Autism Essay -- Chromosome Disorders

What is autism? "Autism is a potentially severe neurological condition affecting social functioning, communication skills, reasoning, and behavior. It is considered a "spectrum disorder," meaning that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a variety of combinations, ranging from extremely mild to quite severe" (Fergus 2002 para.1). Autism was first reported in 1943 by a Dr. Leo Kanner of John Hopkins University. Dr Leo Kanner based his theory on 11 children who showed signs of withdrawal from human contact, this started at age 1 between the years of 1938 to 1943. In the 1940’s, the research of autism was so rare and this was a new case, Dr. Leo Kanner based the disability to be schizophrenia which in the eyes of the parents they thought they were at fault. In the 60’s, that is when the knowledge of autism and the treatments came clear. (Edelson Para. 8) Having the basic history of autism will let people understand where and how Dr. Leo Kan ner had come across the disability. Some people have never heard about autism and the treatments that go into helping someone with autism. The three main points that will be discussed are treatment, prognosis, and the quality of life. Having a child with autism can make life difficult but with therapy and treatment children with autism can grow to be what society calls normal. With a child who has been diagnosed as autistic, this starts the wheels turning of what is to do next. The diagnosis of autism is based on I.Q. tests and observations; this will introduce what needs that the child may have. As physicians observe children with autism and evaluate how severe each child may be. Depending on the severity of the children depends on the course of treatment th... ...riskfactors Autism Research Institute. (2008). What is autism? Retrieved August 29, 2008, from Autism Research Institute: http://www.autism.com/autism/index.htm -Autism Society of America. (n.d.). Unique needs and abilities. Retrieved August 29, 2008, from Autism Society of America: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=life_edu_unique Autism Spectrum Disorder program. (2000) Wichita State University. Retrieved from September 20, 2008, from http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=vbain&p=/AutismSpectrumClinic/ Pediatrics (Oct 2005): 54(10). General OneFile. Gale. Apollo Library. R etrieved from September 20, 2008 from . American health line. (2007). Pediatrics: Reports on Autism. Retrieved on September 20, 2008 from University of Phoenix Library. Lee LC (2007) Quality of life. Retrieved from September 20, 2008 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez