What is Autism?
Dworkin-McDaniel (2009) defines Autism Spectrum Disorder as a grab bag of developmental problems affecting a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. It is usually diagnosed around 2 or 3 years of age, although some signs show up earlier. Symptoms can be mild to severe.
Sousa(2001) defines Autistic Disorder as neurological problems that develop making it difficult to communicate and form relationships which runs the gamut from mild to severe.Autism affects one person in 500, four out of five of those affected are males. The prevalence of autism has probably been underestimated in the past. (Sousa, 2001).
Below is a diagram that shows the different areas of development that is affected by this disorder.
The diagnosis of autism will be made only if there is a clear evidence of poor or limited social relationships; underdeveloped communication skills and repetitive behavior, interest and activities. The diagnostic criteria also requires that these symptoms appear by the age of 3 years. Children with fewer or milder symptoms are often diagnosed as having Pervasive Developmental Disorder. A psychiatrist, psychologist and neurologist are responsible for the diagnosis of autism and the psychological evaluations involved in this process. From my experience, a child can not have a disability code for Autism during an eligibility meeting without the presence and expertise of a psychologist.
Sources:
Dworkin-McDaniel, Norine. "Is it autism?." American Baby Magazine November 2009: 35-37. Print.
Sousa, David. How the special needs brain learns. Corwin Press, Inc., 2001. 196-207. Print.
