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What is Autism?
Autism is the result of a neurological disorder, impacting the development of social and communication skills.
Autism knows no ethnic or social boundaries and is not affected by family income, lifestyles, or education levels. It can affect
any child. It is a life-long disability and cannot be outgrown, although some of the behaviors may be corrected over time. It
usually appears during the first 3 years of life. Current studies by the Centers for Disease Control report that 1 in every 91
children will be diagnosed with autism. People with autism have difficulty in communicating, and engaging inleisure /play activities.
The spectrum of autism is varied, affecting each individual differently. Some may have mild language delays, while others may have no
functional speech, relying on sign language or picture symbols to communicate. Social interactions with peers are a challenge. It is
a myth that a child with autism does not make eye contact, many do, they show affection, laugh and express other emotions. Autism affects
how an individual reacts to their environment due to complicated sensory systems. Peopls with autism have difficulty controlling how
they react in different situations.
Signs of Autism...
People with autism can exhibit any or all of these common "signs"
- Sensitive to sound/ordinary daily noises
- Delays in language
- May exhibit agressive/self-injurous behavior
- Resist changes in environment/daily routine
- Uses gestures or pointing instead of words
- Repeats words or phrases
- Prefers to be/play alone
- Tantrums
- May show little or no eye contact
- Enjoys spinning objects
- May be over sensitive/under sensitive to pain or touch
- Poor motor skills
- Does not respond to verbal clues, although hearing tests in normal range.
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