Essay On Puzzle Of Autism

The Puzzle of Autism ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is a disorder that begins in childhood that causes problems in forming relationships and in communicating with other people. This condition has greatly influenced many families throughout the world including mine. My brother was diagnosed with moderate to severe Autism at eighteen months of age. About 1 percent of the world population has autism and prevalence has increased by 6-15 percent each year from 2002 to 2010. This bio-neurological developmental disability generally appears before the age of 3. Children with autism do progress but early intervention is the key. Early intervention was definitely the answer to my brother’s disorder. He received intense therapy and treatment early in

Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. About 40 percent of children with autism do not speak, but can learn to communicate using other means. About 25-30 percent of children with autism have some words at twelve to eighteen months of age and then lose them. Others might speak, but not until later in childhood. My brother was nonverbal until the age of four. After several hours of speech therapy, he began to talk. It costs more than $8,600 extra per year to educate a student with this disorder. Many of those who have autism have exceptional abilities in visual, musical, and academic skills. Jadon is able to memorize information quickly and easily. There are genetic and medication risks that appear to have a relation to autism. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism. Most scientists agree that genes are one of the risk factors that can make a person more likely to develop autism. Children born to older parents are at a greater risk for having this disability. Children who have a sibling with autism are at a higher risk of also having autism. When taken during pregnancy, the prescription drugs valproic acid and thalidomide have been linked with an increased risk of