AUTISM

The definition of autism

is a complex process.
Most experts agree
thatautism is a brain
development disorder
characterized by impaired
social interactions, limited
communication and
repetitive behaviours. The
cause isn't clear, but
recent scientific studies
believe there is a strong
genetic base. New
research comes out almost
every day on possible
causes. Some groups

The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders

has drastically risen since the 1980s. Some
studies now claim1-150children are
diagnosed as autistic with occurrence in as
many as1-94 boys.It is unclear if this is due
to the different definitions of autism used
today, diagnostic practices or if the actual
amount of cases has increased.
There has also been an increase in the
diagnosis ofAspergers syndrome. Some
parents claim their child seemed different from
birth while others say their child developed
normally and than later in life, lost skills.

SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM:
Autism is not distinguished by a single
symptom, but a group of symptoms that
include the following:
Impairments in social interaction
Impairment in communication
Repetitive behaviours
Restricted interests
Atypical eating

Social And Communication

Impairments
include a lack of response to social
stimuli, lack of smiling or eye
contact and not responding to
ones name. Other characteristics
are lack of pretend play, lack of
imitation, inability to sustain
conversation, aloofness and acting
like they dont seem to hear.

Repetitive behaviours
are called stereotype and involve
repeated movements such as hand
flapping, making sounds, head rolling
and body rocking. Compulsive
behaviour involves arranging objects or
toys in stacks or lines.

Restricted interests
include an unvarying pattern
of daily activities and limited
interests like a pre-occupation
with a single TV show, toy or
game.

Self injuriesare movements

that injure or can injure the
child like eye poking, skin
picking, hand biting and head
banging.

Sleep problemscan include

insomnia, nocturnal awakening
and early morning wakening.

James Durbin was on season 10

ofAmerican Idol. Because he stood
out, he has been able to make a
career in music since his time on
the show. This is remarkable for
anyone, but especially so for
someone who, according to Durbin
himself, was diagnosed at the age
of 10 with both Tourette and
Asperger syndromes. Durbin was
bullied a lot in childhood, because
of traits related to both disorders.
The song Screaming from his
albumMemories of a Beautiful
Disasteris inspired by those
experiences, depicting how he
would come home after school each
day and scream as loud as he could
into a pillow to release his
frustration. Like many people with
Aspergers, Durbin hyper-focuses, a

THANK
YOU!