Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

Diagnoses and Conditions

Joseph Lang
Florida International University

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

Table of Contents
Autism..............................................................................................................................................3
Incidence/Prevalence...................................................................................................................3
Predominant Age..........................................................................................................................3
Causes of Autism.........................................................................................................................4
Psychological Issues........................................................................................................................5
Social Issues.................................................................................................................................5
Lifestyle Issues.............................................................................................................................6
Treatment/Rehabilitation.................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................9

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

Autism
Incidence/Prevalence
As stated in an online article, Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both
general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are
characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal
communication and repetitive behaviors. (Autism Speaks Inc, 2015) Autism is a developmental
condition that typically appears in the first three years of life. Although autism is classified as an
intellectual disability forty percent of individuals with autism have average to above average
intellectual abilities. Meanwhile, the remaining population of autism are significantly declined
intellectually and are unable to live independently.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) identify 1 out of
every 68 American children as on the autism spectrum. These statistics show a ten-fold increase
in prevalence over the past forty years of study. In addition, research shows this increase is partly
explained by improved diagnoses and awareness. Further research has shown autism is five times
more common in males than females. As a result, this estimates that 1 out of every 42 boys are
autistic versus 1 out of every 189 girls being diagnosed with autism in the United States.

Predominant Age
In 1911, a Swiss physiatrist by the name of Eugen Bleuler was the first person to use the
term autism. The term autism derives from the Greek word autos which means, self and
describes conditions in which a person is removed from social interaction. In the 1940s autism
was used by researches in the United State to describe children with emotional or social issues.

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

Around the same time, a German researcher by the name of Han Asperger identified a similar
condition which is known today as Aspergers syndrome.
Until the 1960s, autism and schizophrenia were considered to be linked to each other.
After realizing they were not linked with one another researchers began to have a separate
understanding of autism in children. For over a decade research for treatments and medication
for autism included electric shock, LSD, and behavioral change techniques. Therefore, they
relied on pain and punishment which was later banned due to being inhumane.
Causes of Autism
Like other cognitive disorders, there is no one cause for autism just as there is no one
type of autism. Over the past few years scientists has identified a number of rare gene changes,
or mutations, associated with autism. However, only a small number of these are sufficient to
cause autism by themselves. On the other hand, most cases of autism, seem to be flared by a
combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early brain development.
As mentioned above, along with genetic predisposition there are a number of nongenetic
or environmental factor stresses that can further increase a childs risk of autism. Although there
is no concrete evidence the clearest evidence of these autism risk factors involve events before
and during the birth of the child. As stated in an online article, These events include advanced
parental age at time of conception (both mom and dad), maternal illness during pregnancy and
certain difficulties during birth, particularly those involving periods of oxygen deprivation to the
babys brain. (Autism Speaks Inc, 2015)
Although there is no concrete evidence as to what causes autism scientists believe woman
can reduce the risk of having a child with autism by taking prenatal vitamins containing folic

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

acid and or eating a diet rich in folic acid during the months before and after conception of the
child.

Psychological Issues
Emerging study results suggest that there are both clinical and biological links between
autism and schizophrenia. Although autism has long been recognized as a separate diagnostic
entity from schizophrenia, both disorders share clinical features. As an example, childhood-onset
schizophrenia is a rare and severe form of schizophrenia that is frequently presented with
premorbid developmental abnormalities. This developmental disorder includes deficits in
communication, social relatedness, and motor development, similar to those seen in autism
spectrum disorders.
As mentioned above, childhood-onset is the onset of psychosis before the age of 13 and is
considered a rare and severe form of schizophrenia. Studies show high rates of the disorder being
either preceded by or comorbid with autistic spectrum disorders. Retrospective studies of
children with schizophrenia reveal delays in language acquisition and visual motor coordination
during early childhood before the onset of psychotic symptoms. Further studies suggest early
developmental abnormalities of the temporal and frontal lobes as evidenced by pre-psychotic
language difficulties.

