• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• Social interaction
• Imaginative or creative play.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Introduction
My name is Casey Parker and I'm a 16 year old girl living with Aspergers. I created this blog because I wanted to help other people who are going through the same struggles that I am and to help those who are caring for someone with Autism or Aspergers. Aspergers is hotly debated, some say its an autism spectrum disorder and others say its identical to high functioning autism. I'm not going to get into that debate because thats really not helpful and not why I made this blog. Both Autism and Aspergers Syndrome are increasingly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders, in that they cause delays in typical development of a child across a broad range of areas. Asperger's syndrome is at the milder end of this spectrum. These disorders begin in early childhood and continue through to adult life. They affect three crucial areas of development, which are sometimes referred to as the triad of impairments:
Aspergers and Autism
AUTISM
Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behaviors, all starting before a child is three years old. This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) such as Asperger syndrome.
ASPERGERS SYNDROME
Asperger syndrome (also Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Asperger's, or AS) is one of several Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) also characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by restricted and stereotyped interests and activities. Aspergers syndrome is different in that there is no general delay in language or cognitive development. Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria, motor clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.
THE AUTISM SPECTRUM
Signs of Asperger's syndrome and Autism usually will appear in the first three years of a child's life, although there is no exact age for when signs of these disorders will emerge. These signs may differ between children in type and severity as well, so Autism, Asperger's syndrome and similar disorders are often seen as occurring on a spectrum.
These disorders are not intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses, or caused by poor parenting skills. Currently Asperger's and Autism cannot be diagnosed at birth through means such as blood tests or brain scans. Diagnosis occurs as delays are observed in the child's development, typically at two years of age although some researchers are arguing for earlier diagnosis.
TYPICAL INDICATORS OF AUTISM & ASPERGER'S SYNDROME
These disorders will cause delays in a child's early development, with possible early signs, or indicators, from these groups:
Social skills
Cannot carry out simple instructions
Does not maintain eye contact or smile back to others
Appears happy in their own world, with little interest in others
Delays to normal development of speech
Responding to some sounds, but not human voices
Behavior
Difficulty coping with changes to routines
Self-injuring behavior
Emotional outbursts with no apparent cause, or overly passive
Overly attached to certain objects or topics
Repetitive or ritualistic behavior such as rocking or flapping of the hands
The senses
Strong reaction to certain sounds
Will not look at objects directly
Insensitivity to pain, or extremes of temperature
Eating a very restricted range of food types
Walking on tip toes
Drawn to watching certain patterns or feeling certain textures.
Play and imagination
Will only play with certain toys, possibly in unusual ways
Prefers not to play with others
Engages in only a limited range of play
Does not engage in pretend play.
Take control today and help your loved one on the road to a brighter future
A Parents Guide to Living with Asd, Helping Parents with Kids who have Autism. Apply Kerris Real-Life-Therapy in your own familys life.
Autism Parents Guide
This is an eBook that has almost everything you ever wanted to know about Autism and Aspergers.
Learn how to deal with meltdowns and tantrums and learn ways to prevent them
Now with more kids being diagnosed with autism it affects more and more families.
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