Kseniia Burdeina
Mrs. McCartney
SNAPS/ASD
January 5, 2015
The People Autism has, in multiple studies, been related to a multitude of organic dysfunction’s. These include everything from genetic markers to metabolic diseases. A few of these dysfunction’s, be they associated or causative, are discussed in this essay. At present, physicians can base their early diagnoses only on the emotional and physical symptoms present in nearly 82% of all autistic children. However, the term "autism" as a disease should not be used to describe one disorder characterized by a certain core deficit, but rather should be considered an umbrella term to be used to describe a variety of associated disorders. The early diagnosis of autistic disorders in infants is crucial for the success of treatment programs that have proven somewhat effective in recent years. There is no cure for autism, and no wonder drugs that are corrective of autistic behavior. Treatment therefore is directed on an emotional level which must begin in the early years of life to be successful. It has been shown that the period of psychological attachment plays a crucial role in predetermining autistic behavior. As previously discussed, the onset of infantile autism is characterized by a set of classic symptoms common to nearly all autistic children. Most often, it is not the physician who notices these symptoms, but rather the responsibility falls on the primary caregiver to recognize that something is not quite right with the infant. By relying on the perceptiveness of the non-professional, the early diagnosis of infantile autism is hindered even further. Within the first 30 months of life, the autistic infant will show emotional deficits and uncommon reactions to certain stimuli that is the mark of "classic", or "Kanner’s Autism". These symptoms can be, and most often are, easily confused with the symptoms presented by severely retarded children. From the sources cited in this essay, I have compiled a list of 20 common findings of researchers in autism that are manifested in autistic children by the age of 30 months. Once again, it is essential at this stage to be familiar with these symptoms, and to be available to the possibility that your patient or child may be autistic. The classic symptoms are summarized below. They are sub-grouped into four categories including Social, Communication, Play-Behavior, and Perception. The most prevalent and easily recognizable of these symptoms are typed in italics. Of these symptoms, the ones that arise from the Perception subgroup are the most manifest and most often reported of the symptoms.
Social Symptom’s Communication Deficit’s: Appears to be isolated from surroundings, Content with own act-ivity, Doesn’t smile when expected, Difficulty imitating movements, Difficulty in making eye contact, Late speech development, Indifferent to presence of parents in room, Doesn’t point to objects, Requires non-disruptive environment for satiety, Doesn’t comprehend language, Can’t indicate own wishes. Play Behavior Perception Deficits: Doesn’t play "like other children", Suspicion of deafness, Occupies self only when alone, Empty gaze
*Plays only with hard objects, Interested only in certain parts of certain objects, Odd-looking" gazes, Interested in objects in motion, Overexcited when tickled, Strange reactions to sound. These symptoms were present in 82% of the children diagnosed in 1991. Upon viewing the list, one has to speculate the credibility of these symptoms as true indications of infantile autism. A suspicion should arise bearing in mind the fact that of all the cases diagnosed in 1989, nearly 59% were later diagnosed as not autistic, but had other related disorders. However, of the authors from which I compiled this list, many reported their diagnoses to remain accurate in about three-quarters of all cases. As I mentioned, these symptoms are considered common to autistic children as well as severely