Psychological Effects of Autism

Autism: Characteristics, Causes, And Treatments

Autism is a complex developmental disorder that generally emerges before the age of three. Individuals with autism demonstrate difficulties in communication, both verbal and non-verbal, as well as difficulties in socially interacting with others, as well as leisure and play activities (Autism Society of America, 2003). Autism is one five disorders that are classified as Pervasive Developmental Disorders in the DSM-IV, which are all neurological disorders that are characterized by severe and ubiquitous impairments in many areas of development.

As the most common Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Autism affects approximately 2 to 6 out of every 1,000 individuals, which translates into as many as 1.5 million Americans (Autism Society of America, 2003). The number of cases of autism appear to be increasing at a rate of about 10 to 17% per year, which means that the number of cases of autism could reach 4 million in the United States within the next ten years (Autism Society of America, 2003). However, these increased rates may be due to a greater awareness and recognition among parents and healthcare professionals, with regards to autism (Harvard Mental Health Letter, 2003). An in-depth understanding of Autism requires exploration of the characteristic, causes and treatments available in relation to this disorder.

Characteristics of autism

The Autism Society of America (2003) explains how autism is known as a spectrum disorder, which means that the symptoms of the disorder can appear in various combinations and to various degrees, from mild to severe. Generally, individuals with autism process and respond to information differently than individuals without the disorder, which sometimes includes the presence of aggressive or self-destructive behavior, as well as language difficulties. However, the assumption that autistic children lack language ability completely is oversimplified, as autistic children tend to comprehend and use language differently than other children, and to various degrees (Carson et al., 1998). Many children with autism often present with problems of sensory integration, in which extreme sensitivities to sounds, smells, or tastes are observed.

There are several traits that are commonly exhibited by individuals with autism (Autism Society of America, 2003). These traits include: resistance to change; difficulty expressing needs; echolalia (word repetitiveness); unpredictable or inappropriate emotional reactions; aloofness; tantrums; difficulties in everyday social interactions; resistant to physical affection; little or no eye contact; does not respond to conventional teaching approaches; odd play; spins object; inappropriate attachments to objects; differing sensitivities to pain; no concept of fear or danger; differing levels of physical activity; difficulties with motor skills; unresponsive to verbal cues, although hearing tests produce normal results (Autism Society of America, 2003). Individuals with autism may present with some or all of these traits, with a variety of combinations and degrees of severity.

In regards to the diagnosis of autism, there are no definitive medical tests that determine the presence or absence of autism. An accurate diagnosis of the disorder relies on various observations of the communication, behavior, and developmental levels of the individual (Autism Society of America, 2003). Input from parents and caregivers, regarding developmental history, is crucial for an accurate diagnosis. An early diagnosis of autism has been related to markedly more successful outcomes for individuals with autism (Autism Society of America, 2003). Early diagnosis sets the stage for the development of an effective and appropriate program to suit the individual's treatment and educational needs.

The characteristic behaviors of autism that are watched for in diagnosis of the disorder usually become apparent by the age of 6 years at the very latest. According to the Autism Society of America (2003), there are five behaviors that indicate the need for further evaluation for the diagnosis of autism. These include: 1) child does not babble or coo by the age of 12 months, 2) child does not gesture by the age of 12 months, 3) child does not say single words by the age of 16 months, 4) child does not say two word phrases by the age of 24 months, and 5) the child exhibits a loss of any social or language skill at any age. The presentation of any of these behaviors means that the child in question needs further evaluation by an appropriate team of healthcare professionals with knowledge and background in autism.

Causes of autism

Autism appears to be due to a neurological disorder that impacts normal brain functioning (Autism Society of America, 2003). Earlier, it was speculated that inadequate parenting was a key factor, but this was later proved to be inaccurate (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003). Psychological, biological, environmental and genetic factors have been implicated in the presence of autism.

Psychologically, three neurocognitive theories have been posited as part of the cause of autism (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003). One psychological model claims the involvement of deficits in executive functioning skills, which promote the ability to plan, problem-solve, and perform flexible set-shifting, which have been associated to specific cortical mechanisms. A second model focuses on deficits in attention and appreciation of social meaning that result from a reduced capacity to integrate information into meaningful wholes. Thirdly, a theory-of mind hypothesis has been proposed that difficulties in understanding phenomena in others and oneself results in problems with social interaction.

Biologically, there are high rates of epilepsy and various enduring neurological signs among individuals with autism, which strongly indicates the role that brain functioning plays in the disorder (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003). Abnormalities such as a decreased number of neurons and reduced dendritic arborisation in parts of the limbic system have been determined in post mortem studies of individuals with autism (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003). Also, several studies have reported that the overall brain size of individuals with autism is generally 2 -- 10% greater than in normal controls (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003). Different neurotransmitter systems have also been shown to be involved in the appearance of autism (Volkmar & Pauls, 2003).