Characteristics and Statistics of Autism

So, alot of people think that autism is a bad thing to be diagnosed with and that somehow the people affected by it need to be cured. Autism is not deadly. The Autism Society of America states that "Autism is treatable. Children do not "outgrow" autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes". There is no "cure" for autism. People diagnosed with autism do not need to be cured; they need to be treated and helped. They do not need medication to lead a "normal" life (unless they cannot function without it, but that usually means there are other disorders or problems as well). The current statistics state that 1 in 150 children is autistic, or almost 1 in 94 boys. The main characteristics are:

• Lack of or delay in spoken language
• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
• Little or no eye contact
• Lack of interest in peer relationships
• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
• Persistent fixation on parts of objects
• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
• Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
• Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
• Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason; showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
• Preference to being alone; aloof manner
• Tantrums
• Difficulty in mixing with others
• Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
• Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
• Sustained odd play
• Spinning objects
• Obsessive attachment to objects
• Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
• No real fears of danger
• Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
• Uneven gross/fine motor skills
• Non-responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf, although hearing tests in normal range

I think it is important to point out that Autism is a Spectrum Disorder, so each person can be affected completely differently than someone else on the spectrum. My daughter seeks eye contact, has a very creative imagination and loves make-believe play, and is very affectionate. Also, she does not have alot of the repetitive behaviors. Some of the characteristics listed are only seen in people are more toward the severe end of the spectrum. My daughter is considered mild/moderately autistic on the spectrum.

I would also like to point out that autism is not a physical disorder. It is "a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others". It isn't like cerebral palsy or down syndrome, where there are physical symptoms. My daughter looks like all the other children at school or the playground. Nobody ever asks me if she is autistic, but I tell people everywhere we go to make them more aware of this fact.

I will begin to address treatment options in my next blog and discuss which ones I have chosen to try and my opinions and thoughts on the options I have chosen not to try.