Autism In The 1980s

Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that interferes with normal brain function. Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a range of challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. There is not one autism but many types which is caused by different influences. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 68 births in the United States. (“What is Autism?”) Autism is more likely to affect boys than girls and is found in all racial, ethnic, and social groups.

Scientists are unsure what if any environmental trigger may be involved in autism. In the late

No single words- Babies tend to produce single spoken words as early as 6 months. If a baby hasn’t spoken any words by 16 months, it is a cause of concern.

(“Does My Child Have Autism?”) Autism has changed throughout the years. In the 1980s, it was classified as a developmental disorder in the DSM-III for the first time. (“The 1980s) After autism was classified, it helped doctors correctly diagnose and differentiate autism from other disorders. Autism in the 1980s was common in 2-5 per 10,000 people. (“The 1980s”) There was two theories proposed after one study. The affective and cognitive theories were developed. People with autism are not able to comprehend others’ emotions is the affective theory. The cognitive theory is when people with autism have a problem with their social skills. Doctors have come a long way with the study of autism. Diagnosis and screening techniques have increased the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 110 children have autism up from 1 in 150 in 2007. (Smith) Schools are now able to identify and serve more students with autism after the federal government made autism a special education

There is a clinical assessment. There are four types of assessments for autism. The autism assessment is for everyone who wants to test to determine if they have autism. A naturalistic observation assessment observes an individual in their natural setting and it observes their social skills. The dynamic assessment tests an individual’s motor skills and their learning potential. The audiologic assessment is for people who experiencing hearing loss have symptoms of autism. Sometimes parents have a hard time adjusting to the fact that their child has autism. Some also have a hard time raising an autistic child. There are programs made to teach them how to handle their children with autism. One of the most popular programs is the Preschool Autism Communication Trial (PACT). It is used to enhance parent-child communication in autism and social and language development of the child. (Research Autism) Another program is the Applied Behavior Analysis. It is the use of techniques and principles to bring about meaningful and positive behavior. (Autism