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Essay Subject: Behavioral & physiological abnormalities. Difficulties in assessment & testing; teaching methods.... More...

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Paper Abstract: Behavioral & physiological abnormalities. Difficulties in assessment & testing; teaching methods. Paper Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to discuss autism, its physiological and behavioral abnormalities, the difficulties in assessment and testing of autistic children, and teaching methods used on this condition. An autistic child is largely unable to make contact with its environment. Aloofness is generally the result of this condition. The child does not respond well to external stimulation. For example, when the autistic child is picked up and cradled, the child does not cuddle or adapt himself to the other person. Many times, there is an insistence on "sameness" and an aversion to new things. This inflexibility of personality is frequently defined by temper tantrums or even rages. In autistic infants, the onset of walking and especially talking is frequently delayed. While many medical studies indicate a Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. An autistic child is largely unable to make contact with itsenvironment. They also respond easily to questions concerning facts but not to thosequestions needing interpretation. It is also extremely importantto have a place ready for the autistic child where he can withdraw when thepressures build. On very close analysis, the researchersdiscovered that one very obscure part of thecerebellum - the sixth and seventh vermal lobules - was on the average 25percent smaller in the autistic subjects of the study than in the others. Newsweek, 55. Yet, it is a fact that even with 95 percent of autistic childreninstitutionalized, that theory is not necessarily valid. Washington, D.C.: Woodbine House.----------------------- 3 Autistic children strongly dislikechanges in their environment (such as a change in the family's dinner time,or changes in furniture arrangement in the home). They also do well in small group settings. Most important of all, supportand education for the family on ways to understand, cope and rehabilitatethe autistic child is essential to the therapeutic process (McElroy, 1987,p. Coppola, M.A. Speech and language should bestressed by the teachers. 33-34). (1987). One of the reasons why autism is difficult to diagnosehas to do with the possible genetic nature of the problem. Punishment seems to help end aberrant behavior and self-destructiveness. There must be a lack of responsiveness to others, majordeficiency of language (including no speech at all, delayed repetitions oflanguage or mixing up or pronoun reversal, such as mixing up "I" and"you"), relatively bizarre responses to situations andattachments to peculiar food objects or persons. Training autistic children in the ways and means of normalcy is noteasy, since these children are largely non-communicative. It makesvictims of both the children and the parents. But the new finding provides the first clear evidence of a linkbetween autism and a "dysfunction in a human being's central nervoussystem." This development should also provide the impetus for furtherresearch. Eredman, A. 8).But the clinical practice of treating this disorder remains unsure. There is a distortion orirregularity of the conception of wholes and parts. The purpose of this paper is to discuss autism, its physiological andbehavioral abnormalities, the difficulties in assessment and testing ofautistic children, and teaching methods used on this condition. (1988, June 6). Inautistic infants, the onset of walking and especially talking is frequentlydelayed. Child of silence. Psychology Today, 42-44. Scientists havelong believed that this disorder, which affects 35 , of the U.S.population, stems from the brain (Chance, 1987, pp. (1987, September). Inappropriate emotions are also present, including a lack ofappropriate peer reactions, as well as excessive anger and rage reactions.Wide mood swings are also present. M., & Kaplan, H. The most challenging task facing the teachers of autistic children isto teach the autistic child the acceptable social behavior of everydaylife. 55). But even so, more than 4 years ofresearch has produced just a few hints of what keeps autistic children frommastering language and forming the most basic social relationships. Autism affects 15 of every 1 , children in the U.S. By means of this frequent hugging, some 5 percentof autistic children have managed to return to normal daily life. Fay, M. Some therapistshave been teaching a technique called "holding" - a mother sits face toface with her child and demands a type of physical contact that is usuallymissing in daily life. 485).What is known for certain however, is that autism is the most severe of thedevelopmental disorders that affect children. The difficulties of assessing children as autistic and testing themare legion. The incidence of divorce among parents of autisticchildren is extremely low yet there is an unmistakable aloofness betweenparents. Inextreme cases, there is a refusal of children to make eye contact, asenseless parroting of the speech of others, apparent deafness orblindness, mental retardation, repetitive behavior that ranges from teeth-tapping to headbanging. The child feels excessive anxietywhich shows itself in the form of catastrophic panic to normal everydayoccurrences and, at the same time, an inability to be consoled when he isupset. The parents of autistic children are, as a rule, intelligent andsophisticated, and successful in their professions. Another problem in diagnosing children as autistic is that manyautistic children mimic symptoms of schizophrenia, a far more extrememental disorder. But,as of June, 1988, researchers at the Children's Hospital in San Diegoreported that they have identified a structural abnormality in the brainsof autistic patients. A team led by the neuroscientist Eric Courchesnereported on a study in which he used magnetic-resonance scans to getdetailed images of the brains of 3 living subjects - 18 who suffer fromautism and 12 who do not. (1987, December). 9-1 ). Additionally, local, state and national organizations on autism havedone some good. In order to diagnose autismin a child, he (or she) must have a diagnosable case before the age ofthirty-six months. In the school, this place can be the nurse's office, theguidance office and/or the computer room, depending on his/her abilities. The problem ofautism is also a recently diagnosed phenomenon, which adds to theeducator's task. Of course, this may be a reaction to the stateof the child and the description may be invalid (Eredman, 1987, p. Parts of people'sbodies become personalized. For example, when theautistic child is picked up and cradled, the child does not cuddle or adapthimself to the other person. Sometimes the child will recognize voices, notfaces. Speech therapy, perceptual-motor training and experiences in many group activities, as well ascognitive training are usually provided to the autistic child on acontinuing and intensive basis. No one knows for sure how this anatomical quirk might cause thecondition with which it is closely associated. A key piece of the autism puzzle. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins. The use of punishment however, seems tohelp. Autistic children essentially take no notice of other people. Autistic children function best in quiet, well-organizedenvironments. (1987, May). Autistic children are at their best when they know specifically whattheir responsibilities are, what their daily schedules are, and when theyare rewarded regularly for their efforts. The vermal lobules may infact play some unknown role in the development of language and socialskills, but it is almost as equally possible that they arrested developmentof these lobules is a mere symptom of some deeper neurological disorder ofthe brain. Despitethe protestations of American psychiatrists and psychologists, this methodis extensively used in Europe to cure or at least abate the illness. Finally, drug therapy (administered by physicians) may include theuse of sedating or tranquilizing agents. Autistic children exhibitodd traits in their motor movements, such as strange postures, hand andfinger movements, hand flapping, walking on tiptoes and stomping. Aloofness is generally the result of this condition. 9). Virtually all engage in handflapping, hair-twirling, rocking andother ritualistic behavior. Saving Grace. They complete worksheets perfectly, read orally without a flaw, know alltheir numbers and spelling words and quietly entertain themselves when theyfinish their work. (1987). Additionally, autistic children demonstrate an increased (orsometimes decreased) sensitivity to external stimuli by others, such astouching, sound, or changes in body posture. Their isolation, shyness and immaturity are often ascribedin schools to their "personality type" (Coppola, 1987, pp. But they seldom usespeech for purposes of ordinary communication. Some of them are mute,but from sensory or intellectual deficiencies. Sometimes, the autistic child has been subject to an unusualamount of isolation. Many times, this should take place in aspecialized day school environment. Most experts today arguethat autism, like the disease of schizophrenia, is a physiologicaldisorder. And it should, hopefully, also provide a glimpse of hope forweeping parents and their muted, autistic children ("A Key", 1988, p. Most aremute. Caring, compassionate adults in the child's environment mighthelp him to socialize. Thechild does not respond well to external stimulation. Life, 4-9. Theories about autism are varied. This inflexibility ofpersonality is frequently defined by temper tantrums or even rages. Theyalso show strange abnormalities in speech patterns, such as "sing-song"talk, ending declarative statements in a question-like tone, or using amonotonous voice at all times, regardless of circumstances. Many times, there is an insistence on"sameness" and an aversion to new things. Many psychologists and psychiatrists hold that autism cannot becured. Treatment of autistic children consists of a variety of methods, allof which should be administered by a team of experts. Children and adolescents with mental illness:A parents' guide. Teachers should also try to ask questions that can be answeredbriefly. I. A highly structured,predictable surrounding should be provided in which the child might respondand adjust. Other times, it is found that an autistic child hasbeen overwhelmed by an older (or younger) brother or sister. Teachers should realize that patience in waiting for answers isof the ultimate importance (Coppola, 1987, p. Autistic children's intelligence often overshadows theirdeficiencies. Thelanguage development of these children is unique. Others are sometimes perfectstudents and are very quiet, never interrupting the teacher or arguing,never running down the halls of the school and never pushing ahead in line. The American PsychiatricAssociation's criteria for diagnosing a child with autism stipulates thatthe child must have the above symptoms within the first three years of life(McElroy, 1987, pp. Few autistic children show imaginative play. Answering the phone, making an introduction and ordering in arestaurant has to be patiently taught step-by-step and practiced regularly(Coppola, 1987, p. References Chance, P. 34). Sometimes, the first timethey speak, they come up with complete sentences. However, most studiesshow that they are detached, lacking warmth and somewhat mechanical intheir relationships. Since autistic children have difficulty inprocessing verbal directions, teachers should give assignments in writtenform. Few teachers label autisticchildren as such, and fewer still label them strange or in any waydifferent from their classmates. In many cases, autistic children are classified as retarded,particularly since their language skills are long delayed. EducationDigest, 33-35. 34). Channeling the child's special abilities andinterests toward social goals should be stressed, constantly. 42-44). The perfect student: Being alert to autism. His (or her)deficiencies should be considered in devising programs to motivate him (orher) to engage in and enjoy new activities. Comprehensive textbook ofpsychiatry. Nearly all score within the retarded range ofintelligence (Chance, 1987, pp. They cannot reach for the hand of their parents, or evenacknowledge that the parent is nearby. While many medical studies indicate a genetic basis for thisillness, emotional factors have also been brought into play, particularlysince the mothers of very young autistic children have been described asemotionally cool and aloof. Solving the puzzle of this disparity could take decades, if notmore. While thesekids sometimes love reading nonfiction and speak like human computers, theycannot put their own thoughts into words and they cannot answer atelephone. Frequently, autistic childrenexhibit self-mutilating behavior, cutting or burning themselves. In this regard, parents of the child are to beconsidered as "co-therapists." Creating opportunities for teaching,stimulating, and practicing all forms of human communication are requiredby all therapists for the autistic child. McElroy, E. They range from aninheritable structural weakness to chemical imbalance (Fay, 1987, p. Although the cause of this disorder is not well understood, symptomsof childhood autism are very specific. Thesescientists believe that only a genetic disorder would show up so early inlife and run such a predictable course. Unfortunately, they also never participate in classdiscussions, never ask questions, and never look the teacher in the eye.They avoid reading comprehension activities, they prefer to be with thingsrather than with people and play alongside their peers but never with them. They respond topredictable, ordered routines and with people who speak slowly and softly,using a minimum of verbiage. 42-44). If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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