Mental Health Basics



Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders)

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What are Autism <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm#intro>
Spectrum Disorders?


Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), also known as Pervasive Developmental
Disorders (PDDs), cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking,
feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others. These disorders
are usually first diagnosed in early childhood and range from a severe
form, called autistic disorder, through pervasive development disorder
not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a much milder form, Asperger
syndrome. They also include two rare disorders, Rett syndrome and
childhood disintegrative disorder.

Signs <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm#symptoms> & Symptoms


Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their
child. In some cases, the baby seemed "different" from birth,
unresponsive to people or focusing intently on one item for long periods
of time. The first signs of an autism spectrum disorder can also appear
in children who had been developing normally. When an affectionate,
babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or
indifferent to social overtures, something is wrong.

Treatment <http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm#treatment>

There is no single best treatment package for all children with ASD.
Decisions about the best treatment, or combination of treatments, should
be made by the parents with the assistance of a trusted expert
diagnostic team.

<http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/autism.cfm#treatment>

Communication Difficulties


By age 3, most children have passed predictable milestones on the path
to learning language; one of the earliest is babbling. By the first
birthday, a typical toddler says words, turns when he hears his name,
points when he wants a toy, and when offered something distasteful,
makes it clear that the answer is "no."

Some children diagnosed with ASD remain mute throughout their lives.
Some infants who later show signs of ASD coo and babble during the first
few months of life, but they soon stop. Others may be delayed,
developing language as late as age 5 to 9. Some children may learn to
use communication systems such as pictures or sign language.

Those who do speak often use language in unusual ways. They seem unable
to combine words into meaningful sentences. Some speak only single
words, while others repeat the same phrase over and over. Some ASD
children parrot what they hear, a condition called echolalia. Although
many children with no ASD go through a stage where they repeat what they
hear, it normally passes by the time they are 3.

Some children only mildly affected may exhibit slight delays in
language, or even seem to have precocious language and unusually large
vocabularies, but have great difficulty in sustaining a conversation.
The "give and take" of normal conversation is hard for them, although
they often carry on a monologue on a favorite subject, giving no one
else an opportunity to comment. Another difficulty is often the
inability to understand body language, tone of voice, or "phrases of
speech." They might interpret a sarcastic expression such as "Oh, that's
just great" as meaning it really IS great.

While it can be hard to understand what ASD children are saying, their
body language is also difficult to understand. Facial expressions,
movements, and gestures rarely match what they are saying. Also, their
tone of voice fails to reflect their feelings. A high-pitched,
sing-song, or flat, robot-like voice is common. Some children with
relatively good language skills speak like little adults, failing to
pick up on the "kid-speak" that is common in their peers.

Without meaningful gestures or the language to ask for things, people
with ASD are at a loss to let others know what they need. As a result,
they may simply scream or grab what they want. Until they are taught
better ways to express their needs, ASD children do whatever they can to
get through to others. As people with ASD grow up, they can become
increasingly aware of their difficulties in understanding others and in
being understood. As a result they may become anxious or depressed.













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