critically analyse the theories and practises of assessment of autistic spectrum disorders in young children?
967118
Your question requires a very detailed answer.  You will get lots of ideas and information from these sites and should be able to answer them fairly well.  Best of luck with it.
956698
I am assuming you are a mom of a child with autism?  Check the links I have given - you should be able to access some of what you are looking for through them.  There are quite a few  sites where you can access the type of pictures you are asking about.  \n\nYour school district may be able to give you access to the PECS software if you have a child with autism.  Most speech language pathologists who work with young children would probably have access to it.  I know that the software is quite specific and quite expensive so it may not be possible to find it on line without paying for it.  I hope this is of some help to you.  Best of luck.
113683
Do you mean Rett's Syndrome?  This is a difficult form of autism in which children stop progressing, mentally and often physically.  It is tough to deal with as a parent.  Children often cry uncontrollably and need constant attention.  Go to any autism website for more specific information and to get linked in with a support group.
280506
The person never develops the typical neurology for their age, instead developing characteristically autistic neurology. Certain autistic symptoms are present from birth, but the most obvious symptoms are only detectable at an age when a non-autistic child would start to speak. Most autistic children either never develop speech or have it significantly delayed, and in any case they communicate in a characteristically unusual manner.\n\nThe alternative to early infantile autism is regressive autism, in which neurological development superficially appears normal for the first 18 months or so and then switches to the autistic pattern. When most people think of autism in children below the age of two years, they think of early infantile autism. These two terms are actually misnomers: in both cases the child is autistic well before birth, and the difference is only in the onset of symptoms. Once a person is on the standard autistic developmental track, the distinction makes very little difference.
477575
Put Aspergers Syndrome in the search bar.\n\n\n\nAsperger's Disorder is the term for a specific type of pervasive developmental disorder which is characterized by problems in development of social skills and behavior. In the past, many children with Asperger's Disorder were diagnosed as having autism, another of the pervasive developmental disorders, or other disorders. While autism and Asperger's have certain similarities, there are also important differences. For this reason, children suspected of having these conditions require careful evaluation.\n\nIn general, a child with Asperger's Disorder functions at a higher level than the typical child with autism. For example, many children with Asperger's Disorder have normal intelligence. While most children with autism fail to develop language or have language delays, children with Asperger's Disorder are usually using words by the age of two, although their speech patterns may be somewhat odd.\n\nMost children with Asperger's Disorder have difficulty interacting with their peers. They tend to be loners and may display eccentric behaviors. A child with Asperger's, for example, may spend hours each day preoccupied with counting cars passing on the street or watching only the weather channel on television. Coordination difficulties are also common with this disorder. These children often have special educational needs.\n\nAlthough the cause of Asperger's Disorder is not yet known, current research suggests that a tendency toward the condition may run in families. Children with Asperger's Disorder are also at risk for other psychiatric problems including depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.\n\nChild and adolescent psychiatrists have the training and expertise to evaluate pervasive developmental disorders like autism and Asperger's Disorder. They can also work with families to design appropriate and effective treatment programs. Currently, the most effective treatment involves a combination of psychotherapy, special education, behavior modification, and support for families. Some children with Asperger's Disorder will also benefit from medication.\n\nThe outcome for children with Asperger's Disorder is generally more promising than for those with autism. Due to their higher level of intellectual functioning, many of these children successfully finish high school and attend college. Although problems with social interaction and awareness persist, they can also develop lasting relationships with family and friends.
341753
It sounds like you already have your bases covered. Does your school district have a special needs preschool teacher certified in any of the Autistic-spectrum teaching methods? Is she attending it? Your IFSP should include the therapies you mentioned, plus social instruction programming (at a preschool), plus a social worker helping you access local and state resources.\n\nRight now, you should be shopping carefully and laying the groundwork for her kindergarten enterance. Does your district centralize their Autistic instruction at one of the elementary schools, or will they be expecting your neighborhood school's special ed teachers to take her?\n\nEither is fine, but if she will be going to the neighborhood school, you need to meet with the teacher(s) who will be working with her year after next. Find out if they currently have Autistic program training, prior experience with Autistics, familiarity with Autistic programs even if not currently trained... If not, you're giving them an alert that going to those conferences and doing some homework might be a good thing during the next year. They are (or should be) professional enough to prepare themselves for your daughter's arrival.\n\nIf you feel uncomfortable about the special ed kindergarten teacher's abilities at your local school after meeting with him/her, ask to observe the programs he/she is currently running.  If it still doesn't feel right, or the teacher is hostile to your questions about their training/experience, don't hesitate. Get hooked up with your local or state parent's advocacy group and let them know your concerns. They may know more about that teacher and his/her history. They will either reassure you about giving the teacher a chance, or they will come in with you to the district to arrange for a different teacher for your daughter.\n\nIf you can start her off right in kindergarten, with a good teacher and a good program, she stands a good chance of doing extrememly well by the time she reaches high school. My husband is a Drama teacher for 8th and 9th graders, and he has had a high-functioning autistic in his program for two years, with great results (his second in 10 years of teaching). Both kids were taking all regular ed classes, with continued therapies and a special ed teacher providing inclusion support.\n\nHang in there!
