Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

A family was seated on the train they took every Sunday evening. The train started. But instead of going forwards from the station it shunted backward. Their son, jumped up from his seat jabbing his finger forwards, “Train go that way” he shrieked repeatedly. Fellow passengers stared, some with obvious sympathy, others were plainly irritated by the noise. This child hates change of any sort – from what he eats for breakfast to where the cutlery was stacked. Change and uncertainty can provoke massive anxiety, which can be acted out in various obsessive ways. He was diagnosed with autism at three years old. "Source" Children with autism are very different from one another. It is understandably easy to generalise those on the autism spectrum as difficult people, but what puts them in the same category is also what makes them different.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less. Signs of autism usually appear by age 2 or 3. Some associated development delays can appear even earlier, and often, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.

To better understand : A viewpoint



Another perspective
Consider another example putting yourself in the perspective of a child navigating a playground.

Walking into a playground filled with children on a weekend, you move towards the swing set, excited, since you were dreaming about this all week. You are surrounded by children, the noise and laughter is too much for your brain to process effectively. As a result, you tend to feel anxious andoverwhelmed, and your actions, owing to an impact on your cognitive functions, are panicked and unusual. You soon become the laughing stock at the playground.




These cases might have hopefully given you clearer insight about the difficulties autistic children and their families face. Some of us may have experienced similar cases of embarrasment, how much harder must it be when it is the norm in your daily life, to be a constant source of embarrasment and not being able to do things just like everyone else.
Is there a cure for ASD?

Is there a cure for ASD?

There is currently no cure for ASD. However, research shows that early intervention treatment services can improve a child’s development.2, 3 Early intervention services help children from birth to 3 years old (36 months) learn important skills. While we may not be able to do much for these children, sometimes, attempting to understand them and helping them get involved as a responsible community, may go a long way in their overall development. Here are some things we can do as a community to help those on the autism spectrum:
Here are some things we can do as a community to help those on the autism spectrum:
Resources for students with ASD
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