Social Issues
All children with autism have social communication problems and often times other
language disorders. These language disorders may include grammar, reading and writing, or
vocabulary. In addition, children with autism may have problems using social skills to connect
with other people and may seem to be in their own world. It may be hard for them to share a

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

common focus with another individual about the same object or event also known as joint
attention. As children they have trouble sharing toys and playing with others in their age group as
well as making and keeping friends.
As mentioned earlier, all children with autism have social communication problems. To
illustrate, they may struggle talking with others, reading or writing, and might lose words or
other skills they have used before. Hyperlexia and echolalia are two side conditions a child with
autism may encounter. Hyperlexia is the condition where someone may read something but not
understand anything they read. In addition, echolalia is when an individual constantly repeats
words just heard or words heard days or weeks earlier.

Lifestyle Issues
Like all cognitive disorders, autism is a lifelong condition; therefore, families and
children with autism may benefit from early intervention. A child diagnosed with autism affects
every member of the family in various ways. Unfortunately, parents or caregivers must place
their primary focus on helping the child which may cause stress to their marriage, work,
finances, other children, and personal responsibilities. A child with autism may have high needs
which can complicate familial relationships especially with siblings. However, parents or
caregivers can help by informing their other children about autism and potential future
complications it may bring.
An individual with autism may not express their basic wants or needs in the manner we
would expect. As a result, parents or caregivers are left playing a guessing game that can be
added stress to their already daily lives. To illustrate, is he or she crying because they are sick,
thirty, or hungry? Since both parties cannot determine the needs they are often left frustrated.

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

Now that the child is frustrated, their frustration can lead to aggressive or self-injurious
behaviors that threatens their safety and the safety of other family members such as siblings.
Moreover, families struggle with the additional challenges of getting their child to sleep
through the night or eat a wider variety of foods. Maladaptive behaviors may prevent families
from attending events together. For instance, the mother may have to stay home while the father
takes the sibling to their soccer game. Not being able to do things as a family can impact the
marital relationship. As stated in an article, Taking an individual with autism out into the
community can be a source of stress for parents. People may stare, make comments or fail to
understand any mishaps or behaviors that may occur. (Autism Society, 2015)

Treatment/Rehabilitation
Being a part of a community and feeling included is extremely important in an
individuals life. There are many communities in which people can be a part of such as work or
social communities which are centered on leisure activities or hobbies. Although anyone can be a
part of true community inclusion, the individual needs to be participating and accepted by the
other members. Becoming part of any community takes time and effort while individuals will
have to learn practices of the community and have to get accustomed to new things and others.
Moreover, members of the community will have to learn and get accustom with the new member.
Although there is no known cure for autism medications and dietary restrictions may help
control symptoms in some cases. Nonetheless, intervention should begin when the child is young
which can be done by enrolling them into preschool programs and special needs classes. In order
to begin a treatment plan an evaluation with a therapist must be done to evaluate the individuals
communication, social skill, language, and behavioral needs. As stated, Treatment may include

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

any combination of traditional speech and language approaches, augmentative and alternative
communication, and behavioral interventions. It is also important to have the child's hearing
evaluated to rule out hearing loss. (ASHA, 2015)
Recreational therapists provide recreational activities and experiences which produce
feelings of enjoyment and satisfaction giving clients opportunities to express creativity and
achieve and master new skills. Recreation can be particularly important for people with autism
since it builds on opportunities to practice social skills, physical aptitude and increase
motivation. Such activities can provide the basis for increased self-confidence for someone with
autism. Although recreational activities may seem to be only fun participation in these programs
also help improve more general skills that can be applied in settings such as school and work.
Therefore, progress can be seen not just in the program, but in other areas of life.

Running Head: Diagnoses and Conditions

References
ASHA. (2015). Austism Spectrum Disorder. Retrieved from American Speech Language
Association: http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/Autism/
Autism Society. (2015, January). Autism Society Stress. Retrieved from Autism Society:
http://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/family-issues/stress/
Autism Speaks Inc. (2015). What we Have Learned About Autism. Retrieved from Autism
Speaks: https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism