My loving family, cuddly cats, Autism, Wicca, Nature, making candles, aromatherapy, relaxing, and having fun...
Picture collage of Kaden & Family:
DEFINTION OF AUTISM:
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. One should keep in mind however, that autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each individual differently and at varying degrees - this is why early diagnosis is so crucial. By learning the signs, a child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention programs.
SIGNS OF AUTISM:
People with autism also process and respond to information in unique ways. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits:
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;
Little or no eye contact;
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.