Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Katherine P. Thorneburg
Abstract
This paper explores five professional research journals and two professional books that
report on different subjects regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism refers to a range
of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and
nonverbal communication (Autism Speaks, 2016). Autism has many spectrums that include
studies have been conducted concerning increasing prevalence and proliferating theories,
sociodemographic risk factors, ASD in infants, screening for ASD in young children, and
differences between diagnostic systems and comparison between genders in relation to childhood
Autism. Scientists have discovered through research that there is no one cause of autism and no
Diagnosis
Research has shown that at age two, the diagnosis for autism is reliable. However, most
children are not diagnosed until after four years old (ASD, 2016). Currently, there is not a
medical test that can determine whether or not a child has ASD. Statistics show that one in sixty-
eight children have been identified on the autism spectrum (ASD, 2016). Studies reveal Autism
is more prevailing in males than females (Bhasin & Schendel, 2007). One study acknowledges
that at least fifty percent of the children with ASD also have mental retardation (MR). In a study
concerning an autism diagnostic interview, a comparison between genders revealed the mean
mental age (MA) of the females tended to be lower than that of the males (Pilowsky, Yirmiya,
Shulman & Dover, 1998, p. 149). The MA was assessed by using the Cattell Scales, the
Stanford-Binet, and the Wechsler Scales. Parents are often the first ones to notice abnormal
behaviors in their child, such as failing to make eye contact, not responding to their name, and
playing with unusual toys excessively. The Modified Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (MCHAT)
is a series of questions that can determine whether children should be taken to a specialist
(Dumont-Mathieu & Fein, 2005). Between the age of birth- 36 months, every child should be
screened. This includes a hearing and lead exposure test that can help determine if a child has
autism. In addition to MCHAT, other autism-specific screening tools are the Checklist for
Screening Tool for Autism in two-year olds (STAT), and Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-23
Symptoms
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observations on the current behavior of 2 to 4-year olds with autism (Wimpory, Hobson,
Williams & Nash, 2000, p. 526). The professionals recorded there were deficits in imitation,
nonverbal communication, responsiveness to others, and social and imaginative play. Research
has proven that autistic children are attached to their parents and rarely social. They have
difficulty regulating emotions, causing frequent temper outbursts and making them seem
immature (Autism Speaks, 2016). A symptom of autism can be daily seizures. The easiest
symptom to notice is difficulties in communication; a child with autism will not be able to form
complete sentences, but speak in single words. They do not express the right body language to
match how they feel or what they are saying (Fredericks, 2008, p. 23). Studies show risk factors
for ASD.
A study was performed to locate sociodemographic risk factors for autism in Atlanta
(Bhasin & Schendel, 2007, p. 668). Children with autism were identified through a population-
based surveillance program that monitors the occurrence of autism and MR. The results revealed
that high socioeconomic status (SES) families were more likely to have their child diagnosed
with ASD while children from families of lower SES were having their abnormities
characterized as cultural deprivation (Bhasin & Schendel, 2007, p. 672-673). Children with ASD
who do not receive the correct treatment can have worse symptoms than those who get
Scientists have determined a number of rare gene mutations that correlate with ASD
(Autism Speaks, 2015). These cases seem to influence early brain development and are caused
by a connection between autism gene risks and environmental factors. Maternal illness during
pregnancy, parental age during conception, difficulties in giving birth (specifically those in
which the baby is deprived of oxygen), can increase the risk of a child having autism (Autism
Speaks, 2015). Research has found that ASD clusters in families (Fredericks, 2008, p. 33).
Identical twins have a 75-percent concordance rate when fraternal twins only have a 3-percent
concordance rate. Autism can result from abnormalities in three to twenty genes and likely has
no single causal gene (Fredericks, 2008, p. 33). There are many causal theories of autism;
however, one theory is Roger’s (2008) idea that the increased prevalence of ASD is likely the
result of an increase in pregnant woman taking folate supplements (Waterhouse, 2008, p. 274).
