I am an author doing research for a fictional character. I am
wondering if there is such a thing as an "autism" so mild, so
borderline that one is never sure what to call it. I read a list of
the signs, but what if they are only mildly (or sometimes?) present?
How common is it to have a borderline diagnosis? Would this be called
something else like "mild... such and such..." Is there a specific
website (or book) that will help with this? [I prefer answers that are
not just cut-and-paste lists of websites that come up on google for
"autism"-- I can do that myself].... I am looking more for an opinion
from someone who really knows something.Hi charidea-ga!
Thanks for asking! I found some information that will assist you.
Indeed there is a mild form of autism, in fact, autism as we have come
to know it is only the extreme end of the autism spectrum. Better
diagnosis has led to a wide range of symptoms from very mild, called
"high-functioning autism" [Asperger syndrome], to very severe.
See this:
Helping Kids with Mild Autism
http://www.utah.edu/news/releases/02/jun/autism.html
..."The classic definition of autism includes "children who have very
low interest in relating to other people," Ozonoff says. "They don't
seem to have any desire to engage in social interactions. They usually
have significant language limitations. Some don't speak at all and
some just repeat others' speech. They are clearly very delayed in
their language. They usually have any number of a variety of
repetitive behaviors, things they do over and over again. It could be
flapping their hands, or rocking or spinning. … To have classic
autism, you have to show a certain number of features in each of three
areas: social impairment, communication impairment and repetitive
behaviors."
However, researchers have realized in recent decades that classic
autism is just the severe end of a spectrum of disorders that also
include milder conditions in which affected children and adults may be
intelligent, communicative, articulate and able to learn, but still
have some social and communications impairments and other autism-like
symptoms.
The milder conditions are known as Asperger syndrome, high-functioning
autism and "pervasive developmental disability - not otherwise
specified." Ozonoff's book makes clear that while researchers and
clinicians have tried to distinguish these three conditions, they are
similar and indeed may represent one condition that is simply a mild
form of autism.
"These higher-functioning versions of autism still involve the same
areas [of impairment], but of a different quality," Ozonoff says. "In
the social area, they might not be completely aloof or uninterested in
interacting, but may be quite odd in how they try to interact with
others. … In the communication area, they may not have any delays in
language but they usually have some differences or oddities in their
communication style. For example, they might talk too much instead of
too little, or their speech might not be really reciprocal, like it's
not related to what other people say. You make a comment and the child
answers back according to what they want to say instead of what you
asked."
Children and adults with mild autism also may not have repetitive
behaviors, but instead display almost obsessive interest in certain
narrow or unusual topics.
"Some kids are interested in movie ratings or animal classifications
or sprinkler systems," says Ozonoff, who had one patient able to
identify numerous vacuum-cleaner parts.
Other symptoms that may be seen in children with mild autism include
extreme anxiety over changes in routine, unstable mood, poor motor
skills, an ability to get along with adults better than with children,
poor common sense, trouble making eye contact, difficulty detecting
nonverbal cues from other people, a lack of empathy or social or
emotional reciprocity, echoing lines from videos or books, and an
inability to engage in pretend play.
Many children with autism spectrum disorder also suffer frequent
teasing because they have interests unlike other children or otherwise
do not fit in, Ozonoff says.
A study in the late 1980s estimated autism affected 1-in-1,000
children - and that estimate was criticized as high, Ozonoff says. But
a definitive study published in 2001 estimated 1-in-160 children had
some form of autism, with about one-fourth of those having classic
autism and the rest affected by milder forms.
"We used to think it was such a rare disorder it wasn't included in
Psych 101 or even in most graduate training programs," Ozonoff says.
"Now it's turning out to be one of the most common developmental
disorders. Everyone needs to know about it. Almost everyone is going
to meet someone with autism spectrum disorder whether they know it or
not."
Ozonoff says the reason for the increase is not known, although better
diagnosis and environmental factors are possible. (However, a series
of recent studies found no evidence to support claims that the vaccine
for mumps, measles and rubella might be linked to autism.)..."
This may be useful as it a well organized checklist of symptoms, a
"cheat-sheet" for you:
ASPERGER'S SYNDROME, A MILD AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER by Kathy Rand,
Ph.D. 2/1/2003
http://home.swbell.net/jim-rand/checklist.html
Scroll down to:
Social Interactions
Verbal and Nonverbal Communication [etc]... there's a lot of
information at the link, and it's very well organized.
There's 1,590 links for the [Google] search entry: "mild autism", so
if you'd like me to pick out a few more for you, please ask for a
clarification. I won't mind at all!
Sincerely,
--Cynthia
Search terms used at Google:
"mild autism"#If you have any other info about this subject , Please add it free.# |
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7 January 2009 |
cameltoepants.com |
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