1134044
I am an Aspie with two children with Asperger's.  I have to agree that there are a lot of children running around with very negative social skills.  I think that one of the big differences is that children with Asperger's are taught where NT children learn from the environment.  If the parents, teachers, other figures in the child's life are disrespectful then they will pick up on that.  Where I live children are dumped outside for the summer and do not go home until ten to twelve at night.  These children pick up on all the negative behaviors and have no structure or good role models.  My children are not allowed outside unsupervised.  If my children hit, hurt, or aggravate another child I am there to teach him it is wrong.  There is no one there to teach the child who usually started the situation.
919404
Autism is kind of hard to misdiagnos Here are a few links for you. We have an autsic 16 month but we have to wait until she is 2  to be diagnosed. For the first 8 months of her life we thought she was deaf and blind. Working hard with her has helped her progress a little. The first link you need to register it is free to do so. It is a great sight.
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Theory of mind and central coherence in children with autism and...\nTHEORY OF MIND AND CENTRAL COHERENCE IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND CHILDREN WITH PRAGMATIC LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT. Home. What is Autism?\nhttp://www.autismwa.org.au/theory_of_mind.html \n\n \nFrancesca HappeAutism:\n...and Russell, J. (1997) Counting abilities in autism: possible implications for central coherence theory, Journal of Autism and Developmental...\nhttp://trainland.tripod.com/francesc.htm \n\n \nneurodiversity.com | theory of mind & autism\nTheory of Mind & Autism. See also: Cognitive Psychology Mirror Neurons ... Central semantic and pragmatic aspects of language acquisition\nhttp://www.neurodiversity.com/theory_of_mind.html \n\n \n'Gestalt Perception' in Autism: Superability or Deficit?\n'Gestalt Perception' in Autism: Superability or Deficit? ... While I think Uta Frith's central coherence theory (and in fact, most of her theories)...\nhttp://www.suite101.com/discussion.cfm/17100/86072
1010049
This site states pdd-nos as being in the spectrum,and it's from the Autism Society of America, so they should know! I'd print this out and give it to her! I thought everyone identified it as being such. I'd find a different psychiatrist, or go to a psychologist, they're trained to diagnose autism.\nhttp://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=whatisautism\n\nThis one has a different theory, saying that it presents LIKE autism, but didn't go so far as to call it that. \nhttp://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs1txt.htm
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In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger observed four children in his practice who had difficulty integrating socially. Although their intelligence appeared normal, the children lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy. Their way of speaking was either disjointed or overly formal, and their all-absorbing interest in a single topic dominated their conversations. Dr. Asperger called the condition “autistic psychopathy” and described it as a condition primarily marked by social isolation.[30] He also stated that "exceptional human beings must be given exceptional educational treatment, treatment which takes into account their special difficulties. Further, we can show that despite abnormality, human beings can fulfill their social role within the community, especially if they find understanding, love and guidance".[2]\n\nHans Asperger and Leo Kanner identified essentially the same population, although the group identified by Asperger was perhaps more "socially functional" than Kanner's.[37] Traditionally, Kannerian autism is characterized by significant cognitive and communicative deficiencies, including delays in or lack of language.[38] A person with AS will not show delays in language, however.\n\nAsperger’s observations, published in German, were not widely known until 1981, when an English doctor named Lorna Wing published a series of case studies of children showing similar symptoms, which she called “Asperger’s” syndrome.[3] Wing’s writings were widely published and popularized. In 1992, the tenth published edition of the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) included AS, making it a distinct diagnosis.[5] Later, in 1994, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic reference book also added AS.[4][39]\n\nUta Frith (an early researcher of Kannerian autism) wrote that people with AS seem to have more than a touch of autism to them.[40] Others, such as Lorna Wing and Tony Attwood, share Frith's assessment. Dr. Sally Ozonoff, of the University of California at Davis's MIND Institute, argues that there should be no dividing line between "high-functioning" autism and AS,[41] and that the fact that some people do not start to produce speech until a later age is no reason to divide the two groups because they are identical in the way they need to be treated.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger%27s_Syndrome
426378
Yes it does .The treatment should start very early by age 3 to be most effective.I work with special needs kids.These kids get up to 40 hours a week of in home therapy.I am working with one little boy who had no language less than a year ago and all he wanted were his visual stims,to make screeching sounds and he never made eye contact.He has had intense therapy and is doing so well with possitive reinforcement.Most people would not even know that he was autistic for the most part.Finding a good therapy really makes a difference.It is awesome to change these kids lives.
