Life as a child with autism is challenging in more than one way, not only for the child but

for the ones around them also. An Autistic child lacks emotional clues and that creates a struggle
interacting in socially normal situations. They face being branded as an outcast which in result
causes them to shut down and hinders their social development. Autism also affects their
emotional interactions with their peers. Commonly once peers pick up on their autistic diagnosis,
the child with autism is taunted and picked on. This affects the child mentally and emotionally.
Due to the childs condition they cannot comprehend why they are being treated in that manner
and their biggest concern is how to make their treatment stop. The condition affects their ability
to interpret things as others do. With support from the ones closest to the child, children with
autism can could further their social and emotional development.

Autism
Autism is a condition that affects normal functions that comes from the brain. It's a
syndrome you are born with and is commonly detected before the age of three; it complicates
brain functions and affects the nerves system (Autism Speaks, 2015). This makes it hard for the
children to pick up on social skills, reasoning, and communication skills. This condition can also
be known as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Some children diagnosed with it arent able to
talk or interact with others in a typical environment. Treatment given to autistic children can
sometimes be set in place to help a child with a less severe version of the condition to function in
an inclusive learning environment. Inclusive learning environments also know as Least
REstrictive environment (LRE) are environments where teachers are required to teach disabled
children with children who are not disabled; these environments are created to help the child

make progress in their condition. They are designed to help the children see what it would be like
to endure the social norms that the typical child endures. Due to the fact Autistic children
struggle with adjusting to uncommon environments, inclusive environments do not work for
every child.

Autism is a serious developmental disorder that affects the ability to communicate and
interact. Autism is also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); it is a range of complex
brain development. The condition causes social impairments, communication troubles,
restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns in behavior. The condition has a large range of
complexity. Autism also known as classical autism is known as the most severe form of the
condition. There are other forms milder like Asperger Syndrome and childhood disintegrative
disorder (Autism Speaks, 2015). Pervasive developmental disorder is also a form of the
spectrum. The common signs are impaired social interaction. These signs can appear in the child
as early as infancy. Infants with the condition commonly are unresponsive or focus on one thing
intently for a long period of time. Children with the condition often times avoid eye contact and
have trouble responding to their name. Many children with autism spectrum disorders either
under react or overreact to sensory stimuli. At times they may ignore people speaking to them,
even to the point of appearing deaf. However, at other times they may be disturbed by even the
softest sounds. Sudden noises such as a ringing telephone can be upsetting, and they may
respond by covering their ears and making repetitive noises to drown out the offending sound.
Children on the autism spectrum also tend to be highly sensitive to touch and to texture. They
may cringe at a pat on the back or the feel of certain fabric against their skin, (UCLA Center for
Autism Research & Treatment,2015).

Many children with the autism have repetitive moments like, rocking back and forth, selfabusive behavior; they also have been known to start speaking later than most. The condition is
an intellectual disability; about 20% to 30% of children who suffer from ASD develop epilepsy
by their adulthood. ,There are no cure the condition things such as educational and behavioral
interventions and medication can be used as remedies for specific symptoms. In the past it has
shown that these methods bring about substantial improvement. A treatment plan must be
established designed to meet every childs specific needs. Healthcare professionals agree that
earlier the interventions, the better it is for the child. Some people with the condition usually
continue to need assistance and support throughout their life. However, many people are able to
work successfully and live independently, and in some cases they live in a supportive
environment.
The Spectrum
There are three different parts of the autism spectrum. There is Autism, Aspergers
Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. They all share some the same symptoms but
the level of severity and impact on the child varies from child to child. Aspergers syndrome is
known as the mildest form of the condition. Aspergers has also been known as high functioning
Autism. PDD-NOS is a less typical autism, only about 20% of people on the spectrum who
actually suffer from classical autism. Majority of children with it falls on the milder side of the
spectrum. Because the symptoms are so similar, its difficult to distinguish one from another,
specifically in early stages (WebMD, 2005).
Aspergers Syndrome

Aspergers Syndrome is the mildest form of autism and it happens to affect boys three
times more often than girls. Children with this syndrome are known for being obsessively
interested in an object or topic. They seek interest and learn they can all about the object or topic,
they tend to talk about it non-stop but their social skills still lack and they are often awkward and
uncoordinated. As the child frequently have normal or above average intelligence. As children
who have this condition enter adulthood they are at risk for suffering from anxiety and
depression (WebMD, 2005).
PDD
Pervasive Developmental Disorder, this diagnosis is found in most children with ASD.
This is more severe than Aspergers syndrome but not as severe as autistic disorder. The PDD
refers to conditions that involve delays in the childs development particularly their ability to
socialize with others, to communicate, and use imagination. The condition makes the child easily
confused and has a problem understanding the world that surrounds them. The condition is
typically identified in the child by the age three; this is a crucial period in the childs
development. The problem is commonly noticed when they are toddlers (WebMD, 2005).
PDD-NOS
This refers to children who have significant problems with communication and play. This
is a milder form of autism, this condition also have troubles interacting with others socially. This
is also a rare condition not commonly found (WebMD , 2005).
Retts Syndrome

