Autism 101

AUTISM

1 in 68 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

It is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the US and is the least funded.

Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average.

Boys are nearly 5 times more likely than girls to have Autism.

Autism has no race preference, does not favor one region more than another, and knows no socioeconomic status.

Autism varies from person to person.  When you've met one person with Autism, you have met one person with Autism. You cannot assume because you know one person, that you will understand how another person views their own world.

40% of children with Autism do not speak.

25-30% of them have some words at 12-18 months and lose them.  Others might speak, but not until later in childhood.

It is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before age 3, sometimes later in life if the person is "high-functioning".

There is still no link to a cause of Autism.  Many people have different opinions including:  vaccines, chemicals in our foods, or environmental causes. My opinion is that my son was born this way.  This is the way that God made him.  He is perfect and everyone else with ASD is perfect the way that they are.

Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function.

Individuals with ASD have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication as well as leisure and play activities.  They don't respond to social cues (emotions and reading between the lines).

They often suffers from numerous additional medical conditions which may include:  allergies, Asthma, bowel disease, Epilepsy, Fragile X, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders, sensory integration disorders, sleeping disorders, immune and autoimmune disorders, neuro inflammation, gastrointestinal/digestion disorders, ADHD, OCD, PANDAS, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Tourette Syndrome.

Most people with ASD flourish with structure and routine.

They also have special interests that make each one of them unique.

Autism does not affect life expectancy, however research has shown that the mortality risk among individuals with Autism is twice as high as the general population.  That is mostly due to drowning and other accidents.

Some of the therapies that a person with ASD might utilize are:  Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Play Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Feeding Therapy, Play Therapy, Hippotherapy (equine therapy), Music Therapy, and Social Groups.

There is no cure for Autism.  With early intervention and treatment, the symptoms related to Autism can be greatly improved and in some cases, completely overcome.