The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time
Night-Time
Blog One-Due 6/24
The main character of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is unique. We perceive everything in the novel--the plot, characters, ideas, themes, and more--through the eyes of the story's unusual narrator, Christopher Boone, who is autistic. Before you begin the book, do some reading on-line about autism and Asperger's syndrome to help you better understand his take on things, and then post a description or summary of what you've discovered, a minimum of 300 words. On the right there is a link to a good site to begin your research! Here are some prompts to help get you started:
-Name some characteristics of a person with autism.
-What is the difference between Asperger's and autism?
-Do all people with autism exhibit the same symptoms?
-Do you know anyone that is autistic or who has Asperger's
syndrome? If so, explain what they are like.
-If you don't know someone personally, describe a character
you've seen in a film (or play).
NOTE: After everyone has posted a comment, read the entries and post a second blog entry to extend and deepen the conversation.
Josselyn Swett
ReplyDeleteAutism
As a child grows it is not always easy to detect Autism. Although Autism does not cause any physical distortions, it does affect a person’s ability to communicate and socialize with others. For infants, characteristics of Autism include unresponsiveness to others, choosing to focus on an item for long periods of time instead of other objects, and little to no speech (NINDS.com).
Autism becomes more recognizable when a child does not respond to their name, and talks about themselves in third person. For most, Autism makes socializing difficult and can cause loss of friendship. Commonly, Autistic children will have poor eye contact and communication skills. They cannot understand the emotions of others, and do not pickup on cues made by others in the group (KidsHealth.org). They lack empathy. Conversations with a child who has Autism can also cause problems because the child will only talk on a small range of topics, even if their friends do not share the same interest, or may use a sing-song voice and repetitive or odd use of language instead of a regular tone during conversations. Autism can also cause a child to be sensitive to certain noises and being touched by others or having difficulty adjusting to changes in routines (KidsHealth.org).
During my research I learned that not everyone who has Autism is affected in the same way.
While some may have Autism, the same level of intensity is not shared and some live with milder forms of Autism. One of the milder forms includes Asperger’s Syndrome. The difference between Autism and Asperger's is that those who have Asperger's have stronger language, social, and cognitive skills which allow the disorder to be less noticeable (AutismSociety.org). Those who have Asperger's often times do want to fit in, so they are able to receive help to bridge the gap. Other signs of one having Asperger's instead of Autism is that they do not experience speech delay, and excel in cognitive skills (WebMD.com). Some similarities between the two disorders include not being able to understand irony or humor and odd use of speech and sensitivity to sounds (WebMD.com).
For kids with mild forms of Autism, it is possible to attend regular schools, but they can still have difficulty interacting with peers whereas kids with more intense cases of Autism are often home schooled or attend special classes (KidsHealth.org). Some adults with mild Autism are able to live on their own and function in everyday life without the help of others. Those who are not able to live on their own are always receiving help from others who love them, and are able to live a happy life as well.
Although I do not know anyone personally who has Autism or Asperger's, I have seen many shows where characters are affected by Autism. In one of my favorite shows, NBC’s Parenthood there is a young boy, Max, who learns that he has Asperger's. During the show Max finds that making friends with his peers and understanding emotional problems in the family is not always easy, and finds help in his learning assistant. Comforted in his intense knowledge and love for insects Max does have difficulty talking with others and sharing interests. He talks over others, changing the subject to the small range of topics that he is interested in. Often times getting into arguments with his parents over changes in daily routines, I remember one scene where Max’s dad brings him to a carnival instead of school. Not used to the change Max doesn’t know how to deal with his surroundings and breaks down. But the show does not just focus on the difficulties of living with Asperger's, it also focuses on Max being able to live a happy life and experiencing new things.
Autism can be defined by society as a disorder in which a person has difficulty relating and communicating with others. This is hard for them because they cannot make connections that come to most people as a second nature, like a smile leading to happiness (KidsHealth.org). Other symptoms include lack of verbal (and non-verbal) communication and also limited and focused interest in certain activities or routines. Signs of autism can also began to show in the very early stages of a child’s life, during the crucial development stages. These include beginning to speak, interest in infancy play, and their attention to sounds (WebMD).
ReplyDeleteThere are different levels of autism, the most common one is a mild form called Asperger’s syndrome. Those with Asperger’s are able to better communicate with the people surrounding them. Their social skills still may not be proficient and they still tend to focus on specific areas of interest. To put it simply, Asperger’s is a less severe form of austism that still allows them to go to public school and communicate well enough. It is sometimes referred to as a “high functioning autism” (Autism-World.com).
The play “Body Language”, written by Annie Baker, has a character who is showing all the signs and symptoms of Aspeger’s, but refuses to admit he has it for he believes agreeing to have that label is the equivalent to being mentally handicapped. He is in his early twenties, and living with his mother. He has never been in a real relationship and his only real passion is reading the dictionary. When he gets fired from his job he sees it as an opportunity to devote more time to becoming a lexicographer. His mannerisms are very precise and formalized and he is a creature of habit. Throughout the play, however, Jared slowly learns to accept who he is and sees Asperger’s as an explanation for the actions he cannot explain.
Both Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are subgroups in a larger category of brain development disorders call the Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It is estimated that today one in 110 child is diagnosed with Autism, a figure that is continually growing. Despite the fact that is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and Pediatric AIDS together, the causes of Autism are unknown. As there are many different levels of severity and combinations of symptoms, there are most likely a variety of causes which can create Autism. The best educated guess doctors have come up with is a mix of genetic combinations which either on their own or mixed with other environmental factors play a role in early childhood development. Despite the unclear knowledge of the cause of Autism, doctors are positive that it is not due to bad parenting which was the belief decades ago (autismspeaks.org).
ReplyDeleteThe first signs of Autism usually appear in the first three years of life, a few warning signs of Autism in children are no smiles or happy expressions, no speech, and no hand gestures such as waving or pointing. As Autism is such a broad disorder, there are a variety of symptoms those affected struggle with including communication, language, speech, thinking and motor skills as well as difficulty in school. There are some treatments you can give to your child. Most parents feel that vaccines and medications are more often than not questionable and harmful but there are other options. Physical therapy, applied behavior analysis, speech-language therapy, art therapy and diet change are a few (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Asperger’s Syndrome is part of the spectrum of ASD and henceforth includes difficulties in feelings,speech, play and other social interations. People who live with Asperger’s don’t seem to have as much difficulty in intelligence and social interactions and in fact tend to lead pretty independent lives. Most people who have Asperger’s show focused interest in a particular subject, subsequently, many famous geniuses in history have had Asperger’s: Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, George Orwell, and it is widely said that even George W. Bush has Asperger’s Syndrome to (autism-world.com)!
