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Overview of Autism Autism is a complex and puzzling neurobiological disorder that severely impairs the ability of an individual to process and integrate ordinary information from their environment. This disorder severely affects the way autistic individuals relate to others socially and their ability to communicate and learn. It impacts every aspect of their life and their connection with the world around them. Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties together have a large concentration of autistic children and young adults, with approximately 900, 1,000 and 600 respectively. This total represents more than half of the entire population in the State of Florida.The organic cause of autism is still unknown and there is no effective cure. However, with the proper treatment and intensive therapy, it is possible for many children to progress to a point where they are indistinguishable from their peers. Autism is unidentifiable until 18-24 months of age and often does not manifest until well into the second or third year of life. It initially appears in the form a developmental delay. Most parents are told by pediatricians that their children are simply slow talkers. This language delay is usually accompanied by deficiencies in social interaction, communication and play activities. Ironically, some autistic children can read at age 2 and are very good with puzzles or numbers, then oftentimes regress. Parents who think they have a healthy, normal, and perhaps gifted baby, are shattered when they are told that their child may never be able to acquire or master the basic life functions.Autism affects all five senses, causing either very acute or sometimes nonexistent functioning, without consistency. Some common characteristics are acute peripheral vision, tactile defensiveness or hearing sensitivities to sounds most people cannot hear. Many autistic children are nonverbal or they may continually repeat words or phrases in place of normal language. Others may display echolalia or repeating the last word or words of a sentence they hear. Autistic children often excel in math, music or memory and are generally unresponsive to traditional teaching methods. They may exhibit repeated body movements such as hand flapping or rocking. Children with autism have no pretend or make believe play ability and don’t usually play appropriately with toys. Many exhibit signs of obsessive compulsive disorder or develop unusual attachments to objects on which they may fixate or spin continuously. Autistic children must have a very predictable routine and a structured environment with limited sensory input or stimulation. They are often hyper-vigilant and cannot filter out normal sounds, such as a ceiling fan motor. There is sometimes an insensitivity to pain and, in some cases, aggressive and or self-injurious behavior may occur. Very often there is a lack of affection, and some children may have no real fear of danger. At times there may be inappropriate laughter or screaming and inexplicable tantrums. Autism strikes 1 in 700 children and is now considered the most common disability. Accompanying this new prevalence data from the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) is current research that confirms autism is a bio-neurological disorder, affecting brain function. Insurance companies argue that autism is an emotional or behavioral disorder and deny coverage of medical treatment and therapy. This creates a devastating financial effect on families of children with autism. As a result, many parents divorce and receive therapeutic coverage through Medicaid. Unfortunately, such desperate measures are morally unacceptable and cause a very negative influence on siblings and extended families. Children with autism often escape into a "world of their own," at times appearing to be deaf or blind. For this reason, autistic individuals must have continual interaction, creating a great demand for professionals with experience in speech, behavioral and occupational intervention. Constantly occupying an autistic child is both emotionally and financially draining for parents. Although there is no cure, documented data confirms that early, intense intervention is the key to successful treatment and integration into society. *Please note the aforementioned behaviors alone do not constitute a diagnosis of autism. |