Having 2 kids on the Autism Spectrum; I'm often asked about it. I'm not a doctor but I try to learn as much as I can about it too. Here are some of the things that someone just learning about Autism might want to know. In the future I may blog about our subjective experience being an Autism family.
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition. It's characterized by varying degrees of difficulty with communication— verbal and non-verbal, sensory processing, and social skill development. Other symptoms common to many people with Autism are:
Regression of milestones at 12-18 months
Is in a "zone" a lot
Doesn't react predictably
Lacks boundaries
Poor eye contact
Doesn't respond to their name
Doesn't acknowledge parents/family as special
Lack of mirroring
Lack of empathy or sympathy
High pain tolerance
Intense interest in preferred activity
Impulsivity
Sensitivity to loud or abrupt noise
Inability to distinguish background/foreground sound
Anxiety
Deep emotional attachments to objects
Spends long time period watching things move
Obsessive Compulsive
Appears disinterested or aloof
Avoids touch or touches too much
Doesn't play make believe or pretend
High pitched squeals, voice, or abrupt noise
Repeats words and phrases
Repeats questions instead of answering
Doesn't understand nuance, inference, or sarcasm
Facial expressions don't match mood
Awkward posture, clumsiness, eccentric
Learning disability or hyperability
Wandering away
Self-harm
Feeling trapped
Speech delay
Unaware of others emotions
Nativity
Stimming (self-stimulating)
Gastrointestinal issues
Sleep issues
Sensory seeking or defensive
Poor motor skill development
Doesn't crawl or walk, or late
Lines things up, reorders, reorgs
Spinning, rocking, flapping
What causes Autism?
There's no confirmed scientific agreement on a single cause of Autism. The most current scientific evidence suggests there's a genetic role. It's widely accepted Autism is a response to abnormalities in the brain. Brain scans have founds similarities in the brain among Autistic persons that neurotypical persons don't have. The newest research has found possibility of inheritance of a predisposition to Autism that when combined with "de novo" gene mutations result in Autistic symptoms.
What is High Functioning Autism (HFA)?
HFA is a term given to people with Autism who are cognitively higher functioning than most people with Autism. About half of the population of people with Autism have IQ's ranging 65-85. Roughly a quarter of people with Autism are intellectually disabled. And the remaining quarter are of average or above average intelligence. HFA is when a person with Autism has normal to genius level intelligence test scores. Previously called Asperger's Syndrome, HFA may have added symptoms or aid in the improvement of other symptoms commonly associated with Autism. High functioning people with Autism may for instance, learn to speak— although may be shy or say shocking things. Someone with HFA may have an incredible photographic memory, but a poor memory when it comes to things they hear.
How can I help?
Learn all you can about Autism
Ask questions about Autism
Be friendly towards people with Autism
Spread the word about Autism Awareness
Have patience with Autistic persons and their families
Photo from Pixabay
- April is Autism Awareness Month. Getting a head start!
Resteem for Autism Awareness or make your own post. The image above is public domain and you're welcome to use it to make your own post.
very good step
Thanks for commenting and helping raise Autism Awareness.
Thank you so much for sharing these signs of Austism. I hope they help someone reading take the first steps to getting treatment because early intervention is so important for our autistic kiddos!
I've been working the last few weeks to connect autism parents on Steemit, and I would love you to join us!
We are sharing our stories and struggles and encouraging each other to keep on keeping on. :)
Here are a few great parents in the Autism community on Steemit who I think are worth following:
You have been upvoted, resteemed, and followed. I hope to hear more from you soon!Hi, @omitaylor! @imaginedragon @aspiejoe @arteagaile @erodedthoughts @bronxb17 @jazzyfish @winstonwolfe
Hey @jazzyfish! I saw you on one of @aspiejoe posts when I was looking for tags for this post. Had no idea there was a group of autism parents on steemit. That's really awesome. Perhaps when the communities feature is enabled, it would be a good idea for a community. I followed everyone on your list. Thanks for taking the initiative. Have you started a channel on Discord for it? Sheesh... count me in. I can help.
My first April post is going to be "How I Broke The Silence." I hope you check it out.
That's the plan! I'm aiming to have a solid group rallied together and ready to help others when the communities feature finally takes off.
@winstonwolfe and I were discussing a Discord channel yesterday. We will be setting it up shortly! Just need to find the time to make the post today with the kiddo home and practically bouncing off the walls with boredom. hahaha!
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Thanks a lot!
Thank you @cpnjacksparrow <3
You're welcome!
Great post, mama. Your passion shines through and we all collectively have to own how our chemicals, our plastic convenience lifestyles and our toxic foods have damaged your children. Sending you love from Thailand, and hoping to hear a lot more form you during April (and after) about how we, as a global community, can support you.
Thanks @artemislives I think I will be doing more blogging and maybe introduce my children and steemit to one another in April. I already posted a little video of my 5 year old daughter playing a toy guitar. Well....lol... let's say Steemit appreciates great craft but not always normal family weirdness. Haha. We shall see. Thank you for commenting. When my voting power returns I'll be upvoting comments- there's time. :)
Enjoy your free resteem!Greetings @omitaylor! Your post was chosen at random and was resteemed as part of Shareables' campaign.
@Shareables, we resteem anything we find shareable. Always strive for quality content. Go on express and harness your blogging potential!
God bless from us @Shareables!
Thank you so much @shareables! Wish I could upvote but I have no power. I will soon.
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If you're interested... Here's some topics as far as having HFASD that I've either wrote about or plan to... Being funny as shit. Fuckin' Tourettes Symdrome! Being good looking as a MF'er! Doing Impressions! Writing! Having amazing taste in clothes, music and movies ect. Addicted to caffeine, working out and porn. Obsessed with martial arts! Being abused. Paranoia. Body dismorphia (or however the hell u spell it) Muthafuckin tattoos. Self harm. Background noise. Not giving a fuck! Short term memory. Video game addiction. Hate jewelry. Love loose clothes! Insomnia. Sunshine. Oral sex.
I already read of some your blogs and I think I commented on one a while back. I'm following for sure and added you to my ginabot. Yes, I agree with the things you've added... haha. I think in a way that "preferred interest" becomes at some point, rabid insatiable curiosity (with whatever is in front of me.)
Not sure I suffer enough with not giving a fuck. I WISH! Then again, I'm tuned out a lot. Or tuned into whatever I'm not supposed to be. Except for my kids. We get each other.
Maybe that's my method. My youngest son whose IQ is 136, he's psychopathic levels of stoic. My daughter, she cares about everything but can't exactly relate to why she does, do she meltsdown. Ha!
My biggest problem is identifying with late diagnoses and diagnosis in general. I probably will never formally or properly identify with HFASD. I'm so stuck in my former identity. I've already found labels for all the randomness I am. I struggle often with US/THEY, WE/THEM. Maybe that is a good topic for discussion: late diagnosis identity.
Learned stuff - thanks. Tweeted out for #autismawarenessweek (a UK thing maybe - you seem to have a whole month).
Thank you for your comment @Kissyou :)