Variability of Autism Symptoms
Autism symptoms can range from mild to severe and differ in intensity from symptom to symptom. Children with autism may display a wide range of symptoms, which range in severity from mild to disabling. Autism is sometimes coupled with retardation, which makes most teaching techniques ineffective. While the symptoms of autism could vary greatly from person to person, there is no one 'best' treatment which could help everyone. Because of autism's variety, its symptoms seem best understood when given descriptively and with specific examples. Moreover, signs and symptoms of Autism could vary on an individual basis for each patient. Children with Autism symptoms also vary a good deal in their mental abilities together with their communicative skills.
Severity of Symptoms
There is a range of severity in autism symptoms, and for this reason the term “autism spectrum disorders” is often used. Children with autism might have different behaviors and abilities because of the severity of their symptoms. Clinical accounts hint that that conditions resembling autism do not differ just in terms of severity, but also in pattern of symptoms. As it varies widely in its severity and symptoms, autism might go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected persons or in those with multiple handicaps. Based on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), persons with autism have normal life expectancies and can lead normal or near-normal lives, depending on the severity of their symptoms.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of autism might be difficult, because the condition varies widely in terms of its symptoms and degree of severity. The diagnosis of autism is substantiated by the occurrence or absence of a cluster of behavioral symptoms using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Just your doctor can submit a sufficient amount of diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed autism symptoms. He or she can help to determine whether the symptoms are caused by autism, a related disorder, or a different condition. The diagnosis of Autistic Disorder consists of a total of at minimum six observational items from social impairment, communication impairment and behavior impairment categories outlined (see list) with at least two from social impairment, and one each from communication impairment and behavior impairment.
Because the symptoms of autism can vary vastly from person to person, there is no one 'best' care which will help everyone. Children with autism might display mild, moderate or extensive symptoms in three areas (social, communication and behavior). A few children exhibited symptoms of autism in their first-year birthday video, for example less frequent use of words or babbling. Additional autistic children who behaved typically at age 1, appeared to regress and exhibited typical symptoms of autism by age 2.
Autism and Asperger's Syndrome
Cognitive symptoms and social symptoms need to be looked through together as central features of both autism and Asperger's syndrome. Asperger syndrome and autism are quite similar in behavioral symptoms. Asperger's syndrome is a form of autism where language and aptitude are standard and autistic symptoms present later in childhood. What distinguishes Asperger's Syndrome from autism is the severity of the symptoms and the absence of language delays.
Although autistic symptoms in children ought to lessen with age, autism is a lifetime disorder. Doctors use the term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to describe individuals with mild symptoms, severe symptoms, or symptoms that fall anywhere in between. It is not unusual for autism to be confused with other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), such as Asperger's disorder or syndrome, or to have overlapping symptoms.
Autism Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms and aspects of autism can display in a multiplicity of combinations, from mild to substantial. Some typical autism symptoms are presented and the intent is to offer a better understanding of the autistic disorder. The diagnostic list of symptoms and behaviors characteristic with autism is extended, and each affected person expresses his or her own combination of these behaviors.
These symptoms alone don't establish a diagnosis of autism, but are taken into account when evaluating children. The listing of signs and symptoms stated in various sources for autism includes those presented below. It is essential to pay attention to autism symptoms when suspecting that a child might be experiencing from the disorder. Doctors look for particular symptoms in communication and social impairments to diagnose autism.
- social interaction impairment (poor eye-to-eye gazing, lack of social reciprocity, no peer relations)
- communication impairment (can't sustain a conversation, lack of spontaneous play, delay in development of language)
- repeating/stereotyped patterns of behavior (repetitive motor habits, pre-occupation with parts of objects , preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus, repeated hand or finger flapping or twisting, complex whole body movements, preoccupation with parts of objects)
Further symptoms of autism include problems with verbal and nonverbal communication. There might be symptoms not related to autism, and this is certainly not intended to be an exhaustive list of symptoms.
Conclusion - Autism Treatment
Medications used to treat anxiety and depression are being explored as a way to relieve certain autism symptoms. Atypical neuroleptics look to be promising agents to treat behavioral symptoms often occurring among autism patients. There are multiple various medications that are prescribed to treat the symptoms of autism. It has been reported that there are no well-established medications to treat central symptoms of autism. Over the years, a variety of interventions have demonstrated promise for improving symptoms of autism in particular children. Some children in treatment programs lose enough of their most disabling autism symptoms to function reasonably well in a conventional classroom. In 1996, a young boy with autism was given secretin for an endoscopy and exhibited improvements in certain of his symptoms of autism. A few have noted the improvement of autism symptoms to treatment with vancomycin. Authorities are in agreement that early intervention is vital in addressing the symptoms characteristic of autism. Children don't "outgrow" autism but symptoms may lessen as the child develops and receives care.
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