Autism is not retarded

* Many people with autism have sensory overload, some or all their senses are 100X more sensitive than others, therefore they process the environment differently from neurotypicals (aka normal ppl).

                                                    THERE IS A CURE FOR AUTISM


* Recovery means that they have to overcome some of the symptoms they had that made it difficult for them to live full and successful lives in a world created by neurotypicals.


Characteristics of Autism:~

* high pitched voice
* does not reach milestones
* low muscle tone
* uneven fine & gross motor skills
* covers ears
* does not respond to name / act deaf
* does not react to pain
* does not like to be touched
* hyperactive or unresponsive
* eats or chews on unusual things
* smells objects
* remove clothes often
* hits or bites self
* lacks common sense
* cannot understand simple requests
* diarrhea , upset stomach, constipation


                                         BEHAVIOURS ARE A FORM OF COMMUNICATION

For the very young and non verbal, behaviour is the only way for them to communicate with us. They cannot help what they are doing, they are not just "being difficult".


some characteristics and what they mean? :~

Finicky eating :~
* Eating only from certain food groups can be indictive of food allergies.
* Eating only foods of the same texture, smelling the food before eating it.

sensory processing issues

Avoidance of auditory stimulation
* Covering the ears / appearing deaf (not responding when name is called)

                   Auditory processing difficulties                          High sensitivity to sounds

* Leaving a room when people enter (avoiding too much auditory stimulation)
* Listening to and repeating tv commercials or songs indicates the person has gotten used to hearing those sounds. Desensitized himself to them. Listening to people talking is more difficult because peeple dont usually say the same thing twice and no 2 people talk the same way.
* often have monotone or peculiar intonations becos they dont understand the concept of nuance.
* No reaction or else a strong reaction to touch
* Fall and cut themselves but will not cry , tactile senses very dull, doesnt feel sensations like the way most people do.


Removes clothes or shoes often
* may not like the feel of a peculiar texture on their skin. Certain fabrics or shoes can make them very uncomfortable.

Lack of eye contact
* People with visual processing problems find it hard to look at people straight on, they look from the corner of their eyes.

Unusual body movements
* Rocking in a chair / back and forth from one foot to another - stress release from too much stimulation or not enough.
*Flicking of fingers would also be a release from stress , but if front of eyes, could be a visual processing stimulation.
* Awkward movements and running into furnitures can be symptoms of poor mapping.
(poor fine and gross motor skills)


Does not play with or imitate others
* Child with sensory processing issues will have difficulty being near other children , who are in his eyes, noisy and unpredictable . (canno tolerate)


Lines up objects
* Slows a need for sameness (do not like changes in their routine)
* They may have a hard time making sense of their world and so the sameness in certain areas provides a predictibility and and security missing from an existence which they are having a hard time comprehending.

Temper , tantrums, hyperactivity and aggression towards self or others.
* Sensory overload / change in the sameness that provides security.
* Bright , noisy , crowded places are hard on people with sensory issues.
* Aggression towards others  (sensory overload)
* self aggression could be due to seeking sensory stimulation, feeling pain or frustration.


                                   you never get over, you just have to learn to deal with it