Like most people, I too have come across someone with Autism in my life but honestly I find that other than a few awkward social moments, there is really nothing that intriguing to talk about. Most people I have met who have autism seemed perfectly normal to me. A few weeks ago however, I was watching a movie called Temple Grandin which is a true story about a girl named Temple, a young woman with severe autism who transformed the current practices of livestock handling in mid 1900 cattle ranches and slaughterhouses to much more humane ones. This movie opened my eyes to the affects Autism can have on a person. Temple hated human contact, had constant emotional shifts, and had a completely different way of looking at the world that made perfect sense to her but baffled those around her. Autism has so many part and pieces that make each case different and I guess the only way to really help someone is to learn what works best for each individual.
Autism is a mental condition which affects how a person thinks and how he or she communicates. Those with autism often cannot understand or relate to other people as easily as most people do. Autistic people often do not understand non-verbal cues intuitively and must be taught to make a conscious effort to look for social cues like facial expressions and memorize what these expressions mean. Limited language skills are also associated with autism as is hypersensitivity or, in some cases, increased resistance to pain. People with autism are also often uncomfortable with physical contact and have a hard time comprehending abstract ideas. Symptoms of autism usually become apparent during early childhood, before a child's third birthday, and some of the earliest signs of autism are a failure to make eye contact, an aversion to physical contact, and delayed (or nonexistent) use of spoken language (www.autismspeaks.org).
ReplyDeleteAsperger’s Syndrome is a similar mental condition which effects how one thinks and communicates. Those with Asperger’s have better verbal skills than those with classic autism. Being obsessed with one subject of interest (cars, dogs, soccer, etc.), often to the point that they are reluctant to talk about anything else, is a common symptom of both conditions, as is resistance to change. (www.healthguideinfo.com).
Both Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome are conditions which are considered a part of the “Autism Spectrum.” Other conditions, like Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, are also considered part of this category of Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASDs. Between and within these disorders, there is a lot of variation in severity of the symptoms. No two people will present in exactly the same way and while some who are considered on the Autism Spectrum may be able to function normally in everyday life despite their condition, others may require special assistance throughout their lives (www.autism-society.org).
Of all the people and characters I know who have Autism Spectrum Disorders, the person who most interests me is Temple Grandin. She is an animal behaviorist and doctor of animal science who has autism; she is best known for her work promoting animal rights and autism awareness. She has written several books (including The Way I See It and Animals Make Us Human) and was the subject of the biographical film Temple Grandin which tells the story of her life and how she learned to connect to animals, specifically cattle, through her autism. She was able to understand how the cattle thought and one of her first professional accomplishments was designing a more humane system to be used slaughter houses which improved productivity by lessening the anxiety of cattle before they were killed.
In her books and through the film, Dr. Grandin describes how she sees the world: purely through her senses rather than through language. She is able to relate to animals more easily than to humans because animals see the world in the same way she does. This, combined with her aptitude for observation, has allowed her to become a leading expert in animal psychology and has helped us gain a deeper scientific understanding of animal psychology (www.templegrandin.com).
Billy Ulz
ReplyDelete6/23/11
Autism is a disease that does not affect a person’s physical state as much as the person’s mental and social state. A person with autism is found to have trouble interacting and socializing with other people as they get older. Autism affects the brain in a way that they cannot express what they are feeling properly through coherent sentences, or cannot even talk at all, and so often express their feelings with sudden sadness or anger. This can result in physically hurting themselves or others, which makes it even harder for them to socialize with other people. People with autism also have trouble understanding what other people are saying because they cannot differentiate whether a person is saying something sarcastically, angrily, or calmly. A person with autism also has little to no empathy, so even parents have trouble when they try to show love for their child and they show little interest. People with autism also have intense interests, which they tend to focus on the most: like numbers, toys, and household items. Although there are tens of millions of people with autism worldwide, not every individual has the same symptoms. Since it is a mental disease (and every person’s mind is different) not everyone is affected the same way. (autismspeaks.org)
Another disease that is very similar to autism is asperger’s syndrome. Both diseases are Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD). The main difference between asperger’s syndrome and autism is that people with asperger’s syndrome are able to function by themselves in every-day society, when people with autism can’t. A person with asperger’s may have some of the symptoms as a person with autism, just not as severe. This can be intense interest in a certain subject (such as math, science, art, etc.), trouble picking up on what other people are saying in sarcastic remarks, and often talk in a manner that is unusual to other people. (answers.com)
I personally know a person who has asperger’s syndrome, and didn’t know that he had it until my parents told me after I knew him for a couple of years. I never thought that he actually had a disorder; I just thought he was a little “weird”. Whenever I would go to his house he would usually be normal while having a conversation, but he would start talking to himself or say what he was thinking while not in a conversation. Otherwise he seemed normal to me, I never would have thought he had asperger’s if my parents hadn’t told me.
A person with autism will have trouble interacting with other people and have problems communicating with other people. Someone with autism might not use hand gestures or make eye contact with others and could have troubles with understanding social cues. Other symptoms of autism are that they could have severe speech patterns and might not be able to engage in conversations. They have the chance of showing repetitive, ritualistic, or restricted behaviors, activities, or interests. Someone with autism also can show a strong interest on certain things like numbers or toys.
ReplyDeleteAsperger’s syndrome and autism are very similar. People with Asperger’s can show small differences than someone with autism though. Some traits are that an individual with Asperger’s can have more language development. They also tend to be more aware and interested in social interactions and are able to care for themselves, where people with autism cannot.
There are millions of people diagnosed with autism, but not all will show the same symptoms.
I know of two people that have autism. Only one of them I have actually had interaction with. The person that I have not met was actually diagnosed with autism quite recently. It is my 3 year old cousin who lives in Illinois. I have not had the chance to meet him yet. The other person that I have met with that has autism was my step-dad’s friend’s son. I would go over to their house occasionally whenever my parents went over for a visit. I never really noticed or thought that he had any sort of disease. I just thought he was slightly odd in his actions. It was not anything too noticeable at all and probably would not have known that he had a disease at all if my parents had not mentioned it at one point.
Kieran Mundy
ReplyDelete6/23/11
Autism is defined in the dictionary as: “- Noun. 1. A pervasive developmental disorder of children, characterized by impaired communication, excessive rigidity, and emotional detachment. 2. A tendency to view life in terms of one’s own needs and desires.” (Dictionary.com). Basically, Autism is a brain disorder generally found in children that causes them to act and react differently to the world around them. Kids with autism are usually more unsocial than other kids and prefer to keep to themselves.
Autistic kids have trouble communicating, expressing themselves using words, and making eye contact with other people. Autism also causes people to react in a different manner to the outside world. Kids with autism usually have very specific routines which they do not change. Sometimes kids with autism are very smart and can easily memorize random facts. Very often, kids with autism do not like being touched in any way and can be very sensitive to loud sounds or bright lights (Kids Health).
Autism is commonly diagnosed within the first three years of a persons life if it seems they have lack of or delay in language, repetitive mannerisms or language, little or no eye contact, lack of interest in friendships, lack of make-believe play, or persistent fixation on parts of objects. Though these are some of the most common signs of autism, not all kids with autism will exhibit the same type of behavior (Autism Society). This is in part due to the fact that there are different levels of autism. This is why autism is the umbrella term for a variety of different conditions know as the “autism spectrum disorders.” This term includes autism along with other forms of it, such as asperger syndrome. While asperger syndrome is still a form of autism it is a more mild form and kids diagnosed with it can do “okay” in social situations. (Kids Health).
