What Is Autism?
B. Background of the study
Since the 1980's, we have gained a better understanding of the broad diagnostic category that includes autism and autism-like disorders. Autistic Disorder (autism) is now believed to represent only one part of a clinical spectrum or group of disorders collectively termed pervasive developmental disorders.
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurobehavioral syndrome caused by a dysfunction of the central nervous system that leads to disordered development. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,4th edition (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association (1994, pp. 70-71), the onset of symptoms in autism occurs within the first 3 years of life and includes three general categories …show more content…
Especially when they are young, children with autism have difficulty attending to topics or activities that they have not chosen. Some children with autism may be considered hyperactive and some may have significant anxiety. Some children may respond to minor changes or frustrations with aggressive outbursts, and some children, particularly those with more severe developmental delays, may have problems with self-injurious behaviors such as head-banging or self-biting.
Cognitive characteristics: Children with autism who have intelligence quotients over 100 have relative strengths in a number of cognitive areas. Even children who are higher functioning, however, have the tendency to think concretely rather than abstractly or symbolically. Some children with autism have "splinter skills," usually involving an aptitude for rote memory or calculation which far exceeds their other skills. A small group of people with autism have "savant skills" such as being able to perform complex mental calculations.
Is There More Than One Type of …show more content…
In the United States, the current criteria for diagnosing autism and other types of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) are those given in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). In New York State, only licensed physicians and licensed clinical psychologists are authorized to make the formal diagnosis of autism.
Establishing a diagnosis is usually only one part of a comprehensive assessment process for a child with possible autism. Recommendations for the appropriate assessment and diagnosis of young children with possible autism are given in Chapter III. That chapter includes specific recommendations for: (1) identification of children with possible autism, (2) establishing a diagnosis, (3) looking for associated developmental and health problems, (4) assessing the child's overall function in all developmental domains, and (5) assessing the child's family and
Since the 1980's, we have gained a better understanding of the broad diagnostic category that includes autism and autism-like disorders. Autistic Disorder (autism) is now believed to represent only one part of a clinical spectrum or group of disorders collectively termed pervasive developmental disorders.
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurobehavioral syndrome caused by a dysfunction of the central nervous system that leads to disordered development. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,4th edition (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association (1994, pp. 70-71), the onset of symptoms in autism occurs within the first 3 years of life and includes three general categories …show more content…
Especially when they are young, children with autism have difficulty attending to topics or activities that they have not chosen. Some children with autism may be considered hyperactive and some may have significant anxiety. Some children may respond to minor changes or frustrations with aggressive outbursts, and some children, particularly those with more severe developmental delays, may have problems with self-injurious behaviors such as head-banging or self-biting.
Cognitive characteristics: Children with autism who have intelligence quotients over 100 have relative strengths in a number of cognitive areas. Even children who are higher functioning, however, have the tendency to think concretely rather than abstractly or symbolically. Some children with autism have "splinter skills," usually involving an aptitude for rote memory or calculation which far exceeds their other skills. A small group of people with autism have "savant skills" such as being able to perform complex mental calculations.
Is There More Than One Type of …show more content…
In the United States, the current criteria for diagnosing autism and other types of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) are those given in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). In New York State, only licensed physicians and licensed clinical psychologists are authorized to make the formal diagnosis of autism.
Establishing a diagnosis is usually only one part of a comprehensive assessment process for a child with possible autism. Recommendations for the appropriate assessment and diagnosis of young children with possible autism are given in Chapter III. That chapter includes specific recommendations for: (1) identification of children with possible autism, (2) establishing a diagnosis, (3) looking for associated developmental and health problems, (4) assessing the child's overall function in all developmental domains, and (5) assessing the child's family and