How many people have experience with children with autism?
114793
My younger brother lost his speech at the age of 5. I constantly read books to him that he was interested in. Eventually I started asking him what the words meant. I was so very proud of him when he began picking up on the words. An interesting comparison to your nephew is that we can't get my brother to go to the bathroom when he needs to. Each child with autism has different abilities and different habits that hold them back. The link I included is about a woman named Temple Grandin. She had autism and a PH.D.! She has written many books on how she experiences the world with autism. If you haven't heard about her yet... you should really check out this link.
742676
Actually, the statistic is 2 to 6 out of 1,000, or somewhere between "1 in every 500"  to  "1 in every 166."\n\nAnd that includes high functioning conditions such as Asperger's, which composes as much as 80% of those on the Autism Spectrum.\n\nAsperger's is a condition which likely has been around for years, just undiagnosed.  They may have just been labeled "geeks" & "oddballs."   They are also frequently very functional.  Some suspect Bill Gates has Asperger's.  And some suspect Einstein was, too!\n\nThis accounts for a big hunk of the increase.  Adding Asperger's to the spectrum could have increased the diagnosis rate 4 times over!  Then you take into account that many autistic kids were likely to be just diagnosed "retarded" or "brain-damaged."  Remember, up until the 80's, the common theory was that autism was caused my neglectful, unloving mothers.  So you didn't have parents taking their kids to the doctors saying "I think my son has autism."  And if a family doctor knew the mother was loving & attentive, he would be very likely to rule out the possiblity the child could be autistic.  So the rates we see from previous generations are inaccurrately low.\n\nIn other words, I suspect the rate of DIAGNOSIS, as opposed to the actual incidence rate is what has increased.
10409
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the current  national rate of autism spectrum disorders at 1 in 166 births or 60 per 10,000.
1186325
Your best bet on something like this is to contact other parents of autistic children in your area and get their opinions of the local programs and schools based on personal experience. Yahoo! Answers is global, and very few people will directly have experience with Dayton autism programs.\n\nTry contacting the local/regional autism (aspergers...but will also have connections to other forms of autism) parent support group:\nhttp://darngroup.tripod.com/\n\nOther groups in Ohio:\nhttp://resource.autismohio.org/oac-groups.shtml
1063832
http://www.autismtoilettraining.com \nI have not looked at the site myself, but it came up on an ad for something else I was looking at, hopefully it will help! I had my autistic son completely out of diapers by the time he was 27 months old, but your situation is more normal with autism. It just happened that Tim was oversensitive to sensory input, so he HATED wearing wet underwear. I don't know how much of this will apply to you, but I'll tell you what I did anyway. Everyone on here that said to be really consistent with a reward system is right on target, that's about the only way to get through an autistic brain, and the sillier you are, the better! Find a treat that he really likes and by a bag, and only use it for potty training, no other time. Skittles was what we used. He got three skittles for sitting on the toilet and I spaced them out so that he was sitting for about five minutes. NO pullups or diapers during the day at home, only underwear, and I ran water in the sink while he was sitting. If he actually did something, he got another skittle, and we made a huge deal out of it! Then, he got one sticker put on a chart for sitting and one for going. If he doesn't go,then he still gets SOMETHING just for cooperating with you. I took him as soon as he woke up and every hour after that, and I asked him all through the day if he had to go. That's all you can really do, unless the link I sent you to has other ideas. Hope this helps! I do my own therapy with him, he's never seen a professional, and he is doing WONDERFULLY. I will be homeschooling him, and we're officially starting pre-school next month. We spent last year just working out behavior problems so that we could focus on academics this year. Contact me if you just need to vent!
1159608
I have a grandson with high-function autism.  They thought at first that he had Aspergers, but now they don't think he does.  why?
119921
Be more specific.An otherwise normal person?People with autism are set off by loud noises,and there isnt much you can do about it.
