My friends son has been diagnosed with autism. I've been thinking about it and I don't really know what it means. Is it learning difficulties or disability? Do kids grow out of it?
2006-12-10 08:53:50 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
"Autism" means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.
It varies in severity from person to person. Some function quite well while others need routines and rituals to cope with daily life. I have a cousin who is pretty severely autistic and he has a hard time interacting with people socially. He is very timid and has to have everything follow certain patterns. Have you ever seen the movie Rain Man with Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman??
2006-12-10 08:59:09 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder. It is pervasive in that it affects a child's cognitive, social, and emotional functioning. Children can vary in the severity of their symptoms.
Common symptoms are difficulty learning language, difficulty forming social attachments, a preference for being alone, an intolerance of change or novelty, obsession with certain objects, repetitive behavior such as spinning, and tantrums. Some autistic children do have exceptional talent in one area such as music or art but that is rare; it is the exception rather than he rule. (It makes for good TV and movies though.)
Children do not grow out of autism and there is no "cure" for it. The most successful treatment is behavioral modification. The sooner that is started the better.
2006-12-10 20:42:55 · answer #2 · answered by Paul P 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's more than just having a learning disablility, it is also a social disabilty ...
There are different degrees of it. Some children with autism are just a little behind their peers in school, while others cannot speak, aren't able to be potty trained, can't be touched ...
You don't grow out of it, but it can improve over time, depending on the person.
Autism varys greatly from person to person, so for someone it may be very serious and for another it may be hardly anything at all.
Some people with autism have extraordinary abilities in one specific area such as music or art, yet are completely unable to communicate with other people, or tie their shoes, for example.
2006-12-10 18:26:37 · answer #3 · answered by T'Vral 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To the person who said Autism is an embarrasment on this question, you are very wrong. You are an embarassment for being so pig ignorant and you must be very immature and ill informed. When you grow up and have children of your own maybe your child will have a disability and we will see if you still think the same way.
2006-12-10 17:08:30 · answer #4 · answered by Trifle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means that the child has learning difficulties to some degree. Most of the time it is a permanent condition so would be more a disability that an illness. Most autistics find 'our' world a frightening and confusing place and prefer to exist in their own mind.
2006-12-10 16:58:52 · answer #5 · answered by mrs_empo 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Autism is a brain disorder that starts at a young age in children and continues throughout childhood. It affects three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction, and creative or imaginative play. Symptoms are a distinct lack of awareness of the feelings of others and little or no social interaction or communications with others. Children with autism are often described as "within themselves" and may seem to avoid affection and love. Many children with autism will not talk, are self-isolating and self-stimulating. Routines are important because many children with autism cannot easily handle changes in their environment. They can be taught self-care, social skills and language skills.' sorry it is soo long i did a case study on it in science, hoped tht helped
2006-12-10 16:59:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
They are good at drawing and painting, or even poetry and music.
2006-12-10 16:57:38 · answer #7 · answered by brad4ever 2 · 0⤊ 5⤋
it means that the kid will be an embarassment in public for the rest of his life.
2 points
2006-12-10 17:02:13 · answer #8 · answered by Billy Bob SkeeterPeter 2 · 0⤊ 16⤋