A.S.D Autism Spectrum Disorder

Here is where the jargon or language starts to change about your child.  Although we don't want to get caught up in labels if you don't understand you will get left behind.

A.S.D stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder which means the disorder is a spectrum.  Quite often if you say your child has autism people will automatically think of the movie "Rain Main" or "Black Balloon".  Which is great that autism gets highlighted however autism as depicted in theses movies is not a one size fits all.

If you imagine a ball of string and you unravel it, at one end you would have severe Autism where people may have no language and limited ability to cope without assistance and in the middle is high functioning Autism.  This is where there may have been language delay or loss of language but the person can function at a much higher level compared with severe Autism.  Then at the other end there is Asperges syndrome which is considered the more functioning where there may have always been very articulate language. However the person will still struggle socially, emotionally and with being able to be flexible in the way they do tasks or within their thinking.

In between this there are many different aspects of these diagnosis and although one person may have the same diagnosis they will be effected by this disorder differently.

PDDNOs - Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, which basically means they have a number of ticks in the box of this disorder but may just be too young to give a formal diagnosis or that they struggle within this spectrum but again not enough to give a formal diagnosis.

The three main areas which seem to have a common theme within the spectrum are:

• Communication verbal and non verbal
• Socialisation
• Thinking or behaviour

If you were to ask where does my child fit on this spectrum no one could give you an exact answer because everyone is unique and individual and will have there own challenges within this disorder.

It is so important to realise that it doesn't matter what the diagnosis all people who have A.S.D will present challenges for family and caregivers and of course for themselves.  You don't get let off the hook just because your child is more functioning e.g has more language. People naturally assume they will be able to survive without assistance.  This of course is not true.

In fact the more subtle the differences are the harder it is because people expect them to get or understand the social rules of life which we all take for granted.  These people at times can appear very normal but it will be the way that they do things, process understanding or say or not say that will give it away.

Today in New Zealand there are over 40,000 people who are effected by  A.S.D which is one out of every 100.

Below are some other links to websites which also help to explain A.S.D however this is just a few of many on the subject.

http://www.asdguideline.com/tutorials

http://www.asdguideline.com/tutorials

http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation/EducationPolicies/SpecialEducation/ServicesAndFunding/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/WhatIsEducationDoingAboutAutismSpectrumDisorder/WhatIsAutismSpectrumDisorder.aspx

http://www.autismnz.org.nz/

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum

.http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/learning/disability/generalinfo/asd/asd2.html

http://www.autism.org.uk/about-autism/autism-and-asperger-syndrome-an-introduction/what-is-autism.aspx

Rowena Monds©
Consultant