Autism and Aspregers Syndrome
Brain Fitness Strategies does work in helping people with all sorts of health problems; be it physical like RA, emotional such as addiction or any of a wide spectrum of mental deficiencies. Today we are going to look at one of the mental deficiencies they help with.
Both Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are increasingly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders, in that they cause delays in typical development of a child across a broad range of areas. Asperger’s syndrome is at the milder end of this spectrum. These disorders begin in early childhood and continue through to adult life. They affect three crucial areas of development, which are sometimes referred to as the triad of impairments:
• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• Social interaction
• Imaginative or creative play.
Autism
Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behaviors, all starting before a child is three years old. This set of signs distinguishes autism from milder Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) such as Asperger syndrome.
Aspergers syndrome
Aspergers syndrome (also Asperger’s syndrome, Asperger’s disorder, Asperger’s, or AS) is one of several Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) also characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by restricted and stereotyped interests and activities. Aspergers syndrome is different in that there is no general delay in language or cognitive development. Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria, motor clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.
the autism spectrum
Signs of Asperger’s syndrome and Autism usually will appear in the first three years of a child’s life, although there is no exact age for when signs of these disorders will emerge. These signs may differ between children in type and severity as well, so Autism, Asperger’s syndrome and similar disorders are often seen as occurring on a spectrum.
These disorders are not intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses, or caused by poor parenting skills. Currently Asperger’s and Autism cannot be diagnosed at birth through means such as blood tests or brain scans. Diagnosis occurs as delays are observed in the child’s development, typically at two years of age although some researchers are arguing for earlier diagnosis.
Typical indicators of Autism & Asperger’s syndrome
These disorders will cause delays in a child’s early development, with possible early signs, or indicators, from these groups:
Social skills
Cannot carry out simple instructions
Does not maintain eye contact or smile back to others
Appears happy in their own world, with little interest in others
Delays to normal development of speech
Responding to some sounds, but not human voices
Behavior
Difficulty coping with changes to routines
Self-injuring behavior
Emotional outbursts with no apparent cause, or overly passive
Overly attached to certain objects or topics
Repetitive or ritualistic behavior such as rocking or flapping of the hands
The senses
Strong reaction to certain sounds
Will not look at objects directly
Insensitivity to pain, or extremes of temperature
Eating a very restricted range of food types
Walking on tip toes
Drawn to watching certain patterns or feeling certain textures.
Play and imagination
Will only play with certain toys, possibly in unusual ways
Prefers not to play with others
Engages in only a limited range of play
Does not engage in pretend play.
The best thing about the way Brain Fitness Strategies is the way they deal with these deficiencies is the fact they do not use drugs to treat them. They go about the treatments in unique ways, such as juggling.
Tags: add/adhd, BFS, brain development, Brain Fitness Strategies, Cullen Swanson, Dr. Harald Blomberg, juggling, Learning Disabilities, learning disabilities in kids, mirror neurons, primitive reflexes, processing disorders