What is Autism?

What is Autism?

Statistics + Issues at Hand

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological difference that comes with a limitless

spectrum of portrayal within its population. 3 Autismmost commonly describes those who carry

challenges in communication, speech, socialization and other behavioral issues. 4 Autism “is not

a disease, physical disability or mood disorder, which means there is no traditional medical test

or remedy. Autism is classified as a neurological and developmental disorder.” 5

The signs that a child with Autism may show become more clear as they grow up,

specifically around the age of two to three as this is “the most common age range for an official

diagnosis.” 6 At this age, toddlers are developingfine motor skills within their hands and wrists

and during this time it is more often than not, recognizable when a child is not properly

developing these skills, see Figure 2.1. 7 Early Interventionhas proven to be critical in young

children with Autism, and this is when “the condition is diagnosed and treated with behavioral

therapy before age three.” 8 The importance of EarlyIntervention has shown tremendous

developmental improvements within toddlers and it is vital that parents pay close attention to

developmental patterns in hopes to identify key traits of Autism. 9

3 TEDxTalks. “Neurodiversity – the Key That Unlocked My World | Elisabeth Wiklander | TEDxGöteborg.” YouTube, February 9, 2017. 4 “How to Recognize Early Signs of Autism.” ABA Centersof America, May 13, 2021. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 9 “How to Recognize Early Signs of Autism.” ABA Centersof America, May 13, 2021.

Many schools in the United States are not universally designed to be accessible for

children with neurological differences. “More and more schools are making accommodations

made for “special needs” children, many still do not. Even those that do rarely have the facilities

to address the different challenges that different kids with Autism have.” 10 In a TedTalk,

Elisabeth Wiklander explains that “we deservethesame access to education, with knowledge

and flexibility regarding our unique information processing.” 11 Similarly, in a video from the

Institute for Human Centered Design (IHCD), it is explained that “the changing reality of

10 Rudy, Lisa Jo. “Good Reasons Why Your Autistic ChildHas a Tough Time with School.” Verywell Health, September 3, 2020. 11 TEDxTalks. “Neurodiversity – the Key That UnlockedMy World | Elisabeth Wiklander | TEDxGöteborg.” YouTube, February 9, 2017.

urgency to deliver inclusion and opportunity. The time has come to design a future that

incorporates the critical voices of those most impacted by their environment, so that we may

begin to balance the scales of equity in modern American life.” 12 Taking this into consideration,

it has been stated that “design cannot cure a child with Autism, but a well-designed space can

break down the barriers and that may mean the child learns to speak or stays mainstream in a

school, so the stakes are high.” 13

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Autism is classified as a “Neurodevelopmental” disorder which is a disorder that stems

from the development of the nervous system and any potential deficits “that can arise from

abnormal brain development or be caused by damage at an early age.” 14 The severity of the

disorder depends on the time when these differences or damage occurs. 15 Within the

Neurodevelopmental disorders category, there are various types and levels of different disorders.

Other Neurodevelopmental disorders include: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD);

Specific Learning Disorders, such as Reading Disorder (Dyslexia), Writing Disorder

(Dysgraphia) and Calculation Disorder (Dyscalculia); Communication Disorders, such as

Expression Disorder, Comprehension Disorder, Speech Disorder (Dislalia) as well as Stuttering;

and of course Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 16

Some types of Neurodevelopmental disorders can be settled if the appropriate steps are

taken within intervention and seeking external help. However, some disorders are chronic but

12 IHCD Design. “The Changing Reality of Disabilityin America: 2020 (Promo).” YouTube, July 29, 2020. 13 Kumar, Sunil, and Shri L.K. Das. “Design for AllInstitute of India, Special Issue, December 2015, Vol. 10, No. 13.” Dehli, December 2015. 14 Pérez, Lidia García. “Neurodevelopmental Disorders.”NeuronUP. NeuronUP, September 15, 2021. 15 Ibid. 16 Ibid.

insme cases possibly eliminate, the negative consequences or symptoms caused by the disorder

in question.” 17

Types of Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is “referred to as a spectrum because the impact of the

condition has a broad range” 18 It is important tolook at and understand the different strengths

and weaknesses of each type of Autism and how they vary extraordinarily from person to person.

There are five main variations of Autism that include Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome,

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise

Specified (PDD-NOS) and lastly Autistic Disorder which is sometimes referred to as Kanner’s

Syndrome, see Figure 2.2. 19

Figure 2.2

17 Ibid. 18 Ibid. 19 “What Are the 5 Types of Autism?” Integrity Inc.Integrity, Inc, March 9, 2021.

person has intelligence levels and verbal skills that are above average, however “experience

challenges with social communication, inflexibility in thought and behavior.” 20 Children with

Asperger’s Syndrome struggle with transition between activities, functioning problems, failure to

express feelings in speech or have a consistently monotone pitch, and lastly they have difficulty

interacting with peers. 21

Rett Syndrome is a very rare Neurodevelopmental disorder that is diagnosed during

infancy. It is most commonly seen in girls while it is a debilitating disorder that “affects almost

every aspect of a child’s life, loss of standard movement and coordination, challenges with

communication and speech, as well as breathing difficulties in some cases.” 22

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) is also known as Heller’s Syndrome or

Disintegrative Psychosis and is classified through “delayed developmental problems in language,

motor skills, or social function.” 23 It is commonthat a child with CDD will hit a point in their

development between the ages 3-10 that is extremely disheartening, as it is most commonly a

later diagnosis. The cause of CDD is currently unknown, while “researchers have linked it to the

neurobiology of the brain.”24 It is most common inboys, specifically nine out of 10 children with

CDD would be boys and only one would be a girl. 25 Once the disorder is established within a

child’s development, it is common they will lose skills and abilities that they had previously

20 “What Are the 5 Types of Autism?” Integrity Inc.Integrity, Inc, March 9, 2021. 21 Ibid. 22 Ibid. 23 Ibid. 24 Ibid. 25 Ibid.

skills. 26

Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified is sometimes referred to as

“Subthreshold Autism” and is a mild type of Autism that can project a wide range of problems,

most commonly in social and language development. 27 This type of Autism really classifies

anyone who has a few, but not all challenges with Autism.

Autistic Disorder or Kanner’s Syndrome was originally developed as infantile Autism,

while children will still “appear attractive, alert and intelligent with underlying characteristics of

the disorder.” 28 Characteristics include little tono emotional attachment with others, challenges

within communication and interaction, uncontrolled speech and an obsession with handling

objects. 29

Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a term that was created in hopes to expand the classifications within

Neurodevelopmental disorders. It “refers to a larger category of people with varying neurological

differences, as well as neurotypical people.” 30 Specificallythis can include people with ADHD,

Tourette Syndrome, Depression, Dyslexia, Intellectual Disabilities, Schizophrenia, Autism or

anyone with a neurological difference. 31 There aremany ways in which people with Autism

differ from one another, as the clinical profile is neither uniform nor absolutely demarcated; it

26 “What Are the 5 Types of Autism?” Integrity Inc.Integrity, Inc, March 9, 2021. 27 Ibid. 28 Ibid. 29 Ibid. 30 Brusie, Chaunie. “Neurotypical: All You Need to Know and More.” Healthline Media, November 15, 2021. 31 Ibid.