Classic autism

From Autism Wiki

Classic autism, a type of autism, is also referred to as severe autism, Kanner's Syndrome, infantile autism, childhood autism, or simply autism disorder. The other types of autism include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, PDD-NOS. According to the Autism Spectrum Institute at the Illinois State University, "(Classic) Autism is the second leading childhood developmental disorder. Individuals with autism have impairments in the areas of communication, behavior, and socialization. In addition, many individuals also experience sensory processing and regulation issues. Autism is a spectrum disorder because the severity of impairment in each of these areas differs in each individual. Autism affects all walks of life without regard to race, religion, or socio-economic status."^[1]

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Diagnosis 3 Treatment 4 External links 5 References

[edit] Introduction

Classic autism is considered the most severe type of autism and hence it is also called severe autism as indicated above. Children with classic autism may have strong symptoms in the areas of communication, social development and behavior. The main distinction between classic autism and Asperger syndrome is that children with classic autism develop language late, or not at all. This is the most severe form of autism. Persons affected with classic autism have difficulties talking with other people and relating to other persons. They get upset if routines are changed, and they compulsively repeat the same things like eating the same food or watching the same TV programs.^[2]

The psychiatrist Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist of John Hopkins University identified the characteristics of classical autism based on the observations of 11 child patients for about a decade from the year 1932 to 1943.^[3] Leo Kanner identifies the following features of persons affected with classic autism:

Quote

• a profound lack of affect or emotional contact with others
• an intense wish for sameness in routines
• muteness or abnormality of speech
• fascination with manipulating objects
• high levels of visuo-spatial skills, but major learning difficulties in other areas
• attractive, alert and intelligent appearance.
  

Unquote

[edit] Diagnosis

Health care professionals like physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists carry out diagnosis of classic autism based on guidelines contained in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) [1]. Certain common characteristics in children and adults with classic autism include:

• Very limited eye contact,
• Avoidance of physical contact,
• Inappropriate facial expressions and emotional responses,
• Inflexibility in routines,
• Repetitive movements like hand flapping,
• Delay in the development of speech, and speech without communicative gestures,
• Difficulty or inability to converse,
• Inflexible routines,
• Unusual interests with certain objects, and
• Onset of at least one of the above systems before the age of three.

[edit] Treatment

There in no known cure for autism. However, guidance and help is available. Some of the interventions are;

• Applied Behavioral Analysis
• The Miller Method
• Occupational therapy
• Picture Exchange Communication Systems
• Relationship Development Intervention
• Social Stories
• Speech-language therapy

One or more of the above may be combined with medications.

[edit] External links

• Autism Society of America
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Illinois Autism/PDD Training and Technical Assistance Project

[edit] References

1. ↑ Classic Autism - Autism Spectrum Institute.
2. ↑ Types of autism
3. ↑ Classic autism