Autism spectrum disorder comprises a combination of traits that result in a range of developmental and behavioural disorders. Autism spectrum disorder is generally classified into two types namely low-functioning autism and high function autism.
An autism spectrum disorder is known to affect the normal development of speech and other social interaction abilities and hence it is called as a pervasive developmental disorder. Autism spectrum disorders are not comparable with disorders like dyslexia and it was seen that many autism spectrum disorder afflicted persons end up in a terrible poverty due to their impaired social interaction level.
Susceptible Areas that can Get Affected
An autism spectrum disorder can cripple the afflicted person in many areas of functioning due to the associated developmental
and psychological disorders. The areas that get affected can include self-help skills, communication, language learning and any academic achievement.
In few individuals, you may notice the symptoms immediately where as in many other cases you may not be able to identify the symptoms and only a prolonged observation alone can make you to identify the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
It is also possible for people who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder to lead a very normal life. In fact, in few cases, people who have been leading a normal life has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a later part of their lives and they have been living with the disorder without even getting affected by it. The disorder can only be identified or diagnosed with a series of psychological tests.
Not an Incapacitated Person
The first and foremost truth that you should understand and make others also to know is that people afflicted with autism spectrum disorder are not to be considered as disabled people. The only difference is that they have a different thought process from the rest of us. When it comes to the severity of the disorder, there are different degrees or levels and no two persons are alike.
Persons with an autism spectrum disorder might experience slight difficulty in their interaction levels but at the same time they have a very good academic achievement like any other normal person. It all depends on the severity of the disorder.
Persons diagnosed with the disorder may not socialise freely and may even fail in the administered tests in school curriculum. Their reading and comprehension level also may take a beating, as their brains conceive the external stimulus a little bit differently from other normal persons.
Awareness is the Key
By getting to know more about the disorder and be aware of the impairment borne by the afflicted persons, teachers, parents, friends and other people in general can help the affected person in coping with the disorder so as to lead a near normal life.
A good knowledge about the various levels or degrees of the disorder can also help in assisting during the therapies and make the autism afflicted persons feel at home and induce their socialising skills.
By learning more and more about the disorder, we will be in a better position to help the afflicted persons. You can make a difference in the society by helping the people with autism spectrum disorder to live a near normal and a productive life.
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