There are an estimated 400,000 families at least that are affected by autism. Living with someone who has autism can be very demanding and create high levels of stress. While each case of autism can differ, many of the same problems may arise in a house hold situation; which is why there are many support groups out there for people who have an autistic family member (Autism Society). There is currently no cure for autism but there are a variety of treatments, the most popular of which is behavior therapy (NINDS).
As far as I know, I’ve never personally met anybody with autism, although perhaps I am just unaware of it. I have however, seen it portrayed on a TV show. On NBC’s “Parenthood” one of the families has a soon with aspergers. He struggles socially and is unusually obsessed with bugs. He has a behavioral counselor who works with him on his social interactions. For a period of time he was not aware that he had aspergers. When he hears his parents talking about his aspergers he is confused and doesn’t realize that its something he has. This is the most interesting aspect of autism to me. How the kids feel about themselves when they find out that they’re different from many other kids. I think the most important thing to teach kids who have autism is that they’re not alone.
Anna Smith
ReplyDelete6/23/11
Autism is more commonly diagnosed then many people think. One out of every 110 children is diagnosed with Autism, boys being the majority. Though there are many doctors researching certain possible causes for autism their hypothesis are not definite. One thing however is that autism is not caused by bad parenting, and unloving mothers. One can detect signs of autism at a young age. Some signs are poor eye contact and delayed emotions. A person that has autism can have symptoms that are very different than others who are also diagnosed with Autism; this is commonly referred to as “the spectrum” in which an autistic child is on. Some can be slightly affected by autism being able to carry through life routines with ease, however others are unable to talk and socialize and may need constant care. Autism typically lasts through one’s whole life. A majority of autistic people can be talented at certain things. A common trait that autistic people have is the ability to be good with numbers and science, however every person is different. There are many similarities between one with Asperger’s and one with Autism. Most people diagnosed with either Asperger’s or Autism have problems communicating with the outside world; some children rather talk to adults than to kids their own age. There are also differences between Asperger’s and Autism. One with Autism is most likely to be diagnosed around the age of three, whereas Asperger’s is not known till around age of seven. Those with Asperger’s tend to know they have social issues resulting in depression, where as some folks with Autism don’t realize that their social issues are much of a problem at all. There is a thought about Autism: if you know one person with autism; you know one person with autism.
Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks Inc., 2005-2011. Web. 23 June 2011. http://www.autismspeaks.org.
Emily Kadish
ReplyDelete6/23/11
Autism disorder is actually a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, classified by social problems, diffucluties communicating, and a small range of beharvior. As early as infancy, the social signs of autism can be visible. Normal babies are very socialable and typically interact with those around them, by gazing, turning toward voices, holding a finger, and smiling (nimh.nih.gov). But babies with autism are unresponsive to people around them, and will often focus on one thing for a period of time. As the child gets older the symtoms will worsen, and can variate from moderate to severe. (ninds.nih.gov). Socialy the child will have trouble making friends, and will probaly spend a lot of time alone. They will be withdrawn and probably wont respond to eye contact or smiles. They will also lack empathy and treat others as objects. Another portion of autism is communication skills. They may develop little or no laungauge skills and communicate more with gestures rather than words. They also have different reactions to things, like they way be overly sensitive in sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. Normal noises and phisical contact may be painful for someone with autism. Children with autism will also have specific behaviors, like short attention span and being either over active, or very passive. Also they may have intense tantrums and can be violent towards others or themselves. Autistic people need a lot of consistency in their life, and therefore like rutine and have a very narrow window of interests (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
There are all types of autism, ranging from severe mental disablities, to much more mild forms of the disorder, like Asperger’s syndrome which is a high functioning form of autism. Although the two disorders are similar, and commonly used interchangeably, Asperger’s is a milder form in the autism spectrum. They both involve repetitive routines and rituals as well as the inability to socialize with peers. (ninds.nih.gov). Asperger’s syndrome also causes a speech problem and they may speak in a monotone or formal. Picking up on social cues in speech, like sarcasm and jokes, will be difficult or impossible, and children with autism may take things very literally. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Although all cases are different, and some are more severe than others, the child will definitely have trouble interacting socially, have repetitive behaviors and be clumsy.
Although I am not very close with anyone with autism, I have a second cousin who has a fairly severe form of autism. We don’t see him very often, about two or three times a year, but even with that little amount of time I can see the effects of his autism. When he was younger, he had many problems with staying focused, and was hard to have a conversation with. For many years he had an obsession with opening and closing cabinet doors, and would spend all thanksgiving holidays with him. His father also has a less severe form of autism; together they make quite a commotion. Although he has gotten much better over the years, his parents and grandparents have had a lot of trouble with him. He used to be rude and anti social, and very hard to make contact with. Although now he still has many of the same problems, he has become much more friendly and gentle and has developed some social skills. He can carry on a decent conversation and puts a lot of effort into taking care of his grandmother, as well as becoming very tech savvy. I am pretty sure his case of autism is very severe, but he has done well for himself and has worked very hard to be at the place he is today.
There are nearly 1.5 million Americans affected by autism today. There is no known cure, and in most cases the cause is unknown (autismspeaks.org). Nevertheless, those with mild forms of autism on the spectrum—asperger’s syndrome—are highly functioning and can potentially live a somewhat normal life as an adult (nih.gov).
ReplyDeleteAutism is a pervasive developmental disorder which manifests itself during early childhood. A parent may notice their child exhibits repetitive behaviors, has a hard time understanding the emotions of others, has a delay or lack in speech, and, or has trouble with nonverbal communication skills such as eye-to-eye contact. For those with asperger’s syndrome, symptoms are almost identical. Although, there are some differences which include an advanced vocabulary for the child’s age group and delayed motor skills. A common symptom of both autism and asperger’s is heightened sensitivity. This sensitivity can be triggered by sounds, tastes, and even textures (webmd.com).
All symptoms aside, it’s important to remember every individual is different. Symptoms aren’t “set in stone.” Autism ranges from mild—sometimes going unnoticed, to severe where independence would be nearly impossible as well as improbable (nih.gov). This being so, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has changed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). In the recent update of the DSM, DSM-V, autism, asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and other pervasive developmental disorders will all be known as autism spectrum disorder.
I may be wrong, but I don’t believe I know anyone with either asperger’s or autism. However, one of my all-time favorite movies, “Adam” is about a man with asperger’s. Adam is an astronomy buff who lives day after day repetitively. In the movie Adam’s father has recently passed away, and soon after, he loses his job—his “life.” His world is turned upside-down, and he doesn’t know what to do until he meets Beth. Here are two complete strangers in different “worlds.” The hardest part for Adam is that he doesn’t always understand what Beth is thinking, or going through. Yet gradually Adam lets Beth into his life breaking down the barriers of his ritualistic ways for love. This movie truly takes you down an emotional road.
