked however to several other diseases. It has been linked to untreated rubella, celiac disease and chemical exposures to pregnant women. Diagnosis of this disability can be a difficult task as well. There are no medical tests that can diagnose the disorder. Doctors must observe the patient to determine whether their behaviour patterns comply with those of autistic individuals. This is the only way autism is diagnosed. Many children live with autism for years not knowing it. Because of autism’s unknown cause and the difficult task of diagnosing it, parents are unable to search for the treatment that their child may need for proper socialization to take place. Unfortunately like many disorders there is yet to be as cure for autism. However there are many forms of treatment that can be used to make autistics life a little easier. “There are six goals of treatment for children with autism. Stopping the bizarre and inappropriate behaviour that prevents a child with autism from relating to and communicating with others. Increasing attention to purposeful activity span develop perceptual skills needed to work on educational tasks. Helping the child with self- care skills. Providing opportunities for the child to socialize appropriately with others. Stimulating the quantity and quality of language to increase communication skills. Training parents to help provide these educational and social experiences.”(Autism Society of America, 1999) Through specialized education and counseling these six important goals can be accomplished. Education that is very structured, very one on one can benefit an autistic tremendously. People wi...