Autism, also known as ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is a developmental disorder that affects the growth of communication skills and social skills. Children can "get" autism due to a combination of genetic and non-genetic factors, as well as several environmental factors. It is important to note that autism is actually a whole spectrum of disorders, with some being more severe than others, and individuals can be anywhere in between low functioning and high functioning. According to the CDC, it affects about 1 in 54 kids.
Autism and Its Effects on the Brain
The impact of autism on the brain is significant. It can affect various parts of the brain, including the splenium of corpus callosum, praecuneus, subparietal sulcus, parieto-occipital fissure, cerebellum, hippocampus and amygdala, lobes of the cerebrum, ventricles, and caudate nucleus. These differences in the brain can be identified through medical imaging and play a role in the manifestations of autism spectrum disorder symptoms.
Images of Autism
The puzzle piece is often a symbol used to represent autism awareness. Additionally, a comparison of brain images of neurotypical individuals and individuals with autism clearly shows differences in brain structure and functionality.
Symptoms and the Life of Autism
Individuals with autism experience developmental delays, extreme sensitivity to light, touch, and sound, avoidance of eye contact, and tics. Moreover, they may have difficulty with social interactions as well as with transitions, organization, memory, time management, emotional control, and understanding emotional cues.
Life with Autism
The severity of autism can vary, and adults with autism can sometimes live normal lives. However, they may face challenges with focus, attention, transitions, organization, memory, time management, emotional control, and anger. They might struggle to read facial expressions and tone from others and feel blinded by emotional cues.
Three Functional Levels of Autism
From an autistic perspective, there are three functional levels of autism:
Level 1 (Requiring Support): Individuals need help navigating a non-autistic world, may be seen as awkward, can handle change but prefer routine, and may exhibit fidgeting and developmental delays. They struggle with social interactions and meeting others' expectations.
Level 2 (Requiring Substantial Support): Individuals have limited or nonexistent social lives and find coping with change challenging. They exhibit noticeable, unusual repetitive behaviors and have significant developmental delays. They need a lot of help coping with stress and deserve respect and support.
Level 3 (Requiring Very Substantial Support): Individuals often need one-on-one support as their disability is very obvious. They may communicate only to express needs or answer questions, find change and transitions very difficult, and have intense repetitive behaviors.
In conclusion, autism spectrum disorder is a complex condition that manifests differently in each individual, requiring a deep understanding and the application of appropriate support and treatment plans.