(This is really from Simon Pacht, but I didn't give Google my real name. Don't be fooled.)
ReplyDeleteLike many other areas of psycological study, the study of autism has come a long way in the last few decades. Autism is a general term for a variety of related disorders (known collectively as autism-spectrum), in which an individual exhibits a variety of atypical behaviours. Among the most common symptoms are difficulty in social interactions (holding conversations, making eye contact, ect.), rigid and alkward physical stances, repetitive motions such as rocking back and forth, intense focus on a certian subject, and a delay or even inability to communicate using language. However, these are only the most common traits; many children display a variety of different characteristics, often variations on a similar one (autismspeaks.org).
A disorder that is within the realm of autism-spectrum disorders is known as Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's is named after its discoverer, Hans Asperger. His findings were first published in 1944. The term was first used by Lorna Wing in a paper on the same subject in 1981. Up until that point, it wasn't even recognized as an actual disorder. Thus, research into Asperger's is still in progress, especially concerning its actual ties to other forms of autism. Evidence suggests that the rise in diagnoses of autism, including Asperger's, is a result of better and more refined methods of the diagnoses themselves. There are two major factors that set Asperger's apart from other forms of autism: the fact that those with Asperger's do not often have speech development issues (although they still can engage in repetitive speech), that people with Asperger's often have more pronounced motor coordination problems (catching a ball, running, ect.), and that many people with Asperger's are mentally higher-functioning (in general) than other autistics. Due to this last characteristic, Asperger's Syndrome is often misdiagnosed as "high-functioning autism", which is distinct from Asperger's. Just like with other types of autism, the prevelance of certain symptoms can vary depending on the individial case (Tony Attwood, Asperger's Syndrome).
Personally, I havent' met many people with Asperger's. However, there was one fellow I knew a while ago that did have it. He was an odd one, to be sure, but he was easily one of the smartest people I have ever spoken to. He was quiet, and didn't seem to interact with other people much. It wasn't that he even wanted to expand his circle of friends; he seemed quite content to be within his own world most of the time. He didn't like to talk too much, but if you made an effort to talk to him, he was more than happy to reciprocate. His introversion seemed to give him an edge, however: I have seen few people who were so adept at mathematic equations. He really did seem to take a keen interest in it, too: it wasn't just a mechanical process, he really liked trying to do the problems in his head. To be honest, I wish I knew more people like him. People that have Asperger's--even autism in general--are often capable of taking care of themselves and making something amazing of their lives. Austism can lend an interesting intellectual edge to society: several great thinkers in history, from Albert Einstein to Vincent Van Gough have demonstrated qualities realted specifically to Asperger's Syndrome (Tony Attwood, Asperger's Syndrome). It's not a disability; it's just a different way of thinking about the world.
--SP
I was researching autism and for such a frequent disease it seems rather little information is known. They don’t know the cause and for treatments they only have therapy and various vitamins. What I thought was interesting; however, was that it generally is not diagnosed by medical doctors but by psychiatrists and psychologists. On top of that they use the parents input as well.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different characteristics of autism, ranging is severity. Some social skills they may exhibit include: little or no eye contact, resistance to being touched; also, they tend to not understand basic social conventions. Linguistic development includes them having a hard time using there voices at appropriate levels. Their general behavior includes repetition and perfectionism, compulsive behavior and difficulty transitioning from activity to activity. If I were to sum it all up then I would have to say they have serious difficulty dealing with anything social and adjustment issues; it is obviously much more complicated than that.
Aspergers is said to be a form of autism. They generally don’t have as many developmental issues; it is a high functioning form of autism. Aspergers causes people to have difficulty in social places but they are capable of communicating clearly, they just have issues dealing with other people. From my experience with aspergers they can do everything a child without autism can but they seem to be better at some things whereas they have troubles with other things. For example they excel in language but have difficulty with math. Also from my experience, they understand social skills but they don’t understand how to use them like other people do.
In my research I also found that 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism; and, 1 in 70 boys are diagnosed. The idea that I found most important in my research; however, was that everyone emphasized that there is nothing wrong with these children. They are different and that is what makes them special.
Sydney
People who suffer from autism have greatly varying personal characteristics. For the most part no two autistic people will have the same characteristics or deficiencies. Despite this there are many common traits possessed by autistic people that can vary in intensity. A person who is affected by autism may have characteristics that can be separated into three categories. These are motor skills, social skills, and repetitious behavior.
ReplyDeleteMotor skill limitations vary from being completely crippling to the point were the person is incapable of taking care of themselves to clumsiness or awkwardness with motions made in general. While the more severe version of this is rather obvious a person with only slight motion related deficiencies will be capable more likely than not of living a relatively normal life. Social symptoms possessed by autistic people can be a lack of ability to empathize with peers which relates to a lack of ability to detect things that socializing relies on like gestures or voice inflections. The person may not be able to tell the difference between say a joking voice and an angry voice. This can extend into how the person talks as it is common for an autistic person to talk in a monotone voice or a voice that does not match the emotion they are trying to communicate. In addition to this they may be obsessed with certain subjects or details. This relates to the final category of repetitious behaviors. This can mean the need for a constant schedule which when changed causes worry or a stronger reaction from the person or even strange quirks in movement like suddenly freezing in place or repeating actions. In some cases these behaviors are light but they can be extreme as well.
Aspergers syndrome is related and similar to autism in general but has a key difference. It is less extreme and usually allows the person to live a relatively normal life both physically and intellectually. Overall aspergers could be summarized as a milder version of autism. In my experience I have met two people who to my knowledge are either autistic or have aspergers. The first person is young and suffers from aspergers. This child suffers from a severe case and has both crippled motor functions and what is likely directly related to the motor functions, a delayed speech. Due to the child's autism the child has someone who provides aid in doing just about everything.
The second person I know of suffers from aspergers syndrome. They often show emotions that are inappropriate to the situation and have trouble reading what emotion is being put out by other people. An example being that they can't tell if a person meant a comment as a joke or is serious. In addition to this the person often speaks in a monotone voice and has numerous quirks. Despite all this the person is intellectually still quite smart and their motor skills are well enough to allow normal functioning in society.
Autism generally presents itself in the first two years of childhood, although some children have regressive autism which causes them to lose social and verbal skills after one or two years. The first signs of autism are when a child has difficulties in social interactions, verbal and non verbal communication, playing pretend, or has repetitive tendencies. However, symptoms of autism are different for each individual with the disorder. Sometimes autistic people are overly sensitive to touches, smells, tastes, sounds, or sights, are distressed when routines are changed, or develop language skills slowly or not at all.
ReplyDeleteAutism is a category of disorders also called Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Asperger Syndrome is one of the three disorders included in this group. Asperger syndrome is considered a high functioning form of autism. People with the syndrome may struggle with social situations or repeat actions but many cases are capable of leading normal lives. It is important to note that although people with asperger syndrome struggle socially, many also have above average intelligence and there is no delay in their cognitive development, ability to take care of themselves, or their curiosity about their environment.
