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Autism &
Autism-Like Disorders
Social Issues
How We Communicate
Attention & Self-Regulation
Flexibility
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Where to Start: A Deeper Understanding
If you've arrived at this
page, you have or know a child who has been diagnosed or
at least suggested to have a autism spectrum disorder.
Currently the numbers of children being diagnosed as
having autism, Aspergers or PDD-NOS are skyrocketing,
and many more will have the possibility informally
suggested by professionals, friends, or even family
members.
The Diagnosis is Changing
First, you should be
aware of the fact that way the diagnosis is being made
is changing. The diagnostic criteria are getting broader
(including more children), and there is a push from
professionals to make the diagnosis at earlier ages. The
rationale for this, is to have children get help
earlier, but it also means more children will acquire
this label, and the opportunity for misdiagnosis or
"overcall" will increase. To read more about the problem
of diagnosis substitution, click
here.
Beyond the
Label
From the neurological standpoint, the children referred
to us with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders
couldn't be more different. Some had problems with
visual perception, others language, and still others
auditory processing. Many had emotional attachment and
empathy with their immediate family members, but more
trouble when they connected with people outside their
immediate circle.
The greatest weakness of the existing behavioral
diagnostic categories for autism is that the behavioral
label doesn't imply anything specific. This is very
different from medical diagnoses like diabetes or
arthritis.
For this reason, formal or informal diagnoses of autism
or autism-like behaviors should be seen as a starting
point for understanding rather than a finishing point.
If someone you love has autism, then it's more important
than ever to find out more about what that really means
to him. The brain has a tremendous potential to develop
and reorganize, and studies have shown that training and
practice can profoundly affect how these children will
grow up.
On the pages at left, we will talk about social issues,
communication, attention and self-regulation, and
flexibility. These issues often overlap, but by talking
about them individually, it may give you a start about
what all this means for your child.
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