Introduction
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Autism is called a developmental disorder; it can be diagnosed at any age, but the symptoms appear within the first two years. With early diagnosis of autism, it is possible to start specialized treatment that will contribute to positive changes in cognitive, social and language functioning. Professional practitioners recommend early identification and intervention to promote positive outcomes in all aspects of development for the autistic child.
What is Autism?
Autism is a spectrum disorder because they are many variations of autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) occurs in individuals across all ethnic, racial, and economic groups. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) gives the three characteristics of ASD as difficulty in communication and interaction, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, and symptoms that hurts the person’s ability to properly function at home, school, work or other areas of life. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 59 children has ASD. Autism is four times more common among boys than girls (CDC, 2018). 2006-2008 statistic reported that 1 in 6 children in the US had a developmental disorder, ranging from mild disabilities to severe disabilities such as autism and cerebral palsy.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Aside from the three characteristics given by the DSM-5, autism also causes delays in other areas of development such as learning to talk, play and interact with others (Moutier, 2015). Signs of autism vary widely with some children having mild impairments while others can barely function. There are also different opinions on the causes of autism and how to treat it, but experts agree that early intervention can make a real difference.
Most scientists believe that autism is caused by genetic factors but environmental factors also play a role. According to Walsh et al. (2008), autism is considered a genetic disorder through the genes involved with autism are hard to identify. Common autistic symptoms accompany a genetic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU). Children with mutations in genes associated with tuberous sclerosis also show prominent autistic signs. Other genetic abnormalities such as the deletion of chromosome 22q11 and inverted duplications of proximal chromosome 15q are associated with autism and mental retardation. Babies born with genetic vulnerability to autism are sometimes triggered by environmental factors while they are still in the womb or after birth. The likelihood for autism is higher for first-degree relatives, and recurrence rate of autism in siblings is between 2% and 8% (Heimann et al., 2016). Advanced parental age and pregnancy and birth complications are some of the environmental factors that increase the risk of autism. Bacterial or viral infections in the mother during pregnancy increase the risk of autism due to the passage of harmful germs from the mother to the fetus. Exposure to chemical pollutants such as metals and pesticides during pregnancy also increases the child’s risk of autism.
Detection of autism is hard before the child reaches 24 months, but parents should watch out for red flags and warning signs revolving around impaired social skills, language and speech difficulties, and inflexible behavior (Heimann et al., 2016). Symptoms of social challenges include lack of interest in what is going on around them, inability to connect with others, play and make friends or when a child does not prefer to be touched, held or cuddled. Lack of interest in everyday activities such as drawing or toys is another red flag. Children with autism prefer to live in their own world rather than socialize with others. Children with autism also speak in an abnormal tone of voice, and they often repeat the same words or phrases over and over. They repeat questions rather than answering it and use language incorrectly. They also have difficulties in maintaining eye contact, using and reading facial expressions, and making gestures. Sometimes they have abnormal postures, clumsiness, and eccentric behaviors. Children with autism are inflexible, and they tend to follow rigid routines such as following specific routes to school or their attachment to certain toys. They like things in a particular order and do not respond well to changes in the environment or their patterns. They spend long periods watching the same thing, such as a ceiling fan or engaging in the same actions over and over again such as flapping hands.
The above symptoms do not make it hard to detect autism as those behaviors are still common among young children. When parents observe specific unusual behavioral patterns that are similar to the red flags for autism, they should schedule an appointment with the pediatrician or a development specialist. A development specialist will screen for autism at 9, 18, and 30 months of age to identify a cluster of symptoms that can be used to tell whether the child has autism or not.
Individuals with autism experience significant impairments in their physical and mental condition which significantly affects their quality of life. Autism restricts an individual’s ability to fully participate in society through recreation, school, and vocation (Lai & Weiss, 2017). Children with severe cases of autism struggle with intellectual disability, physical disability, and various medical conditions. Individuals with autism experience a variety of medical problems such as gastrointestinal disorders, epilepsy, OCD and physical injuries. Individuals with autism have a low life expectancy of 54 because they have many social, medical, and mental needs that are not met in their adulthood. Adults with autism struggle with loneliness and depression and this can lead to suicide.
Cognitive Development in Individuals with Autism
Studies show that individuals with autism have varied cognitive skills. Cognitive development refers to the neurological and psychological development associated with changes in the level of conception, perception, information processing, and language. Cognitive development is a sign of brain development, and it starts from infancy until adolescence. Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development begins with the sensorimotor stage, between birth and 2years. In the sensorimotor stage, the child uses motor activity, and the baby’s knowledge is based on physical interactions and experiences. The children explore things, and towards the end of the stage, they develop language skills. The preoperational stage is the second stage between 2 years to 7 years, and during this stage, the child begins to use language, memory, and imagination. The signs of autism can be identified towards the end of the sensorimotor and at the beginning of the preoperational stage. Autistic children can perceive sensory stimuli through their reaction to stimuli may be abnormal. Studies investigating the sensorimotor intelligence of autistic children show that they have normal development of object permanence. IQ tests are also used to understand autism, and IQ scores show a fluctuation of 10-20 points for autistic children.
Other studies also explore the issue of cognitive development in individuals with autism. Children with mild forms of autism sometimes appear intelligent, and this can lead to the assumption that some types of autism have no changes in cognitive development. However, studies conclude that some areas of cognitive development are relatively stable while other areas are delayed. Normal cognitive development occurs in progressive steps involving information processing, language development, and changes in perception. Individuals with autism experience delay in language development such that they speak in a different tone, they do not understand when they are spoken to, and they say repetitive words that do not necessarily make sense. The symptoms of autism show an abnormality in cognitive development.
According to Lai & Weiss (2017) children with autistic spectrum disorders have unique patterns of development. Each has relative strengths that can help them learn, and yet they have significant weaknesses that also affect learning. For example, an autistic child with good auditory memory may develop a repertoire of appropriate social phrases. A study by Pellicano (2010) explores the cognitive strengths and weaknesses of people with autism. One of the cognitive weaknesses is the inability to predict the behavior of others and to regulate their behavior. Autistic individuals have a problem in understanding the actions of others, and they find it hard to behave appropriately in different situations as per the norms.
In the study, Pellicano (2010) assessed 37 children with autism and 31 typically developing children between 5 and six years. The researcher asked the children to watch a series of social interactions on video and to predict the character’s behavior. The study also tested the children’s executive function by making them take part in problem-solving tasks requiring planning ahead and flexibility. Lastly, Pellicano (2010) assessed the children’s central coherence by asking them to construct patterns from wooden blocks. The study concluded that not all children with autism exhibit the same cognitive development issues instead they have varying cognitive strengths and weaknesses. For example, one child showed weaknesses in the theory of mine, while others had problems with execution. The same study was conducted after three years, and there was little change in the theory of mind and executive functions for children with autism. While the skills of the typically developing children continue to improve such that they begin to appreciate thoughts, feelings, and regulate their emotions throughout the study. The study also concluded that cognitive skills for autistic children progress over time, and there is a need to understand their cognitive abilities, both strengths and weaknesses to come up with specific strategies to facilitate progress in some areas.
In conclusion, autism has significant effects on the cognitive development of a child. Autistic children have problems with language, execution, planning ahead and flexibility. Fortunately, studies show that some of the symptoms of autism can be appropriately managed if detected early. Early social orienting and targeted learning can help autistic children deal with their weaknesses. Individuals with autism face many challenges in their physical, mental, cognitive and social development such that they have a lower life expectancy. Families, care providers, and society, in general, should educate themselves on autism and how to support autistic individuals so that they can lead better lives.
References
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. (2018). Autism Spectrum Disorder: Data & Statistics. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
Lai, J. K., & Weiss, J. A. (2017). Priority service needs and receipt across the lifespan for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Autism Research , 10 (8), 1436-1447.
Moutier, S. (2015). Improving executive function skills in children with autism spectrum disorder: The example of a new executive training protocol based on LearnEnjoy digital apps. European Psychiatry , 30 (8), S56.
Pellicano, E. (2010). The development of core cognitive skills in autism: A 3‐year prospective study. Child Development , 81 (5), 1400-1416.
Walsh, C. A., Morrow, E. M., & Rubenstein, J. L. (2008). Autism and brain development. Cell , 135 (3), 396-400.