Roger wrote that “this allowed increased fetal survival of infants, with a genetic polymorphism
that does not maintain normal folate levels, which resulted in an increase in children at risk for
p. 274). Many researchers have found causes of ASD; however, they have not concluded that
When a child is diagnosed with Autism, it becomes the primary focus of the family. This
may put stress on a marriage, finances, other siblings, and personal relationships. Most of the
income made by the parents goes towards the Autistic child’s medical expenses. Introducing
Autism to a young sibling can be difficult for them to understand. They may face challenges with
coping and understanding the disorder. Parents, siblings, and the autistic child can become
frustrated in public, such as during social events or holidays. The brain anatomy of a child with
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autism has no significant difference to children without autism. Specific mirror neuron activity in
the inferior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, angular gyrus, insula, brainstem, and
cerebellum have been founded to reduce in an autistic brain (Libero & Kana, 2017). A child with
autism is still given the same academic opportunities as any other child. The Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement mandated that every state provide all eligible children with a
free and appropriate education that meets their unique individual needs. This also guaranteed
children with disabilities, including autism, is entitled to early intervention services and special
education (APA, Individuals, 2017). Autistic people tend to learn better visually instead of
verbally. They have trouble with long sequences of instruction, therefore, short instructions are
encouraged. People with autism tend to become fixated on one thing, so by using an object a
professional can teach them math or reading (Ex: if a person is fixated on trains, use it to teach
them).
The nature of ASD can be helped with nurture provided by professionals and parents.
Nurture can influence the behaviors of individuals with ASD. The main focus for treatment for
children with ASD is therapies that involve intense one-on-one interaction and/or a specially
difference, relationship-based (DIR) approach; parents are trained to act as the primary
therapists. One behavioral approach is discrete trial training (DTT), where each skill is broken
into small parts and taught in repetitive drills. One organizational approach is treatment and
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primarily a classroom approach (Fredericks, 2008, p. 52-59). Additionally, there are numerous
clinical therapies and biomedical treatments. Many parents use the DIR approach to help their
autistic child make emotional connections with the surrounding world (Allman, 2010, p. 57).
Fredericks agrees that DIR is vital and that treating communication skills, personal interaction
skills, and creative and logical thinking skills are the key to helping autistic individuals (2008, p.
97-102). There are many autism support groups and organizations in the United States. For
example, Autism Speaks, Autism Consortium, Autism National Committee, Autism Research
Institute (ARI), and Autism Society of America (ASA) are dedicated to funding global research
One of the biggest barriers of having this disease is financial. Also, having to care for a
child with ASD is time consuming and can affect job opportunities and life styles. It costs about
$17,000 more per year to take care of an autistic child than it does a regular child. In total, it can
cost up to $60,000 a year to give the right treatment and care to a person with autism (ASD,
2016). Some families are fortunate to have financial stability, while others experience hardships.
There are organizations that help fund children’s treatments; this improves the quality of life for
There is no current cure for Autism Spectrum Disorder; however, there is research being
conducted to find a cure. Over one thousand autism researchers worldwide are looking for a cure
(Allman, 2010, p. 77). Autism Speaks is the largest autism support group and fundraising
organization in the Unites States. Autism Speaks (2017) states, “We are dedicated to funding
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global biomedical research into the caused, prevention, treatments, and cure for autism; to raising
public awareness….and to bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of this disorder.”
Glowatz (2017) discusses autism cure research and the hormone oxytocin reverses attention and
social dysfunction in rats. The rats used in the study were bred to have the same genetic
associated with a terminal deletion affecting chromosome 22 that results in the loss of function
of the SHANK3 gene. SHANK3 has also been identified in gene-linkage studies to be associated
with ASD” (Oberman, Boccuto, Cascio, Sarasua, & Kaufmann, 2015). The rats in the study
demonstrated comparable symptoms of ASD. When the researchers treated the rats with
oxytocin, a hormone our brains naturally create and release, those ASD symptoms improved. In
conclusion, many researchers are still avidly searching for the cure for autism spectrum disorder.
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