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Autism

WHAT IS AUTISM?Autism Awareness
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that impacts the development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills and learning. Listed under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders for the purposes of diagnosis, autism is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 

PREVALANCE
Autism currently affects an estimated 1 in 150 births (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007), making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and religious groups, and autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls. Family income, lifestyle and education also have no affect the on occurrence of autism

SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM
Autism impairs a person's functioning in three distinct areas:  Behavior, Communication and Socialization. Behaviorally, autism is many times associated with obsessive- and compulsive-like repetitive behaviors, such as lining up items or spinning objects. Individuals with autism may adhere to strict routines and have problems with change or transition. More severe behaviors including aggression and self-injury may also be exhibited. In the area of communication, both verbal and non-verbal communication is affected with some children never developing vocal language. Sign language and picture communication systems are used to augment language development. Socially, children may treat people as objects, many times preferring to be alone rather than engage in social interaction with family and classmates.  Symptoms of autism can range from very mild to quite severe and typically appear during the first 3 years of life.

Autism AwarenessHOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS AUTISM?
Children's Care Hospital and School in Sioux Falls has a diverse team of trained professionals who have specialized training in administrating comprehensive evaluations to diagnose or rule out Autism. Our Autism Evaluation team is comprised of a pediatric psychiatrist, school psychologist, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, and an audiologist, who have many combined years of experience in assessing and developing treatment programs for children with autism spectrum disorders.

TREATMENT FOR AUTISM
 There are many treatment options for individuals with autism. Most individuals with autism respond very well to highly structured, consistent environments of instruction. Most research indicates that intensive behavioral intervention holds the most promise. Further, the earlier a child receives treatment, the more likely the child will be to make significant improvement. Instructional approaches to autism should treat all areas affected by the disorder; socialization, communication, and behavior. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is recognized by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development as treatment for autism spectrum disorders. 

WHAT IS ABA AND HOW IS IT USED AT CHILDREN'S CARE HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL?
ABA is the design, implementation, and evaluation of environmental modifications to produce socially significant improvements in human behavior. Children's Care forms a circle of support around each child it serves. This support is comprised of specialist in many fields who work together to develop programs, modify the child's environment, and implement programs that will improve the quality of life for that child.

ABA includes the use of direct observation, measurement, and functional analysis of the relations between environment and behavior. Children's Care has clinicians trained in ABA who understand that important program decisions must be derived from collecting solid data through ongoing observations and assessments and measuring progress of each child to ensure that they are acquiring the skills needed for functional independence.

ABA examines antecedents & consequences, utilizes principles of reinforcement, programs for skill mastery and generalization, and utilizes many other principles of ABA to produce practical change. All programs and strategies at Children's Care are based on sound scientific principles and have a solid research foundation that proves their effectiveness. We want only the best for the children we serve.

IMPORTANCE OF EARLY INTERVENTION
According to The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), revised in 2004, states are required to provide all eligible children with a free and appropriate public education. The law entitles children with disabilities to a free and appropriate education from the time of birth through age 21. Research indicates that children who begin to receive services at very early ages, preferably before age 2 ½ or 3 years, show the most progress and lasting improvements. For children with autism, research indicates those who receive early and intensive intervention can experience great improvement in their quality of life. There are nearly 50 years of research that indicate that early intervention increases educational and developmental growth of children; assists families; and provides long term benefits to society. According to Catherine Lord at the University of Michigan, the best way to deal with autism is to intervene as early as possible. Applied Behavior Analytic Programs have been shown to provide much success when compared with other early intervention programs. In June 2007 the journal Exceptional Children reported that a one-year long study funded by the Surrey-based South East Regional Special Educational Needs Partnership suggests that children with Autism spectrum disorders have greater success with Applied Behavior Analytic approaches than with other commonly offered types of early intervention programs. The study looked at gains in intellectual, educational, and adaptive behavior. The children educated with applied behavior analytic programs showed more success than those in other intervention programs.

CAUSES OF AUTISM
Unlike other childhood disorders, there is no blood test, scan, no image that can detect the incidence of autism. Diagnosis relies entirely on behavioral observation and screening. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders identifies three distinctive characters seen in autism: difficulty in social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted or stereotypical patterns of behavior, interests, and/or activities.

While doctors and researchers now know more about autism than ever before, many questions still remain unanswered. Over the past few years, there has been evidence to suggest that genetics may play a big role in the development of autism. Research by the National Institute of Health indicates that some people may have a genetic predisposition to developing the disorder. Some researchers hypothesize that individuals are born with a predisposition to autism that is set off by "a trigger" event in the environment. 

Some individuals believe that Thimerosal, a preservative found in childhood vaccines, causes autism. While many parents report a correlation between receiving vaccinations and the onset of autism, medical experts increasingly doubt that theory and much research has been conducted that disputes this theory. Further, even though the chemical has been removed from virtually all vaccinations, the incidence of autism continues to increase. 

CURE FOR AUTISM?
There is no cure for autism, as a result, many unproven alternative therapies are often suggested to parents who-frustrated by the lack of effective medical treatments, try to find anything that will help their child. In clinical studies, the alternative therapies are usually found to be ineffective and sometimes harmful. Although no cure exists for autism, early behavioral and educational interventions do help children with autism to improve.

IN-HOME BEHAVIOR THERAPY 
Children's Care In-home Behavior Therapy (IBT) services incorporates the latest research based teaching methodologies in Applied Behavioal Analysis (ABA) and offers those services to families of children with special needs. Research has shown that early and intensive services utilizing principles of ABA is the most effective approach to teaching new skills to children with autism that lead toward greater functional independence. Children's Care IBT is targeted for young children with autism or similar developmental disabilities, but is effective for older children as well. In Home Behavior Therapy

Families interested in accessing IBT services from Children's Care will be asked to complete an application packet as well as submit relevant developmental history, medical, educational, or recent treatment records. An initial assessment will be scheduled, in which trained clinicians will come to your home to evaluate your child's current skills across many domans. The assessment tool utilized is known as the Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills - Revised (ABLLS-R) and permits clinicians to develop appropriate programming and monitor skill acquisition over time. Ongoing assessments and parent review meetings are a staple of IBT to ensure that families are continually appraised of their child's progress and that the appropriate skill deficits are addressed.

For in depth information about Children's Care IBT services, please contact Becky Deelstra-Speck, Outreach Services Manager, (605)782-2321. She will assist with information, application, and coordination of services.    

 

News Recources:
January/February 2008 M.D. News - After the Autism Screening: Next Steps for a Child Who May Be at Risk

 

Click the links below for more information on Autism:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.htm
http://www.autism-society.org/
http://www.autismspeaks.org/
http://www.autismone.com/



Autism Case Studies: (click links below to preview documents)
          Early Intervention study, Behavioral Interventions
"I have been volunteering with Children's Care since 1993. It gives me a good feeling to help others. The staff is very friendly and we have fun, too!"
– Anna Burkard, Volunteer