...Autism Autism The term “autism” comes from the Greek word “autos” meaning “self” and describes a person who is removed from social interaction (WebMD, 2010).The term autism was first used around 1911 by a Swiss physiatrist named Eugen Bleuler referring to symptoms of schizophrenia. The term autism was not used in the United States until the 1940s. Leo Kanner identified the key feature of “autistic aloneness” among his patients, describing their apparent reluctance to engage in social interaction with other people (Autism, Psychology of, 2005). Autism was thought to be the result of unloving mothers. Not until the 1960s and 1970s, a separate understanding of autism emerged. Dr. Bernard Rimland, father of an autistic son and founder of the Autism Research Institute, helped the medical community understand autism as a biological disorder (Autism Speaks, 2010). Early treatment during the 1960s and 1970s has included medications such as Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), electric shock, and behavior change techniques (pain and punishment). Behavior therapy and highly controlled learning environments became the primary treatments during the 1980s and 1990s. During the 1990s a concern arose that the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine contributed to the development of Autism, but a study published in 1998 that theorized there could be a link has been retracted because there is little evidence to support that theory (Mayo Clinic, 2010). Other common myths include autistic...
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...Autism is a brain development disorder that is defined by restricted and repetitive behavior, and by impaired social interaction and communication. Autism is a complicated disease having many signs and symptoms, myths, misconceptions, and different diagnoses and treatments. The environment of an autistic patient plays an important role in the treatment or therapy because it can help or impair the effectiveness of the treatment. The severity of signs and symptoms vary between individuals who suffer from autism, but there are some core signs and symptoms that all autistic people share in the areas of social interactions and relationships, a lack of interests in play and activities and nonverbal and verbal communications. Some of these signs and symptoms include gazing, certain facial expressions and posturing, failure to establish friendship, lack of interest in sharing enjoyment, interests, empathy, delay or lack of learning to talk, repetitiveness, preoccupation with certain things, need for the same routines, rocking, hand flapping, or banging of the head. Signs and symptoms of autism are almost always noticed by parents first during their child's first three years. Parents often become aware that something is wrong with their child when the child does not seem to be interested in playing certain games or being held, when their child's hearing abilities change, and when the child does not begin to talk or suddenly loses his or her ability to talk. The word autism goes...
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...Autism and children Contents Autism Defined Qualitative Impairments in Social Interaction Qualitative Impairments in Communication Restricted Repetitive and Stereotyped Behaviors, Interests, and Activities The Diagnosis of Autism Causes of Autism Treatment for Autism What research is being done? References Autism Defined Autism is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association (2000, pp. 70-71), children with autism demonstrate the three core symptoms: qualitative impairments in social interaction, qualitative impairments in communication, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interest, and activities. The symptoms vary according to the severity of the disorder. Qualitative Impairments in Social Interaction Social interaction is characterized as having problems with interacting with other people. Among the symptoms with infants is they do not exhibit any eye contact, and this is something...
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...1. Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, by rare combinations of common genetic variants or by external influences causing changes in gene expression. In some cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals, pesticides or childhood vaccines; The vaccine hypotheses are biologically rejected by some as implausible and lacking convincing scientific evidence, however in clinic practice one sees numerous exceptions to this skepticism. 2. The prevalence of autism is about 1–2 per 1,000 people; the prevalence of ASD is about 6 per 1,000, with about four times as many males as females. The number of people diagnosed with autism has increased dramatically since the 1980s, partly due to changes in diagnostic practice; the question of whether actual prevalence has increased is unresolved. 3. Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 68 births. 4. 5. Myth: Autism is a mental health disorder. Autism is a neurological disorder. Studies of the people with autism have revealed abnormalities in brain structure and neurotransmitter levels. 6. Myth: All individuals with autism have savant abilities. While there is a higher prevalence of savant abilities among those with autism, only about 10 percent of individuals with autism exhibit savant abilities...
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...Autism HCA 240 Cherie Bryant November 20th 2014 Mental illness is described as not being able to cope or manage life in an everyday situation. Autism, being one of many mental illnesses, is found in all racial and economic backgrounds. Autism happens in early childhood and is usually diagnosed around 18 months of age but can start any time before three years of age. Autism causes delays in development such as learning and interactions with others. “One in an estimated 110 children gets diagnosed with this Autism disease.” This is a disease in which currently there is no cure. Autism used to be blamed on bad parenting skills. The signs, symptoms and effects on autism can vary based on each child. Doctors and experts cannot agree on how to treat autism. Early intervention is key in making a difference with Autism. Like previously stated, this is a disease that causes delays in development such as learning to play and interact with others. There are a few red flags a person might look for before beginning an actual diagnosis. With younger children, a few of these may be avoiding eye contact or wanting to play alone. Delayed speech or language skills, can be another sign, especially not responding to their name by 12 months of age. Signs and symptoms can be mild or severe based on the child. Most symptoms are short attention span, temper tantrums, unusual eating and sleeping habits, and lack of fear. “Around forty percent of people with autism never speak...
