Autism Spectrum Disorders Essay

1051 Words5 Pages

There are a variety of classification systems for diagnosing autism spectrum disorders and each one offers different perspectives based upon current medical knowledge. This essay will utilise the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth (DSM-5) edition for defining autism spectrum disorders, as it offers the most current international guidelines for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The lineage of the diagnostic classification of autism demonstrates the parameters for interpretation are liable to continue evolving alongside the acquisition of future research in neural development (Reed, 2016).

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that presents …show more content…

Yet, theories must be developed to enable the discovery of solutions and effective teaching strategies for a disorder that has ramifications for people who are required to exist in a world that is social by nature. Many theories have been devised to contextualise the behavioural manifestations of autism so that strategies for development can be created. Three of these theories will be briefly explored as they offer a means to reflect upon the manifestations of autism and contextualise the teaching strategies chosen within this …show more content…

This has consequences for all social interactions. Much of what we take for granted, in terms of empathising with what another person might feel, it is posited, does not occur automatically for a person with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (Baron-Cohen, 2000). Tager-Flushberg (2007), argues that “theory of mind impairments seem to be linked to social skills, expressive language, and abstract language understanding deficits…” (p. ). For example, People with higher functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD), through effective teaching, may be able to develop intentional strategies for compensating for this deficit (Frith,