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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, November 21, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, November 21, 2008
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According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It impacts the normal development of the brain, resulting in impairments of social interaction, verbal and non-verbal and communication, and leisure or play activities.
In recent years, the conceptualization and criteria defining the condition called "autism" have evolved significantly. The definition has broadened so that autism is now seen as a spectrum disorder, "Autism Spectrum Disorder" (ASD). Autistic disorder, the full-blown condition, is one of five disorders falling under the umbrella of "Pervasive Developmental Disorder" (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by "severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development," including social interaction and communications skills. PDD includes the disorders commonly diagnosed as Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Several decades ago, if a child was diagnosed with autism, there was little hope for leading anything close to a "normal" life. In fact, many parents were encouraged by professionals at the time to place their child with autism into institutional care to spare the family the stress and heartache of attempting to raise the child. However, recent research has demonstrated that by providing the child with autism appropriate services and supports at appropriate developmental levels, significant gains in most life areas can be achieved. Also, due to a shift to the "spectrum" view of ASD/PDD, we now are better able to identify and assist those individuals who have less severe forms of the disorder. These individuals were most often left undiagnosed in the past and did not receive many appropriate services or supports even though we now know they could have benefited greatly from them. This increased rate of identification has moved the diagnostic category of ASD/PDD from being considered a low incidence disorder to a relatively high incidence disorder. This shift requires changes in attitudes, policies, and the allocation of resources to address the needs of every person with ASD/PDD in a fair and appropriate manner.
Information on this site is being provided as a mechanism for expanding the opportunities available to families and professionals to improve the lives of individuals with the disorder.
This information originally appeared in Autism: Reaching for a Brighter Future, Service Guidelines for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (ASD/PDD) and is published with permission from the Ohio Autism Task Force, 2007.
Last Reviewed: Mar 02, 2007
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L. Eugene Arnold, MD, MEd Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry OSU Nisonger Center Department of Psychiatry College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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David Q. Beversdorf, MD Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurobehavior and Neurology Memory Disorders Clinic Department of Neurology College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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Michael G. Aman, PhD Professor of Psychology & Psychiatry OSU Nisonger Center Department of Psychiatry College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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Eric Butter, PhD Behavioral Treatment Specialist Department of Pediatrics (Nationwide Children's Hospital) College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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James A. Mulick, PhD Professor Department of Pediatrics (Nationwide Children's Hospital) College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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Ashliegh J. Hillier, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor Department of Neurology College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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Jacqueline Wynn, PhD Director, Intensive Behavioral Intervention Clinic Department of Pediatrics (Nationwide Children's Hospital) College of Medicine The Ohio State University |
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Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) |