Autism spectrum disorder

By Johnson Mbabazi

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder encompassing severe deficits in social communication and language development, and associated with repetitive, stereotypic behaviours. About 1 percent of the world population has autism spectrum disorder. Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 59 births. More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder. Prevalence of autism in U.S. children increased by 119.4 percent from 2000 (1 in 150) to 2010 (1 in 68). It is estimated that as many as 1 in 150 children in the United States are affected (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Over the past 60 years, the pendulum of public and scientific opinion on the etiology of autism has swung between two extreme positions: that autism is caused by some specific genetic abnormality, spawning a search for the "autism gene", and that autism is the result of some specific environmental factor or condition, including a "lack of maternal warmth" (Kanner, 1949). People with autism have problems interacting and communicating with individuals in social situations and also have limited interests and rigid and repetitive behaviours. Autism affects children and young people in different ways, but the main signs include: problems communicating with other people, such as not saying much or sometimes not speaking at all, having an unusual way of talking, saying certain things over and over, or only talking about things they like problems showing how they feel or what they think, and problems understanding and responding to how other people show their thoughts and feelings not knowing how close they can get to other people finding it hard to make friends and play with them or preferring to be alone reacting strongly to certain smells, sounds, textures, or to any change in routine making unusual hand or body movements again and again. A child or young person with autism may find it more difficult to settle to sleep or have problems with feeding or with what they eat. Autism can be well managed with proper professional team such as doctors, family, therapist, correct assessment, getting correct diagnosis and working together as a team. More research is still needed in early diagnosis of autism in individuals with potential autistic signs and symptoms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B083XTG4H4
• ISBN13: 9798600740136
• Release Date: January 2020
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 28 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.1" x 6.0"