-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
mental/emotional
autism
diagnoses
definition and etiology
definition: A condition beginning in early childhood and consisting of:
marked inability to develop social interactions
rituals and compulsive behavior: often related to a resistance to change
language problems with echolalia and impaired understanding
usually, general retardation in intellectual growth
Also known as "Infantile Psychosis", "Infantile Autism", and "Kanner's Syndrome".
etiology:
The cause is unknown. The condition affects males four times more than females.
signs and symptoms
signs and symptoms:
The onset of autism is no later than 30 months, and is usually diagnosed much earlier in infancy. The baby exhibits:
Tendencies to solitude: failure to cuddle, lack of eye contact.
Speech and language problems: muteness, slowed onset of talking, unusual use of words, or creating own language.
Obsession with sameness: guarding against change; constantly performing the same acts; marked attachment to known objects.
Uneven intellectual performance.
lab findings: Testing is inconclusive and often difficult to administer.
EEG is usually nonspecific and biochemical studies are not helpful.
CT scans, in a few cases, have uncovered abnormalities implicating the medial temporal areas or enlargement of the lateral ventricles as possible initiating factors.
It appears that the most helpful test is the standard IQ test: most children are shown to be retarded and generally will maintain the same traits into adulthood. However, children shown to have a normal IQ and who exhibit communicative language by 5 years old may develop some remarkable talents, such as near-genius musical or mathematical skills, while still remaining socially withdrawn and inept.
course and prognosis
There is no conventional treatment available to cure: phenothiazines can help control aggressive acts directed against himself or others, but do nothing for the psychosis itself. However, treatment centers for autistic children can often make significant improvements in the child with intensive one-on-one counseling and special schooling (for both the child and the parents).
Two additional techniques may be helpful in dealing with the autistic child:
meditate with the child (become completely still and empty in his or her presence, without attempting to get the child to meditate), for a period of at least twenty minutes, at least twice daily. Such efforts may bear fruit, after months of time.
constantly and consistently, give elaborate praise to the autistic child for each and every behavior that that seems to indicate an awareness, however dim, of the field of interpersonal relations and acts of relating therein. Such efforts may bear fruit, after months of time. (Chavez)
differential diagnosis
infantile schizophrenia
sensory organ impairment
mental retardation
footnotes