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Autism

What is Autism?
A developmental disorder characterized by marked difficulty in communication and social relations and by the presence of atypical behaviors such as unusual responses to sensation, repetitive movements, and insistence on routine or sameness.

Quick Facts
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder in the U.S. Autism effects 1 in 88 children in the U.S. and 1 of 54 are boys Boys are five times more likely than girls to have autism 1 in 47 children in Utah have Autism 1 of 32 are boys Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average On average it cost 2.3 million dollars to care for an individual with autism over their life span

Characteristics of Autism
Social Challenges Communication Difficulties Repetitive Behaviors Genetic Disorders Seizure Disorders Sleep Dysfunction Sensory Processing Problems Pica

The Autism Encyclopedia 2005

Red Flags

Helpful Hints

Teach them to Initiate Choose the right Communication o Sign Language, Verbal, or Pictures Avoid idioms and questions Avoid anticipating needs Give them a reason to communicate Keep a Routine Wait and Watch

No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by nine months No babbling by 12 months No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months No words by 16 months No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age http://www.autismspeaks.org http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/stat es/addm-utah-fact-sheet.pdf http://teaching.monster.com/benefits/arti cles/8761-22-tips-for-teaching-studentswith-autism-spectrum-disorders Teresar Cardon, Ph.D UVU