Autistic individuals all present different symptoms but most struggle to understand facial expressions and other facial cues as someone else might. As a result they tend to appear oblivious to smiles or eye contact, spend time alone, or show a lack of empathy.
The cause for autism is unknown, and there is no cure. The disorder is four times more likely in boys, and one in every 110 children is affected. Since it is recognized that there are many varying degrees of autism, affected people are often put on a spectrum to determine how severe the condition is. Many people with autism are can lead normal lives and are independent, while others need constant care and supervision. It is important to remember that every person with autism is different and functions differently, which is why it is difficult for generalizations to be made about the disorder and why it takes a lot of research and experience to understand autism.
Additional Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002494/
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
ReplyDeleteKarleen Richardson
Autism is a developmental disorder that primarily affects social and communication skills and usually presents itself in the first three years of life. Although the symptoms of autism vary from individual to individual, people with this condition often have trouble making friends, expressing themselves, displaying empathy, paying attention for long periods of time, and changes in routine. In addition, they are easily frustrated and prone to tantrums, mood swings, hyperactivity, aggression, anxiety, and compulsive behavior.
Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a less severe form of autism, the most obvious symptom of which is difficulty interacting with peers. It often is not diagnosed until a child is school age. People with AS may have very good vocabularies, but struggle with understanding things that are considered “common sense”, metaphors, nonverbal communication, and, interestingly, physical coordination. They also tend to become obsessed with one topic, which dominates their conversations.
Both Autism and Asperger Syndrome are fairly common, affecting about 1 in every 110 people. In fact, I have a friend with AS. I recognized in first grade that he was different from my other friends. Back then, it was not something that we could talk about. I remember thinking, when he told me he had Asperger Syndrome, that he was joking about eating too many hamburgers.
At the time, he seemed like a friendly person who just didn’t get it. Looking back, I have a better appreciation of the challenges he was trying to overcome. He struggled, for example, with communicating his thoughts and feelings to both peers and teachers. He also did not seem to understand when he was annoying others or why they became upset.
Another sign of my friend’s AS was his passion for science, especially astronomy. In first grade, this seemed unusual, although I certainly would not have recognized it as an obsession. In fact, I admired his knowledge of everything astronomical. If you wanted to know the names of Saturn’s moons, then he was the one to ask.
On the playground and in gym class, my friend seemed clumsy and didn’t pick up skills. This certainly added to his problems with social situations because my classmates did not want him joining their game or team. In this respect, I identified with him because physical games did not come easily to me, either.
It was not until this last year that I began to truly discover and appreciate the person behind the syndrome. AS no longer defines him. He is an intelligent individual with multiple passions and friends and I am no longer the first grader who had a very different classmate.
Matthew Diamond
ReplyDeleteWhen working with guitars all the wiring must be aligned perfectly without question to the diagram. If the grounds are not hooked together correctly the signals will not be able to get sent through the guitar to the amplifier to create sounds out of the amp. The brain functions using tiny electrical waves similar to a guitar. Doctors are not sure what causes autism, but the minute electrical signals that the brain sends out get interrupted the signals are not able to get to their destination; not allowing the music to come out of the amplifier. (Autism Speaks)
Many people with Autism have problems reading social cues. The average human can read what others are thinking from the tone of voice, the small facial expressions, even in some cases the rapid eye movements. People who have autism are not able to read these. In early development children with Autism tend to lack interaction with others. They often can not speak clearly until late into their developmental stages. They will focus on a certain image or object for long periods of time. Doctors believe this is because it calms their brains and stops the constant intake of information that is difficult for an autistic mind to handle. (Autism-World.com) To some, being touched registers in their brain as pain, because of the rerouting of the electrical pathways in the brain and this can cause them to react and sometimes lash out at others. (Autism Speaks)
Although many of these examples are in severe cases of autism not every person with autism exhibits the same symptoms. In some cases people who have autism don’t like to hear sounds at all would rather listen to white noise, and some are just fine listening to all sorts of sounds. Some autistic people are able to talk perfectly and coherently, while others do not have the ability to understand or speak a single word. (Web M.D.)
One very mild form of autism is Asperger’s syndrome. Asperger’s is form of autism that is much less noticeable than its more severe counterparts. With Asperger’s the cognitive skills such as speaking. Many people who have Asperger’s can learn to fit into what most people would consider a normal lifestyle by learning things they didn’t understand in development, such as different facial expressions, but they are able to avoid this obstacle by memorizing the different looks of facial expressions just as a normal brain would memorize lines for a play or a new math formula.
(Ninds.nih.gov)
I have not had any personal family or friends who have autism, (to my knowledge), but at the ski shop where I work in the winters I have observed a child with Asperger’s. He can speak quite well but when he puts on his ski boots he must hand them to his mother or father because they are the only people who he wants assist him. When he comes in during vacation weeks he has difficulty with having many different people in the lodge at once. He is often uneasy around strangers but he has done ski school for a couple of years now and has become a little bit more accepting of new people.
P.S. sorry this is so late I was reading everyones and didn't see mine so I'm reposting this
A child usually begins to exhibit the symptoms of Autism at the age of six months. They commonly have impaired social interaction and impaired communication. Infants are less likely to use facial expressions and have a hard time responding to others facial expressions. Children with autism have a harder time creating and maintaining friendships.
ReplyDeletePeople with autism do not all exhibit the same symptoms. There are three levels of autism Low Functioning autism (LFA), Medium Functioning autism (MFA) and Higher Functioning autism (HFA). A persons classification is biased on there IQ thresholds and how much help the person requires in there daily life.
Asperger's Syndrome is often considered a form of autism though much more towards the end of the HFA spectrum. Because of this, many say that Asperger's should become part of the autism scale and not be a separate disease.
I do have a friend of mine who has Asberger's Syndrome (or HFA). He is able to communicate normally with people though has a difficult time understanding sarcasm. He will communicate with others but after a while he will recede and choose instead to play video games. He has a little problem with portraying emotions and has a hard time understanding when people are upset.
The one movie that I can think of have seen the movie Rain Man. In the movie Raymond the autistic brother of Charlie Babbitt exhibits many of the characteristics of autism In the movie Raymond can remember any facts and is amazing with numbers. On the other hand he can not recognize emotions and can't understand the meaning of values, like money. He refuses to fly on any airplanes except on the one company that has never had a plane crash (which happens to only run to another country). He also refuses to travel on any major highways.
Autism is diagnosed in between 1 to 2 per 1000 people though approximately 9 per 1000 children are diagnosed in the United States. There is no know causes of autism though there is a common, unsupported, belief that vaccine overload as an infant may be to blame.