509495
Every person with autism is an individual, and like all individuals, has a unique personality and combination of characteristics. Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. The person may have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining a conversation. Communication is often described as talking at others (for example, monologue on a favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject comments).\n\nPeople with autism process and respond to information in unique ways. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present. Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits.\n\nInsistence on sameness; resistance to change \nDifficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words \nRepeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language \nLaughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others \nPrefers to be alone; aloof manner \nTantrums \nDifficulty in mixing with others \nMay not want to cuddle or be cuddled \nLittle or no eye contact \nUnresponsive to normal teaching methods \nSustained odd play \nSpins objects \nInappropriate attachments to objects \nApparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain \nNo real fears of danger  \nNoticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity \nUneven gross/fine motor skills \nNot responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests in normal range. \nFor most of us, the integration of our senses helps us to understand what we are experiencing. For example, our senses of touch, smell and taste work together in the experience of eating a ripe peach: the feel of the peach fuzz as we pick it up, its sweet smell as we bring it to our mouth, and the juices running down our face as we take a bite. For children with autism, sensory integration problems are common. Their senses may be over-or under-active. The fuzz on the peach may actually be experienced as painful; the smell may make the child gag. Some children with autism are particularly sensitive to sound, finding even the most ordinary daily noises painful. Many professionals feel that some of the typical autism behaviors are actually a result of sensory integration difficulties.\n\nThere are many myths and misconceptions about autism. Contrary to popular belief, many autistic children do make eye contact; it just may be less or different from a non-autistic child. Many children with autism can develop good functional language and others can develop some type of communication skills, such as sign language or use of pictures. Children do not "outgrow" autism but symptoms may lessen as the child develops and receives treatment.\n\nOne of the most devastating myths about autistic children is that they cannot show affection. While sensory stimulation is processed differently in some children with autism, they can and do give affection. But it may require patience on a parent's part to accept and give love in the child's terms.\n\nAs part of a well-baby/well-child visit, your child's doctor should do a "developmental screening" asking specific questions about your baby's progress. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) lists these five behaviors that signal further evaluation is warranted:\n\nDoes not babble or coo by 12 months \nDoes not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months \nDoes not say single words by 16 months \nDoes not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months \nHas any loss of any language or social skill at any age. \nHaving any of these five "red flags" does not mean your child has autism, but because the characteristics of the disorder vary so much, a child should have further evaluations by a multidisciplinary team that may include a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant, or other p
231387
My son has Aspbergers Syndrome which is very similar to high-functioning autism. I get so frustrated with his lack of communication. If things aren't going his way he stops talking and just grunts or yells. If I try to guide him somewhere and he doesn't want to go, he'll collapse to the floor. He's 5 years old and isn't potty-trained either. We jsut had him going to the bathroom at the beginning of the summer and it lasted for 2 months, but he's relapsed. I keep trying to explain to him that he needs to have this under control by the time kindergarten starts, but I never know what he understands since his lack of communicative social skills leave me guessing and confused. Anyone else in this same boat?\n\nLack of verbal communication, unless in babies;\n\nAsperger Syndrome (AS) or disorder is a neurological disorder characterized by poor social interactions, obsessions, odd speech and mannerisms. The syndrome is considered part of the spectrum of pervasive developmental delay and is sometimes referred to as "high-functioning autism."
89258
I don't know, I live in FL and teach children with autism, but if I were you, I would check out the chamber of commerce.  Also, the following websites my be able to help you.  Good Luck
259200
Kids with the more extreme "strict" autism (Kanner's) may have dangerous habits or obsessions, therefore needing to be VERY closely supervised.  Many autistic kids have a fascination with water, putting them at a greater risk for drowning.  My nephew would chew on electrical wires and lick or eat strange things.  He would also jump off of high places.  My niece is fascinated with any and all animals.  I was at a garage sale with her & stopped her just before she got to a very aggressive dog that was chained up to side.  She could have been bit severely.\n\nOther than this kind of behavior, WHICH APPLIES ONLY TO THE MORE EXTREME, LOW FUNTIONING, "KANNER'S" AUTISM,  people with autism are likely to live just as long as those without autism.
279108
Hi, I'm a primary school teacher, so when I read your question, I wanted to help you out.\nI found a thread for you- it suggests lots of books and activities recommended by other parents who have autistic children. Hope it helps!
45453
I would recommend the following websites: \n\nhttp://www.paulakluth.com/autism.html (Website of Paula Kluth, Ph.D. - her book, "You're Going to Love this Kid!: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom" is also great). \n\nhttp://www.autismawarenesscentre.com/default.asp?page=dynamicweb.asp&pcid=0&pid=45 ("The Discovery of 'Aspie' Criteria by Dr. Tony Attwood and Carol Gray"). \n\nhttp://www.autism.org/temple/tips.html (Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.). \n\n"Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me. I may not be good at eye contact or conversation, but have you noticed I don't lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates, or pass judgment on other people?" - "Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew" by Ellen Notbohm ( http://www.southflorida.com/sfparenting/sfe-sfp-autism,0,6196233.story ) \n\nI hope this helps! :)
865122
You can contact local branches of the Autism Society of America and they can really help you.  Don't go with your doctors attitude, at age 3, even if it's not autim, but another sort of problem, he needs intervention.  The sooner the better.  My son is mildly autisic and for years I let the doctor convince me to give it time for him to catch up.  I waited a little too long (he was 4) and I regret not going with my instincts.
1103315
Medication??\nTo be honest do they really need medication?\nIn my family I have 2 uncles who have autism.. One medium and one a lot.. In the time they were born, there was not much known about it or even spoken about it.. A lot of people just locked these people up..\nThank God that is different now-a-days!\nHowever, my grandparents decided to take it in their own hands.\nThey have raised them as good as they could as normal children. No special treatments, no special attention and/or schools.. \nNow 35 years later, they both function very well in the daily world with normal people. Of course you can tell they are different and of course you have to have a little more patience with them, but as I said: They live a normal live just like everyone else.. Have a good job, friends, etc...\nPerhaps that is the reason that I do not believe in medications to "hide" the autism and therefore cannot answer your question.\nSorry for that, but just wanted to share my story ;o)
724670
Yes. After I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, my mother decided not to vaccinate my youngest sister, who is 11 years younger than me. She was diagnosed with PDD-NOS, which is also on the autism spectrum.
614184
The causes of autism are not yet known. However, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetic vulnerabilities to environmental factors. While there is disagreement about the magnitude, nature, and mechanisms for such environmental triggers, researchers have found seven genes prevalent among individuals diagnosed as autistic. Some estimate that autism occurs in as many as one United States child in 166, however the National Institute of Mental Health gives a more conservative estimate of one in 1000. Drinking soft drink would probably not be a factor.