This rare is associated with the syndrome called PDD. This disorder suffers with
problems with physical development. Patients suffer with loss of many motor or movement
skills; like working with their hands, they often have poor coordination. The condition has been
linked to a defect in the X chromosome so it almost always affects girls (WebMD, 2005).
Emotional Effects
Children with autism spectrum disorders may have difficulty gaining control of their
emotions or expressing their emotions appropriately. Children with the condition have been
known to have dramatic outbursts for no apparent reason at all. Children with autism when
stressed can show disruptive or even aggressive behavior. Health professors also says autistic
kids may be unfazed by real dangers like moving vehicles or heights, yet be terrified of harmless
objects such as a stuffed animal (Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D, 2015).
Social Effects
Social interactions are always difficulty for children with Autism. They commonly
exhibit unusual body language or show lack of interest. Its not common for them to approach
other individuals or pursue social interactions they are detached individuals who prefer to be
alone. They have difficulties understanding others emotions, reactions, or nonverbal clues. They
also have a hard time making friends with others their age and are resistant to touch. Children
with autism have a low rate of social initiation with responding to their peers. They have little
nonverbal communication and pay less attention to others emotional displays. These children
also lack emotions; their condition hinders them from appealing to emotions and understanding
emotions (Melinda Smith, M.A., Jeanne Segal, Ph.D, 2015).
Solutions

A treatment method or an educational method that will work for one child may not work
for another child. The one common denominator for all of the young children is that early
intervention does work and it seems to improve the prognosis, (Grandi, 2015). There are a few
different methods to treating the condition Autism; there are a series of different interventions
offered, medicine, pets, training, teaching, and analysis. The American Academy of Pediatrics
(AAP) recommends behavioral training and management. Behavioral training and management
uses positive reinforcement, self-help, and social skill training to help the childs behavior and
communication development. There are plenty different methods for treatment which includes
Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related
communication Handicapped Child (TEACCH), and sensory integration. There are a few
different methods of treatments for the condition: Specialized therapies, Speech, occupational
and physical therapy, therapies are important components of managing autism.
Treatment
Speech therapy can help a child with autism improve their language and social skills. The
therapy can help the child learn to communicate more effectively. Learning these skills can cause
the childs confidence to grow and can improve the childs social development. Occupational and
physical therapy can help improve the childs motor skills. It also helps the child to learn how to
process information from their five senses (sight, sound, hear, taste, and smell). Medicine
treatment is offered for children commonly for their behavioral problems caused by their
condition. The child is also offered interventions as treatment.
Interventions

A child with Autism needs consistency therefore, what is being taught at school should be
enforced at home as well. The only way the child can actually grasp and learn from what is being
taught in the inclusive learning environment is if home life and school life work together to
reinforce the lessons thats trying to be taught to the children or child. These interventions are set
in place to ensure the consistency needed in the childs life. There are several different
interventions offered to the child, such as: ABA, Early Start Denver Model, Floortime, Pivotal
Response Therapy, and Verbal Behavior.
Applied Behavior Analysis also known as ABA is a behavior analysis that focus on the
principles that explain how learning as an autistic child takes place. Positive reinforcement is one
such principle. It emphasizes on when a behavior is followed by some sort of reward, the
behavior is more likely to be repeated. From plenty of research the field of behavior analysis has
developed many methods to increase positive behavior and decrease the kind that may cause
harm or interfere with learning. Applied Behavior analysis is put in place to bring meaningful
and positive change in behavior. These methods can be used in structured scenarios like inclusive
learning environments and also in the day to day life. Some ABA therapy sessions involve oneon-one interaction between the behavior analyst and the participant. Group instruction can
likewise prove useful, (2015, Autism Speaks).
As mentioned, behavior analysts began working with young children with autism and
related disorders in the 1960s. Early techniques often involved adults directing most of the
instruction. Some allowed the child to take the lead. Since that time, a wide variety of ABA
techniques have been developed for building useful skills in learners with autism from toddlers
through adulthood, (2015, Autism Speaks).

Early Start Denver Model (ESD) is a comprehensive behavioral early intervention

approach for children with autism, [between] ages 12 to 48 months, (2015, Autism Speaks).
The program holds a developmental curriculum that works on the skills that are needed to be
taught at any given time and a set of teaching procedures used to deliver this content. This
method does not have specific setting and can be enforced in any therapy or at home. The Early
Start Denver Model has only been validated in a randomized clinical trial for use with children
with autism as young as 18 months of age. It was found to be effective for children with autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) across a wide range of learning styles and abilities. Children with more
significant learning challenges were found to benefit from the program as much as children
without such learning challenges, (2015, Autism Speaks).
Floor time comes from another therapy used called Developmental Individual- difference
Relationship-based model. Floor time is built off adults being able to help the children expand
their circles of communication by meeting them at their developmental level and building on
their strengths. The technique challenges the children with the condition to push themselves to
their full potential. It helps them go beyond their diagnosis and establish their self as a person.
The technique pushes parents to engage on their childs level by getting on the floor and playing
with them, this can be combine with other treatments also. This method touches on the
development of the child emotional and social from the fact that it helps the child to improve
their relationship building skills.