After reading posts it appears we have all written the same things for characteristics of children with autism and aspergers, which at least means we have a higher chance of being correct. Also, I thought the metaphor Matt D. used to try and explain autism was fairly accurate. Because of the brain being so complex we don’t understand or know the causes of autism; the wires get all mixed up. I also liked how Simon pointed out that aspergers doesn’t stop a person from doing something great with there lives. So what if the people around Albert Einstein and Vincent Van Gough were slightly put off by their quirks, Einstein and Van Gough did amazing things with their lives. They are the ones we read about, not the people who thought they were weird. They were the ones that made history because their differences made them special. Van Gough had an obsession with art; now, he is considered a revolutionary in the art world. Einstein…well, does E=mc2 seem familiar. My point is that I think Simon brought home the idea that aspergers doesn’t make them different in a bad way but in a way that makes them special, extraordinary even.
ReplyDeleteI did not go into detail enough if my relating to autism/aspergers. I know someone who has aspergers and when I was smaller I did think he was weird. Now it is a completely different story. Now he is my friend and I have all the faith in the world he will do amazing things with his life. He obsesses over certain things but that’s what will make him so successful in the future. He will obsess over something that will change the world or just help people out; he will do something new and different. When he becomes successful like that people are going to call his obsessing dedication; and, people are going to say he’s amazing. He will deserve that and he will find his niche in the world.
I also read a book where a character has autism. His name was Petey and he was severely autistic. When there were loud noises or he got startled he would start to scream until his sister would give him his game boy and he would focus on that until he got hungry or scared again. Petey was withdrawn from the world. He didn’t talk at all and he couldn’t communicate either. He did not recognize his sister and sometimes she resented him. She resented him for, by association, she was different, and because she was always stuck taking care of him, and because of the stress it put on her family. However, his sister never once gave up; she protected him to the end because she knew it wasn’t his fault and because she recognized that he was special.
I would like to refer back to Simon's ending comment on how autism and "disorders" like it are not in fact disorders, but rather a different approach to the everyday normal life.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this could be true to many disorders, which is a concern I have for today's society. A person, or group of people, are diagnosing other people as insane or not normal. Just because someone is misunderstood does not give another person the right to label them.
After reading everyone’s post I walked away with a mindful of interesting ideas to think about. One in particular that really hit me was Hannah T’s concern for society’s habit of diagnosing those who are seen as insane or not normal with labels simply because they do not fit into our term of “being normal.” I mean we are all different in our own ways so why should we treat others differently and exclude them from rights that we all have? This also connects to Simon’s comment that “disorders” are not problems but an approach to everyday life, which we all attempt. So does this mean if some get ready for school differently, say by eating breakfast before brushing our hair, that those of us have a disorder because the rest of our friends brushed their hair first and then ate breakfast? No it does not, it means that we all just are more comfortable getting ready a certain way.
ReplyDeleteIt struck me as something worth questioning because if someone is “different”, is it fair to treat them differently from the rest of the world? For instance I understand and appreciate that those who have Autism do have schools designed with their needs in mind. For those who have milder forms of Autism like Asperger’s and could excel in public schools, but are in special schools instead, is it fair to limit their learning and interactions with others?
For example for those who have begun reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (don’t worry I’m not going to spoil anything), it seems the special school Christopher attends really limits his education. He isn’t challenged enough in his current classes, and the school wasn’t prepared to place him in a higher learning level, because they had never had a student who could mentally excel at that level. And while he knows why he attends a special school, he feels like all of his classmates are stupid and he does not belong there. Which also has me wondering; why should those diagnosed with something like Autism be underestimated by society on their abilities and level of “smartness?” Why is it that society and “correct” practices are allowed to determine a person’s life and place them in schools that exclude them from rights that they deserve? Going back to what Hannah T said, I agree that it is not right to label someone even if they are different from you or me, because it is as hurtful as excluding someone from a group because they smell odd.
[so many technical problems but here's my first entry. Tried to go for something different. Sorry to interrupt the conversation guys :/ ]
ReplyDeleteImagine yourself a time where your mother is yelling. She’s screaming her head off. The hair is on end, the eyes are raging. And you get the face, the soul-crushing face. You’ve done something wrong and you know it and you start to feel the guilt. Or perhaps fear, or anger. So maybe you’re fighting, or maybe you’re just taking it because you know you’re in the wrong. You don’t think for a second that you could be lucky you even have a chance to combat your beast of a mother. You just want out.
Now imagine this scenario playing out in a setting where you just don’t get it. Nothing makes sense to you. You don’t even have the slightest idea that she’s mad. You know something is wrong—at least you didn’t miss that. But you don’t know what to do. You have no plan. You’re incapable of arguing for sake of defense. You have no recollection of what you could have done. You’re losing it. The only way to release the pressure is to scream. You don’t realize until after it’s done that you’ve done something that has somehow escalated the situation. Whatever the situation is.
This sort of scenario plagues the lives of people diagnosed with autism on an almost daily basis. It contains some of the basic characteristics of the syndrome including impaired social interaction and troubles with communication. Not in the sense that a person with autism just wouldn’t want to talk (the opposite is usually accurate) but in the sense that they simply wouldn’t grasp any variety of social cue to function with other people. A person with autism is incapable of keeping conversation with other people. The same is true with asperger syndrome. This is evident in “The Curios Case of the Dog in the Nighttime” when Christopher--a boy diagnosed with asperger syndrome—literally needs to draw pictures of faces to understand human emotion.
Thinking in this way helps me to understand why a person with asperger syndrome or autism acts the way they do. In my research I discovered that they contain no concept of emotion yet long to be with others and build relationships. And from my own personal experience I can see the need for human contact. They are such a mystery, and sometimes they can be dark and scary to deal with. But I’ve met people with these syndromes who have changed my life with their way of thinking and how they treated me.
Many times people diagnosed also have superior skills in perception and attention. When I think of this “Rain Man” comes to mind. In this movie the character Raymond, an older man with autism, has incredible math ability. To me this not only shows, but is proof that people with this affliction are not unintelligent—but the opposite.
Autism can start from the age of three, or a child could live a seemingly normal life until middle school and regress into the syndrome. There is no known cure but there are ways to make life easier for those with the syndrome. The families of the afflicted person can try to reduce stress in the home and attempt to give their child some form of education. The use of education has been proved to improve the symptoms of autism in young children by increasing their intellectual capacity at such a young age. There are also countless drugs that can increase the quality of life such as antidepressants, stimulants, and antipsychotic medication.
I find it difficult to simply list statistics because of the relationships that I have created with people dealing with this sort of thing. From these relationships I’ve learned more than I ever could on Wikipedia. Like from my friend Justin, who has autism, but comes over to my house monthly to kick my butt at Wii bowling, talk about girls, and watch Pirates of the Caribbean. Over, and over, and over, and over again. I don’t think I’ll ever beat him.
After reading Hannah's and Josselyn's comments I have some thoughts to add. While I do completely agree that it's wrong for society and groups of people to be the judge of what's "normal", in the case of disorders and mental health problems I think there is definitely a line. This may go far beyond the limits of autism and disorders similar to that, but what about when people are causing harm to themselves? What if, for example, someone was so depressed they started hurting themselves, what if someone was so mentality ill that they couldn't keep themselves alive? Is it then safe to say that these people probably can't be classified as normal and definitely need to be treated differently than others in society? I do think that society has some problems when it comes to trying to put people into a class, but I also believe that in the case of autism we aren't doing it to make these individuals feel bad about themselves ( even though it might), were doing it to make them feel more comfortable. Maybe the fact that we think people with disorders need to be helped is the real problem, but even if it is, I think that the people who do it have good intentions; I don't think they mean to make autistic people feel singled out.