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...stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder and can also be called Autistic Spectrum Disorder. ASD’s are any developmental disabilities that have caused brain abnormality. A person with ASD typically has difficulty with social and communication skills. A person with ASD often prefers to stick to a set of behaviors and may resist any major or minor changes to daily living. Autism Spectrum Disorder has no single cause, but both genetics and environment may play a role.Several genes seemed to be involved in ASD. Even for some some children, ASD can be associated with a genetic disorder such as Fragile X syndrome. (Fragile X syndrome is an inherited condition when the X Chromosome is abnormally susceptible to damage especially by Folic Acid Deficiency)....
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...not know the dramatic increase of children diagnosed with autism. The diagnosis comes from a wide variety of individuals, from people with severe mental disabilities to brilliant people. Autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts. ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Experts estimate that 1 out of 88 children at the age of 8 will have an ASD, but males are four times more likely to have an ASD than females. While ASD is diagnosed as a neurodevelopmental disorder, it affects the child at all levels: physiological, autonomic, motor, gastric, immunological, sensory, cognitive, executive function, language, communication, emotions, and social systems. First we are going to see the common signs of autisms. Almost all ASD children are uncooperative with social...
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...with stress from life experiences. With this model can involve a particular genetic makeup, physiology, set of cognitions, personality, or a combination of these. In infants a common disorder is autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this disorder is characterized by abnormal social and communication development, restricted interests and repetitive behavior. Individuals with autism function poorly throughout adolescents and adults, however a few seem to improve with age. No one environmental cause has been identified for this disorder to develop, researchers believe that there are multiple pathways through which autism can occur. These pathways include a variety of various environmental pollutants, toxins and viruses. Suspected causes of autism is when segments of DNA that affect neural communication have been copied too many times or too few times during cell division. This happens more often than not when the fathers are older due to the fact that in the formation of sperm, mutations and copy number variations become more common. Another theory suggested that exposure to a mercury compound (Thimerosal), this compound has formerly been used in normal childhood vaccines such as Measles, Mumps and German Measles/Rubella (MMR) This is due to the fact that children start to develop symptoms of autism during the period of time they received MMR vaccines. Despite this, Thimerosal does not appear to cause autism all by itself. But, Thimerosal has not been in vaccines since the year 2000...
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...Final Paper: Autism in Children: Conceptualizing the Complexities Genesis Cuesta The Chicago School of Professional Psychology December 13, 2012 Autism is a disorder that is becoming more and more common in our everyday society, despite a lack of everyday knowledge on this multifaceted disorder. Children are diagnosed with a range of autism disorders, fearing the consequences that come with it. In a short amount of time, the fields of medicine and psychology have advanced tremendously in their knowledge of this disorder and how it affects the development of children. In this paper, we will explore aspects of autism, from the different causes offered by researchers, common symptoms, and the latest treatments to combat this complex disorder. Overview Autism is not one disorder, but rather a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) (2011) the term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment, or disability that children with ASD can have. As indicated by Johnson and Myers, Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University first described autism in a small group of children in 1943 (as cited in Kanner, 1943). Kanner documented that they showed extreme aloofness and total indifference to other people. In 1944, Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician published an...
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...Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior Presentation Janelle Gunnels Psy/340 April 25, 2013 Ioannis Papazafiropoulos Genetics, Brain Structure, and Behavior Presentation Team B presented a presentation explaining the genetics, brain structure, and behavior of individuals suffering Bipolar illness. This paper will evaluate their presentation and explain bipolar illness, explain the neurological damage or changes to the brain as a result of the illness, and also an explanation of the behavioral or functional changes that can occur as a result of the illness. I will touch bases on the following: • A description of the suspected or known causes of the illness • A discussion of current treatments or therapies and future research for the prevention or cure of the illness • The role of genetics on the onset of the illness • The visual appeal of the presentation • The overall organization of the information presented What is Bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder is a mental illness which is also commonly known as manic-depressive illness. It is a brain disorder which causes abnormal changes in mood, energy and activity. This disorder interferes with one’s ability to handle everyday task. The symptoms and effects are extreme as this is considered a long term illness. Bipolar Disorder normally appears in an individual...
