Running head: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Landon Alexander

PSYCH 101

November, 19 2018

Tara Cooper

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Running head: Autism Spectrum Disorder

I decided to write my final on autism. Autism or autism spectrum disorder is a very broad

range of different conditions that are characterized by challenges faced with social skills, speech,

nonverbal communication and behaviors (What Is Autism). Everyone with autism is different

and there isn't one type of autism, but many subtypes with different strengths and weaknesses

(What Is Autism). History

Autism is known as one of the “spectrum” disorders because there is a wide range of

types and severity of those types that people will experience (Autism Spectrum Disorder). ASD

affects everyone differently and is not prominent in one race or gender and can occur in any

economic group (Autism Spectrum Disorder). ASD is a lifelong disorder and although there isn't

a “cure” for autism, there are many medications and different treatments that can help improve

the quality of life and symptoms someone with ASD has (Autism Spectrum Disorder). People

with ASD have a hard time with social interaction and social communication and even some

restricted interests (Autism Spectrum Disorder). There are a couple signs and symptoms that are

frequently seen in people with ASD, not all are shown but most are. To name a few social and

interaction behaviors; Making little or inconsistent eye contact, tending not to look at or listen to

people, rarely sharing enjoyment of objects or activities by pointing or showing things to others,

failing to, or being slow to, respond to someone calling their name or to other verbal attempts to

gain attention, having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation, often talking at length

about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without giving others a

chance to respond and having facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match

what is being said (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Some restrictive and repetitive behaviors may

include; having a lasting intense interest in certain topics, like numbers or facts, having overly
Running head: Autism Spectrum Disorder

focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects, getting upset by slight changes

in a routine, being more or less sensitive than other people to sensory input like light, noise,

clothing, or temperature (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Although scientists don’t know the exact

reason for autism or the causes. Research shows genes can act together with the environment that

in some way or another lead to ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Scientists are still trying to

figure out why some people get autism and others don’t. Some things that have been risk factors

are having siblings or parents with ASD, a low birth weight, or even parents being older when

having a child (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Different Types

There are many different specifics when talking about the autistic spectrum. There are

also many different kinds of autism and each has a different level of severity. Asperger syndrome

describes people who are at the highest end of the autism spectrum (Rudy, Lisa Jo). The

diagnosis and term were both removed off the spectrum in 2013, but everyone in the autism

community still uses it to describe one another (Rudy, Lisa Jo). People with asperger syndrome

often develop language like everyone else would, but they have a harder time with social

communication (Rudy, Lisa Jo). When people with aspergers get older, their difficulties will

become more obvious because their personality starts to come out (Rudy, Lisa Jo). People with

asperger's are very intelligent but will be seen as “quirky” and the name is sometimes nicknamed

“geek syndrome” (Rudy, Lisa Jo). Another type is called pervasive developmental disorder not

otherwise specified, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. This category

is used to describe people who don’t fit in with other specified categories but are not less autistic

(Rudy, Lisa Jo). There is not an easy way to define the symptoms of pervasive developmental

disorder not otherwise specified because it can range from very mild to very severe, which is

why the category is slowly making its way into a specific one called social communication
Running head: Autism Spectrum Disorder

disorder (Rudy, Lisa Jo). Severe autism is another category on the autistic spectrum. People with

severe autism are often non-verbal and intellectually disabled, and will have challenging

behaviors (Rudy, Lisa Jo). Broad autism phenotype includes people with the smallest touch of

autism. These small symptoms may include social awkwardness, anxiety, a preference for

routine and even light or sound sensitivity (Rudy, Lisa Jo). These symptoms are recognized but

aren’t so severe that it interrupts their way of living. Some autism related terms are very helpful

and descriptive, they’re not always right. Each and every individual on the spectrum is unique

and it is always helpful to know about a particular person's strength and weaknesses (Rudy, Lisa

Jo).

My Life

I chose this topic for my research paper that I have to do for psych class 4th period first

trimester because I want to be a special education teacher when I graduate college. I have been a

part of an organization called camp sunshine for the last two years. Camp sunshine is a camp for

people with special needs to go and have the best week of their year. At camp sunshine I am a

counsellor, being a counselor means that I get paired up with a camper for the week and I do

everything I can do give them the best week they have ever had. Being a counselor at camp

sunshine has really opened my eyes to show me that I really have a heart for special education

and want to pursue it in the near future as a special education teacher.

Autism spectrum disorder is a broad range including many different and very unique

individuals with very unique symptoms and disorders. There is often nothing terribly different

that sets people with autism different from people who don't have it, just little things that make

them different.
Running head: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sources
“Autism Spectrum Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-
asd/index.shtml.

“What Is Autism?” Autism Speaks, www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.

Rudy, Lisa Jo. “9 Different Names to Describe One Autism Spectrum.” Verywell Health,
Verywellhealth, www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-autism-260611.
Running head: Autism Spectrum Disorder