ReplyDeleteI also liked another point that Josselyn brought up. She brought up the idea that the character in the book can't excel as much as he would like to in his learning because he is in a special school. I think its interesting and kind of disappointing that as a society we tend to classify people by their weaknesses, not their strengths. The character in the book wasn't put in a school for kids who are expectational at math, he was put in a school for kids who have problems. I think the problem with society classifying individuals lies within the fact that people do it based on something negative, not something positive. Nobody ever gets called "weird" because their GOOD at something, if that makes any sense at all.
(Again, this is Simon. Bob is just a cover-name for when I'm on-assignment. Which I was for several days, so this is a bit late forthcoming. By the way, forget what I just said. It's classified.)
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I'd like to comment on something that Matt D said in his earlier post. It was "The average human can read what others are thinking from the tone of voice...". This implies that autistics are not on the same level as everyone else--that they are somehow lower down, inferior. This could not be further from the truth. Perhaps that's nitpicking, but it's just something I'd like to point out. Adding on to what Sydney said, it's all about the mindset that you think about autism with. It's not that I think this was intended as a malicoius comment, it's just that it reveals the way that a lot of people think about people with autism, even if they do not realize it.
Secondly, I'd like to state that I have been misinterpreted. I agree with Hannah and Josselyn that negative stereotypes/labels are unjust in the context of autism (come to think of it, that's the case all the time!). However, it's important to remember that children especially need help understanding how to interact and function in society. Not "treating them differently" means that an autistic child does not recieve the help they need to be able to communicate and function more effectively with the people around them. Making a diagnosis known can actually help someone (as Kieran also said), especially a child in school. If authority figures such as teachers are aware of a child's condition, they will be able to work better with them. It's when people take the stance of autism being negative that problems arise. That's when the "labels" come out, along with the midset that all autistic children should be treated the same way. This is close to dismissal of the issue. Just as each child's case is different, the approach to helping each should vary accordingly. The way to help this is to increase awareness and tolerance of the issue. (A good site about advocacy for autistics is www.aspiesforfreedom.com; read what it says on the homepage and you'll see what I mean.)
(To be continued...)
(Sorry about that. Apparently my post was too long to fit in one shot.)
ReplyDeleteFinally, I'm not that surprised that a lot of people here haven't met anyone with Asperger's (that they know of.) It's not excactly something that comes up in casual conversation. There are a lot of misconceptions about autism out there, most of them risen from the fact that most people don't take the time to learn about it. Having Asperger's can put oneself in an awkward place: most people don't understand the magnitiude of your condition, and it's very difficult to express what your problem is in the first place.
A problem that some higher-functioning autistics and people with Asperger's is the fact that they seem like normal people at first. Rather, although many people with autism face this problem the issue with higher-functioning autistics is that people do not understand that just because someone doesn't have an issue with academics, it means that they are still neurotypical. The end result is that you have a seemingly normal child, with issues that lurk beneath the immediate surface.
When someone comes into closer contact witht the child, however, it seems that they are simply "weird". Thus, the child is alienated from both peers and students, due to a lack of understanding of the issue. To be fair, though, fellow students cannot be excpected to understand something as complex as autism at an earlier age. Teachers, however, can let a child slip through the academic cracks this way, by assuming the child is normal. So when no one helps them, and no one really understands their challenge, it's no wonder you know so few autistics--that you know of.
--SP
I really like where all this conversation is going about autism being almost scary to outside groups of people. I agree with what Simon just said about them being alienated from peers and students. I feel like that's the most dangerous thing that can happen to a person with autism. If everyone is too afraid to get close and understand, how can they function in society? It's no wonder that they are so hungry for communication. No one is willing to step out and give it to them--and when the presence of other people is so vital, the absence can hurt them in severe ways.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading through the posts, I noticed that most people touched on the idea that those with asperger’s may exhibit different symptoms. Then I saw Hannah’s second post. She referred back to a part of Simon’s post which was talking about how a disorder is not really a disorder, but just another way of living and everyday normal life. Normal being the operative word. What is “normal?” I know my normal is a lot different from my friends’ normals. What accounts for the “not normal” things I do, and quirks I have which differentiates me from someone with any one of the many disorders out there? Are we really all that different? I think not.
ReplyDeleteRay told me to delete my first post because it wasn't long enough but I'm going to leave it up there because a lot of people referred to it and so I'll just comment again.
ReplyDeleteWhat I have to say to Kieran's thoughts about people who are not able to get by without causing a threat to themselves and those around them is that the main problem with putting them into a mental institution (or a place like that) isn't because of the harm they might cause; it's because the "normal" people cannot understand them and have the superiority to do away with them. Although a family might see this a last resort to “help” the misunderstood, I have a hard time being okay with that when they give the power to help a loved one to someone who is of a higher degree.
A diagnosis can save somebody's mental stability. It can provide a reason for why somebody feels like they don't fit into the normal status quo. It is an answer. The problem with this, however, is the question being asked. In the cases I'm talking about, that question is "Why am I different?" Society, in general, has implied that there is something wrong with you if you cannot feel comfortable in the everyday situations that it's set up for you.
(Agent Simon Reporting.)
ReplyDeleteReferring to Hannah's third post, it's important to remember that many autistics are able to learn how to be social people. There is a matter of degree to keep in mind: not all autistics are incabable of things like empathy, or the ability to communicate. "Mental stability" is not the issue. That would be a topic to discuss if we were talking about psycopaths.
Certainly, there are some whose cases are so severe that they will need specialized care for much of their lives. Many, however, are able to integrate themselves into the world. Behavioral modification and careful guidance--from family and teachers alike--can help someone with autism to aquire the skills they need to live a peaceful and productive life. I certainly agree, however, that society still has a long way to go in terms of accepting the differences of others; not just on the outside, but on the inside. What Elizabeth said hit the nail on the head: normality is arbitrary. And often, someone with austism or Asperger's can appear much more "normal" than you'd think.
--SP
I completely agree with Simon’s most recent post. I think when describing what Asperger’s is it is important to present all symptoms, as most of us seem to have done, in a long list. This gives the idea that Asperger’s is very extreme and that anyone affected is incapable of average social interaction.
ReplyDeleteIn reality, as Simon points out, this is often not the case. I have a relative who is now a teenager and was diagnosed with Asperger’s at an early age. From my interactions with him I could never guess that he had Asperger’s. He has a good sense of humor, likes talking to others, and can understand social interaction as anyone else would. That said, he is certainly more comfortable around family and has more prominent symptoms at school, but even there Asperger’s plays a subtle role in his life. The most evidence I ever saw of the disorder was when he was much younger and had a repetitive habit of playing with beads or necklaces. Other than that, I have not witnessed any abnormal behavior from him.
