April is Autism Awareness Know the Facts
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with Autism look that sets them apart from other people, but people with Autism may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with Autism can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with Autism need a lot of help in their daily lives, while others may need little to no support.
About 1 in 59 children has been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
1 in 37 boys
1 in 151 girls
Autism is about 4 times more common among boys than among girls.
Autism is reported to occur in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups.
There is no cure for Autism.
Most children are still being diagnosed after the age of 4, but Autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as 2.
There is currently no cure for Autism. Every individual with Autism unique strengths and challenges. There is no one size fits all approach to the treatment of Autism. Each intervention plan should be tailored to address each individual’s specific needs.
Early Intervention- Early Intervention is targeted services that give specialized supports to families with young children ages birth to school age with developmental delays and disabilities.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. The goal of this therapy is to increase behaviors that are helpful and decrease behaviors that are harmful or affect learning.
Speech- Language Therapy- Speech-language therapy addresses challenges with both language and communication. The overall goal is to help the person communicate in more useful and functional ways.
Occupational Therapy- Occupational therapy (OT) helps to improve everyday skills which allow people to become more independent and participate in a wide range of activities.
Several factors may influence the development of autism, and it is often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues.