Temple Grandin

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The Case of Temple Grandin The Case of Temple Grandin paints a picture of a young woman’s determination and hard work while struggling with autism during a time when the disorder was unknown. This case discusses Grandin’s challenges, early diagnosis, growth and development in school, and support from her mother. Temple Grandin could not speak like the other children at the age of two, so because doctors could not find any physical issues she had been subsequently labeled as brain-damaged. To communicate with others, she would throw tantrums and scream. She could speak by three and a half years old with the help of speech therapy. A few years later at the age of five, Grandin was diagnosed with autism so her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day to keep her from being placed in an institution. At her aunt’s ranch, Grandin develops the “squeeze machine” a device used to apply pressure without being stimulating. Grandin excelles in school and receives her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College in 1970. After her graduation from college in 1970, Grandin attends Arizona State University where she earns a master’s degree in cattle in 1975. In 1989, Grandin earns her doctoral degree from the University of Urbana-Champaign in animal science. Grandin has never married, but she is proof that individuals with autism can lead productive and notable lives (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Explaining and Treating Autism The dominance of recent research data points to either genetic or possibly prenatal factors as a likely explanation for the condition. Interest focuses on chromosomes, genes, blood levels, and hormones. Secretin is a hormone found to improve the language and cognitive abilities in autistic childr... ... middle of paper ... ... ago before support and treatments were available for families. To communicate she would throw tantrums and scream. By the age of three, Grandin began to speak, and her mother worked with her 30 minutes every day so that she was not institutionalized. Grandin excelled in high school and graduated from college with a degree in psychology and a PhD in cattle and animal science (Meyer, Chapman & Weaver, 2009). While biological factors have been connected to autism, no single factor is identified as a cause of this disorder. Grandin meets the criteria for autism diagnosis because as a child she had impairments in three major areas of development: social interaction, communication, and behavior, interest, or activities. Behavioral interventions are used to increase functional skills, promote the use of speech and reward appropriate behavior (Hansell & Damour, 2008).

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