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...BACKGROUND Biological psychology, also known as behavioral neuroscience, is defined as the application of the principles of biology to the study of physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior in human and non-human animals. It usually looks in at the level of nerves, neurotransmitters, brain circuitry, and the basic biological processes that run hand in hand with the body's normal and abnormal instincts. Most of the time, experiments in this field of work involve non-human animal models such as rats, mice, and primates which contributes to evidence-based practice, which i suppose is somewhat rare in the general title of psychology. Biological psychology also has a strong history of contributing to the understanding of medical disorders including those that fall under the category of clinical psychology, and abnormal psychology. This certain field has contributed important therapeutic data on a variety of conditions such as parkinson's disease, huntington's disease, alzheimer's disease, clinical depression, schizophrenia, autism, and anxiety. CAREER INFORMATION: Studies in genetics, depth psychology, sociology, or environmental science may all contribute to a fundamental preparation of the field. Those hoping to enter the career should begin training at the undergraduate level, pursuing an associates or bachelors degree in any number of related fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, or pre med. Graduates of these programs may find...
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...Annathur.Kalingan Wednesday, April 18, 2012 W201527095 TEST.III Learning Objectives & Review of Chapters.8, 9 &10. Chapter.8. Schizophrenia Objective.1. Discuss the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, as well as the current criteria for brief psychotic disorder. What is the typical age of onset? What percent of people will develop this schizophrenia? Following is the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. i. Two (or more) of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period (or less if successfully treated): 1. Delusions 2. Hallucinations 3. Disorganized speech (e.g., frequent derailment or incoherence) 4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior. 5. Negative symptoms, (affective flattening, alogia, or avolition ii. For a significant portion of the time since the onset of the disturbance, one or more major areas of functioning such as work or school, interpersonal relations, or self-care is markedly below the level expected for the individual or achieved prior to the onset. iii. Continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months. This 6-month period must include at least 1 month of symptoms (or less if successfully treated) that meet Criterion A and may include periods of prodromal or residual symptoms. During these prodromal or residual periods, the signs of the disturbance may be manifested by only negative symptoms or two or more symptoms listed in Criterion...
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...just goes to show that every action performed is linked to the brain. If every action has something to do with the brain then it is safe to say that every malfunction also is connected to the brain. This malfunction may be anything from a chemical imbalance to the environment that we live in. Considering that there are so many factors that play a role in how our brain works numerous studies have been done to try to provide a balance to enable learning to take place. From these studies strategies can be put in place to aid or assist those with issues that would prevent or not enable them to be successful learners. Two groups that I will try to cover are those that come from a background of poverty, homelessness, hunger and those with autism/ADHD. The grade level that I will focus on is K-5. Reason is to me this is the best time to stat helping by using strategies and teaching coping skills. Poverty, Homelessness and Hunger Sad as it may seem with all the help out there poverty, homelessness and hunger is still a major cause for concern in our society. These three things play a major role when it comes to learning and cognitive development. Poverty is being poor to the point of not having enough money to take care of everyday basic needs like food, housing and clothing. It is very clear how poverty leads to homelessness and hunger. Homelessness is when one has no permanent safe place to call home. This makes it really hard...
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...paraphrases in its own words what the speaker had said to confirm or clarify of accuracy of the message. “Active listening involves listening with your head and your heart; that is, you listen to the content of the message but also the feelings behind the message. The skill of active listening involves paying attention with empathy to the listener, as opposed to distracted denying, cynical or ostrich behavior. (Hogan, 2000) Children and adults with autism, as well as those with other developmental disabilities, may have a dysfunctional sensory system. Sometimes one or more senses are either over- or under-reactive to stimulation. Such sensory problems may be the underlying reason for such behaviors as rocking, spinning, and hand-flapping. Although the receptors for the senses are located in the peripheral nervous system (which includes everything but the brain and spinal cord), it is believed that the problem stems from neurological dysfunction in the central nervous system the brain. As described by individuals with autism, sensory integration techniques, such as pressure-touch can facilitate attention and awareness, and reduce overall arousal. Temple Grandin,...
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...condition that requires lifelong treatment. Paranoid Schizophrenia is the most common type of Schizophrenia. It is when a person loses touch with reality. A person’s ability to function and think normally daily is altered more than during other types of schizophrenia. However, it includes fewer problems with concentration, memory, and/or lack of emotion. It is still a serious lifelong condition that can lead to many different complications. Doctors do not completely know what causes this disorder. Researchers have theories that it is caused by certain neural chemicals that are impaired and links have been found to abnormal regulation of the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate. Even though there is no specific known cause, there are risk factors that can increase the chances of being diagnosed with schizophrenia. The main risk factor is genetics. Other risk factors are environmental factors such as excessive stress, drug abuse, and/or abuse in general. If a mother abused drugs, was malnourished, or got a viral infection during pregnancy these things could also result in Schizophrenia in the child. There are a wide range of symptoms and secondary symptoms for Schizophrenia....
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