I have completed a blog for another class this semester that was topic oriented. I created my blog around autism which include a similar blog to this one. But since this month is Autism Awareness Month and this disorder affects many children I thought I was a great thing to mention on this blog also.
According to the National Institute for Neurology, Autism is a developmental disorder that affects 1 in 150 children by impairing their social interaction, problems with verbal and non verbal communication and repetitive behaviors that can lead to obsessive interests. Children that are diagnosed with Autism are usually diagnosed between the ages of 18 months to three years. These children start developing at the average rate and slowly begin to dwindle or regress. Parents or caregivers are the first to notice the changes which will lead to an extensive line of tests and specialists who will conclude whether the child is Autistic. Sadly, there is no cure, but when caught at early age it is definitely treatable. There is no link to this disorder having any racial or cultural connections, yet no one really knows what causes it. The one true statistic that has been found is that boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls.
Sources:
Google Images. (200). Retrieved April 12, 2008 from http://www.designbycher.com/images/aprilisautismawarenesmonthwb.jpg
National Institute of Neurological Disorders. (2008). Retrieved March 11, 2008 from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
