In 1911, Eugene Bleuler, a Swiss psychiatrist, began using the term “autism”, which stems from the Greek word “autos”, meaning “self.” Bleuler used the term to describe a group of symptoms seem in patients suffering from schizophrenia. Essentially, the term means an “isolated self” or a person excluded from social interactions. In the 1940s, researchers in the United States modified the term to describe children who experienced emotional or social problems. Thus, relinquishing the word “autism” from it's connection to schizophrenia (Hirsh 2009, pg 1).
Today autism is described as a complex developmental disability, and the term Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) is used to encompass a group of disabilities with similar features. The three categories of autism spectrum disorders are Autistic Disorder (also known as “classic autism), Asperger Syndrome, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PPD-NOS) (NICHD 2010).
SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders can usually be observed in children at eighteen months of age. They include problems with communication, social interactions, and repetitive behavior. While some have severe ASD symptoms, others only possess mild symptoms like those suffering from Asperger's Syndrome. The variations of symptoms and severity is why autism is referred to as a “spectrum” disorder (NICHD 2010).
Communication in those diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder proves to be difficult. Some children suffering from ASDs never babble or coo and remain mute throughout the duration of their lives, while others don't develop language skills until ages five to nine. The children and adults that develop language skills often use them in peculiar ways. Some cannot form meanin...
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...that autism spectrum disorders fit into the category of locus heterogeneity, meaning “a single disorder caused by mutations in genes at different chromosomal loci” (Genetics Home Reference 2011).
CHROMOSOMAL ERRORS LINKED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
In the search for a cause, researchers have indicated several genes and regions that may lead to autism spectrum disorders. Unfortunately, studies have not been able to conclusively pin-point which variations of chromosomal errors are the exact cause of ASDs. Further research into the following mutations will shed light on how genetics play a role in the development of ASDs: chromosome 15q11-q13 region, serotonin transporter gene, neuroligin genes, Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene, Reelin gene, multiple ankyrin repeat domains 3 gene, duplications of chromosome 15q11-q13, chromosome 7, and 22q11 deletion syndrome.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that effects the brains development. It is characterized by affecting communication, cognition and social interaction. The spectrum of the disorders ranges from a mild condition called Asperger’s syndrome to a more severe form, which severely impairer’s development. The Office of Communications and Public Liaison states that the disorder affects one and eighty-eight children, however ASD effects boys more frequently than girls (Office of Communications and Public Liaison, 2013). ASD emerges in all age, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. The significant varied character and severity of the disorder is why ASD is considered a spectrum that poses a broad range of symptoms.
Autism or Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex mental development disabilities. Which can be recognized by some significant defects in behavioral events, social interactions, and other mental verbal and nonverbal communication skills in different degrees.(1,2)The phrase spectrum is referred to the board range of level of disability and symptoms that occur in
Today, the term“Autism” refers to Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). ASDs are a group of severe developmental disorders that affect social development, and which cause very specific, atypical social behaviors (Hollander, xix). As noted
Autism is significantly caused in people by de novo mutation, deletions, duplications, genomic rearrangements, or point mutations in the germ line of one parent that causes loss of function or gain of function to a large number of genes. This can occur in any family with any genetic background and can appear in any offspring, regardless of gender. Offspring’s with mild disorders (asymptomatic carriers) i.e., females may marry and have children who inherit mutations in a dominant way. It is now obvious that the third-born male child is at high risk, i.e., his probability of being affected in comparison to the first two children being affected is nearly 50% with dominant transmission and high penetration. Females are at lower risk (20%) with lower incidence in females and reduced penetration in that gender. Explanation is yet to be given about disruptions on a single chromosome with incomplete penetrance that creates carrier states. [30] Females are resistant and therefore make logical carriers, but discordance between monozygotic twins suggest Autism Spectrum Disorder genotype and exi...
There are many questions as to what exactly causes autism. Prospective studies of young children (18-24 months) have highlighted the importance of social-communicative functions as early predictors of a later, more reliable diagnosis of autism (Baron-Cohen et al.,
Autism is a neurobiological disorder that causes discrepancies or differences in the way information is processed (Essential Guide to Finally Understanding Autism). The process of obtaining information affects an individual with autisms ability to do many things. For example, someone with this particular disorder may have more trouble understanding and using language to interact and communicate with people. He or she may also experience difficulty understanding and relating to people, events, and objects in the environment. Autism also affects ones ability to respond to sensory stimuli. Like other developmental disabilities, autism effects can range in the differentiations of severity.
Figure 1 shows the variants of autism spectrum disorders. In many cases children are either diagnosed with either Autism or PDD-NOS (Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified). Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 88 American children are diagnosed with autism, additionally exhibiting that autism is four to five times more prevalent among boys than girls. Regime autism statistics suggest that prevalence rates have incremented 10 to 17 percent annually in recent years. ...
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), falling under the umbrella term of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), is defined by the International Classification of Diseases, volume 10 (ICD-10) as a disorder first diagnosed in childhood by the clinical manifestation of marked impairment in communication and social interaction, and repetitive or stereotyped behaviors (“Pervasive developmental disorders,” 2010). This definition aligns with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V), currently used in the United States (American Psychological Association, 2013).
In 1943, a man by the name of Leo Kanner formally identified autism; he labeled the disorder ?autistic disturbance of affective contact? (?Autism Web? n.d.). Autism was first described in America, officially, in 1980 with the publication of DSMIII (Tanguay, Robertson, Derrick, 1980). There was much confusion, both before and after Kanner's description, regarding the continuity of autism with schizophrenia and other then-recognized forms of psychosis (Lippcott/Williams & Wilkins, 1999). Kanner noticed that autistic infants had a reverse pattern typically observed in normal infants.
There is no known single cause of autism. Researchers are investigating a number of possible theories including genetics, heredity, medical problems, problems during pregnancy or delivery, as well as environmental influences. It is widely accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in the brain structure or function. There is evidence from neuropathological studies that autism has its origins in abnormal brain development early in prenatal life which continues postnatally, showing acceleration in brain growth measured by head circumference (Zwaigenbaum, L., Bryson, S., Rogers, T., Roberts, W., Brian, J., & Szatmari, P., 2005). The disorder also seems to have a genetic basis, although researchers have yet to find the specific genes that link to the onset of autism. There could be a cluster of genes that have somehow interfered with normal brain development and function. Studies show that twins of children with autism were more likely to be autistic themselves than the regular population, demonstrating there is a heredity lin...
Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain development. The Autism spectrum is vast and varies in degree of severity from person to person. The challenges that come with Autism Disorder include difficulty in social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism has been a diagnosable disorder since 1951. Treatment options have changed since the first diagnosis. Available treatment today has advanced over the sixty-three year span and has become the best possible form of treatment available for Autism.
Autism can also fall under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which means it encompasses a set of characteristic that range in severity of presentation (Boyd & Shaw, 2010). Another definition that brings understanding to this disease for Autism Spectrum disorder “is a serious neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. That includes restricted, repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities” (Mayo Clinic).
Problems with speech and language are one of the defining characteristics of the Autism Disorders. The difficulties that autistics have with speech and language are heterogenous and probably have a number of different causes even in the same individuals. The expressions of normal human speech requires the intent to communicate something. It requires the other individual understands a situation and how they are going to react to what is being communicated.
I know autism when I see it. For those not familiar with autism, Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, defines autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees (hence, a “Spectrum” that includes both low- and high-functioning individuals), by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors.
Autism is a disorder characterized by significant problems in communication and social functioning. Autism is actually called Autism Spectrum Disorder and encompasses a broad range disabilities such as Asperger syndrome, Rett’s Syndrome, and Pervavasive Development Disorder (Dunlap & Fox, n.d.). There are also varying degrees of the disorder from low-functioning (no communication and no social interaction) to high-functioning (some communication and inappropriate but existent social skills.)