1079924
I answered your other question, \ni would like to say to you that if your son is showing any symptoms of Aspergers Syndrome {however mild or severe} please persist with the fight to get this diagnosis {he is under a paediatrician?}\nAny level of an ASD can be extremely difficult to diagnose and entails a lot of assessments at home/ school and any other regular places he attends.\nTry and make a note of unusual / inappropriate things he might say and things he is sensitive to or that over stimulate him ie; my son can`t cope with people talking in a different voice than their own, bright walls make him hyper and he has no concept of another persons personal space.\nHe has no concept of fear or danger and does not feel pain like a person without ASD does.\nCertain things do become quite obsessive { the latest being climbing on shed roof tops} and he is only 4 and a half !\nI wish you all the best of luck as parenting a child with ADHD and ASD will probably be the most challenging and exhausting experience of your lives.
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Here are some books that might help:\nAutism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide by \nChantal Sicile-Kira, Temple Grandin\n\nAlso, a look at applied behavioural analysis, one of the most commonly used and reliable treatments is seen in the book\n\nApplied Behaviour Analysis and Autism: Building a Future Together ~ by Mickey Keenan (Editor), et al\n \nthere are many good Yahoo groups for people with your questions:\nhttp://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=autism&submit=Search\n\nYes, your child can have a normal adult life, with a whole lot of support from his family and friends.  The specifics of a driver's license depends entirely on his individual ability.  My non-autistic friend didn't get one until she was 30 years old, out of fear.  My autistic brother got one when he was 21, which is how long it took him to learn the skills he needed.
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I don't usually respond to website questions but I read this one and thought I would. My 7yr old daughter has high functioning autism. At first she was diagnosed with aspergers. She is a loner and quite happy to be that way.There are 5 children in the family and she would prefer to be on her own. It saddens me more to see her in the school playground on her own that what it does her.She has an aide at school and is left out by other children because of this - she has only just come to understand that people actually like people.There are a lot of educational things for people with aspergers and autism to help them along on their lives.An example is - social stories (where one learns the correct behaviour in social settings).\nThere is a program called The Dore Program (I think the website is  www.dore.com or could have .au on the end!!!) They take children and adults with learning disabilities - including autism and aspergers - the create exercises for each individual and they are done a couple of timesa day for 12 to 18 months.During this time the client can go from non reading and writing to overtaking their peers. It also helps with behaviour and motor skills. I have read these stories and spoken to a consultant at the institue. \nI know this isnt answering the above question but to all sufferes of any disability there is always hope and tomorow can only be a better day.\nThanks for reading.
503260
Hi.  My son is autistic.  He's twelve now, but was diagnosed at age 2 and a half. There are a few steps you can take.  If he was evaluated and diagnosed with autism, you should get a copy of the evaluation, as well as a copy of the official diagnosis.  I don't know when the child you want to assist was diagnosed, or how high functioning he is, but the very first thing you should do is try to get state funding for the various services offered.  You call your local agency necessarry for funding, and get an appt to do the whole application process. Where I live, the place I get funding from is called The Dept of Developmental Disabilities. Once you have funding, you will be assigned a case worker, who will talk to you about what services your child will need, and the best ones available. If you have the money to pay for these services yourself, that's ok, but it gets very expensive. Then go from there.From the way you described this child, I'm guessing you would do well with habilitation.(teaching lots of different things, mainly acedemics, some social behavior. Lots of public schools now have programs desined just for autistic kids. Look into that, because they learn so much in the classroom. For household activities, depending on what you are trying to teach him, I think you, and whoever lives with him, are the ones who need to teach that stuff. You need to be able to read his every thought, and act accordingly. If it's something he doesn't want to learn, he will resist and then he will associate that task with horrible feelings.  Know what he likes for rewards, and use a LOT of encouragement and positive reinforcement.General motor skills will often go for a physical therapist, and maybe an occupational therapist.  (one who specializes in the senses, and eases them into the various degrees of our senses) I know it's a lot to think about, and I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you. Good luck.
509091
Isn't it sad when people with Autism are considered to be partially and, in the case of your country, lumped in the same group as people with mental retardation?  I have yet to meet a child with Autism that is not VERY bright.  They all seem to ahve a high intellect, but lack the ability to communicate this.\n\nAt an rate, Autism is a HUGE spectrum, so to give a lifetime prognosis is difficult, and would have to be done on an individual basis.  Every person is SO different.  The best treatment that I have seen is the Applied behavioral Analysis (ABA) program.  It seems to have an amazing affect on almost every individual that goes through it.  best of luck!!