Also, I think Elizabeth and Hannah’s comments on disorders being a different way to live life are very important in understanding Autism and Asperger’s. Anyone who has taken Physics with Mr.Chabot will remember in Malcom Gladwell’s book Blink the author devotes a chapter to studying how Autistic individuals recognize faces. He writes about a study done when researchers tracked where people were looking on the screen when a movie was playing. At key points in the movie most people watched the actors faces, while Autistic subjects’ eyes wandered around the screen with no significant pattern associated with the actors faces. They treated the faces as any other object, and therefor missed plot twists that were only noticeable if the viewer was focused on the facial expressions. This is just one of many examples of how someone with Autism is as mentally capable as anyone else; they just don’t share the sense of importance that most people attribute to faces or emotional expressions. They have a different way of looking at and understanding the world, so in some cases Autistic individuals need help to become acclimated to a society oriented towards the behavior of the average person.
ReplyDeleteAs a country, America celebrates the individual. We cherish the right to form opinions, speak out, and demonstrate our differences. To stand out from the crowd, some of us dye our hair interesting colors or wear distinctive clothing. Others make a mark through the written word or art, by fighting for a social or political cause, or battling against the effects of epidemics or natural disasters.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was younger, I thought the world would be a boring place if we were all alike, but it seems the adult world categorizes differences, praising some and castigating others. Ironically, the world is divided into “good different” and “bad different,” although what falls in either category depends on culture, prejudices, and life experiences.
Differences categorized as diseases fall into the “bad different” category. We focus on finding a cure or way to fix such differences and talk about the afflicted person’s prognosis or likelihood of recovery. Sadly, autism and Asperger Syndrome are described as disorders. Simon has challenged us to think about these conditions as distinctive ways of looking at the world. To the extent that there is value in these different perspectives, we surely will miss it so long as we consider those who have them to be ill. Looking past the disorder or, better yet, embracing it is the key to appreciating and understanding such differences.
While I was reading Sydney’s blog I realized how right she was about how little knowledge doctors and others have about Autism. Autism often brings up more questions than it does answers. However, if you really think about it, from what I learned about Autism these indefinite answers fit with the symptoms of Autism. Because as many say Autism comes in many forms. It does not stick to one “script”, and every kid diagnosed with Autism is different. In the Hollywood movie “Dear John” John’s dad had Autism. He had trouble communicating with the outside world, always keeping his head low and speaking little. He also lacked emotions. Despite this, John’s dad was drawn to coin collecting, and he was a very educated and kind man.
ReplyDeleteHey All,
ReplyDeleteOne thing I would like to acknowledge in the blog posts is how most people seemed not to realize that a person they regularly interacted with was affected by autism until they were directly told. I have learned from researching autism that a person who has autism is very affected in social aspects of life. From the posts and from my own experience however, it seems like people don’t really notice signs of autism at first if at all. This could be because they are not looking for signs and possibly don’t even know any but I think it is because people with autism seem fairly normal on the outside. Those who have autism don’t appear noticeable different, just a little wired at times if at all. Many of you said that you personally do not know anyone with autism even though one in 110 people have it. So I know there are people in our school who are affected by autism and we just don’t realize it. It is not a disease that really comes through in a person, I think it is something more on the inside as in how a person views the world; and in fact many of you said this in your posted. Simon mentioned in his response that “ Having Asperger’s can put oneself in an awkward place: most people don’t understand the magnitude of your condition, and it’s very difficult to express what you problem is in the first place.” I think he is right in saying that it is not a very outward condition but more something that happens on the inside. In the movie Temple Grandin they did a very good job of depicting this. You understood what she was thinking but those around her could not. I just think it is interesting how in most of our posts we mentioned the tolls autism can take on social cues and interactions while most people are unaware of those around them who have autism.
I also noticed how much it was mentioned the effects of autism on social interactions. It seems that it is the most common and evident aspect of this disorder. But I also agree with many others that it is not necessarily a disorder but rather a different way of looking at the world. Yes someone with autism may act and socialize differently with peers, but they strive higher in many other places. It is shown that people with autism often do well in math and other practical thinking activities. I think rather than focus on the bad symptoms of autism we should look at the advantages about the disorder and the skills and talents of the people with autism.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I just read what everyone had to say and what stood out to me the most is how much effort everyone has put in to understanding autism and our assumptions about people who are autistic. With the comments, people have been questioning the idea that autism is actually a disorder, or at least whether it is a "fair" label to place on people. I have a few thoughts on these issues:
ReplyDeleteSimon said in his last post "normality is arbitrary," which I don't think is true. Normality in human behavior is the typical (or at least perceived typical) behavior of average people. That doesn't make it "good" and I definitely don't think it's something individuals should strive to emulate, but it's not an arbitrary standard; it has developed from what we've collectively decided is socially acceptable, correct behavior.
On the disorder issue, I don't think disorder suggests "bad" as many people have implied; it does suggest "different," I guess, but not different from everyone. The whole point of diagnosing people with mental disorders like autism is to better understand them and potentially help them. This is not always the case, but I think most of the time, a diagnoses helps a person with autism by explaining his or her difference, which is already apparent to his or her family and friends. Also, by labeling people with mental disorders, we are able to see that they are not actually that different, because many other people have been diagnosed with the same disorder because they have similar symptoms. Diagnoses are labels, but they are neutral in and of themselves. For me, labeling is only bad when someone assumes it to be bad. Simply saying "you are autistic" is not an insult or a compliment. There should not be any positive or negative assumptions associated with the statement.
Josselyn asked "if someone is 'different', is it fair to treat them differently from the rest of the world?" I say "yes." If someone is different in some way and acts on that difference, it is completely fair to treat them accordingly. If it wasn't, society just wouldn't work; we can't treat everyone exactly the same regardless of their actions. If we did, there would be no consequences for people like serial killers because it wouldn't be fair to treat them differently because of their decision to murder a bunch of people. While obviously it is important to remain open minded and try not judge people on things that don't really matter to their essential goodness, that can be taken too far. With mental disorders, I think it is just as important not to use something like "he's autistic" as a defense to excuse unacceptable behavior, i.e. behavior which hurts others. A person should not be treated differently because they are autistic; they should be judged based on their actions.
I think this sums up how I fundamentally feel about tolerance/diversity quite well: It's essentially good, obviously, and it is something we should strive for as a society, but it can be taken too far. Generally, it is not fair to judge someone purely on abstract ideas or their inherent traits, but it is completely fair to judge someone on what they chose to do and say. Furthermore, it is only fair to actually punish someone for what they do, not what they say. Yay free speech!
(Sorry this is late and long.)
Can you even imagine that this conversation was so long ago? That it was nine months ago? That we're going to graduate soon? It's weird to see how the internet can preserve thoughts processes of so long ago in such an accessible manner. It's like a snapshot of ourselves, in a way. It shows how each of us interacts, discusses ideas, and reacts to criticisms. It's fascinating! I wonder how much we have changed since then...
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