Autism

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Autism

• By
• Brad Boggs, Kelly Cowan, and Jason Strains

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What is Autism?

• Definition
• A developmental disability that impacts the
  normal development of the brain in the areas of
  social interaction and communication skills.
  (www.kylestreehouse.org)

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Types

• Autistic Disorder
• Aspergers Syndrome
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Retts Disorder

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Characteristics

• Difficulty with
• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• Eye contact
• Attention span
• Social skills
• Change in environment or schedule
• Self-maintenance skills
• Speech
• Walking

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Prevalence

• 1.5 million
• Growing at alarming rate
• Males versus Females
• Societal, racial, and ethnic factors?

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Causes

• Unknown
• Theories
• Vaccinations
• Toxins
• Pollution
• Food allergies
• Genetics

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Identification Process

• No medical test
• Screening instruments
• CARS
• CHAT
• Autism Screening Questionnaire
• Multidisciplinary Assessment Team

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Treatments

• Behavioral
• Bio-Medical

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Behavioral

• Overview
• Specific Methods
• ABA
• Music Therapy
• Play Therapy
• RDI
• Sensory Integration
• Social Stories

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Bio-Medical

• Overview
• Specific Methods
• Chelation of Mercury
• Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
• Neurofeedback
• Irlen Method
• Gluten-free diet

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Educational Considerations

• Need-based Intervention
• Social interaction
• Language development
• Adaptive behavior
• Cognitive development

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Educational Considerations

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• Structure/Routine
• Manage Challenging Behaviors
• Definition
• Tips for managing challenging behaviors

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Resources

• http//www.kylestreehouse.org
• http//www.autism-society.org
• http//www.webmd.com
• http//www.familyhopecenter.org/
• http//www.delautism.org/
• http//www.autismone.org/radio/
• http//www.thecenterforautism.org/
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
  by Mark Haddon
• Author Temple Grandin

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