Autism Centers

Autism, which affects 1 out of 1000 individuals, is a neural development disorder. Females are 4 times less likely to have it than males. Symptoms typically include a lack of socialization, repetitive or compulsive behaviors, and inadequate communication skills. Information is processed between nerve cells and their synapses incorrectly. This leaves the individual with an emotional gap. Why it happens is unclear, but it is believed to be genetically linked. Learning, play, and work are all challenging for an autistic person. That's where autism centers come in, which specialize in giving kids with the disorder a way to overcome it.

The lives of the surrounding family are affected as well as the person with the disorder. As early as infancy the first signs show up, such as not smiling often, failing to make eye contact, and remaining unresponsive to their name. People with autism are usually intelligent, and certain skills, for example perception and memorization, are keener than the average person. They tend to lean towards introversion, which makes having relationships hard. The parents of children with autism have higher stress levels than other parents with ordinary children. In their childhood, siblings seem to fight less. But there is a greater disconnection between them in adulthood. A friendship is very difficult to keep.

Families rely on autism centers to help the autistic member live a regular life. The predictable schedule offered by these schools is a key in treatment, along with constantly reinforcing behavior and teaching steps simply. Therapy must not stop at the school. Involvement by the parents is critical to a child's success. The more they are engaged in helping and teaching the better. It's important to keep up the training at home.

Sometimes classes contain only students with the disorder or mix in students with no disabilities. To develop coordination, they usually start with some kind of physical activity. Then, activities or crafts that help with motor skills are performed. Using language properly, expressing feelings, and social interaction are all focuses during a typical day as well. Teachers and behavior therapists work together with the kids.

Programs practiced in the centers can differ. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related handicapped Children (TEACCH) is based on evaluating behavior, supporting parents, socialization, counseling, and can seek employment when the student is grown. Sensory integration therapy has to do with behavior being affected by a person's environment. It helps stimulate the senses so autistic kids can get a better feel for what is going on around them while they work with a therapist. One of the most effective treatments is the Applied Behavior Analysis program, or ABA. It was designed to be a scientific process, not a specific autism treatment.

7 principles of behavior make up the ABA program. They can be applied to social behavior in order to improve it. How one thinks or feels helps make up behavior. Emotions are what autistic people struggle with, and that may be why they lash out. A behavior that needs changing is picked and an intervention on that behavior gets applied. This is the first principle, also detailing how the behavior may affect the individual and those surrounding them as it changes. The second principle focuses on making sure the behavior is changed permanently. The third principle analyzes the behavior when it has changed. An intervention may be stopped after any changes are documented just to see if the behavior will change back.

The technical approach is the fourth principle, where a complete notation of the study is recorded and could obtain the same results if repeated. The conceptually systematic approach is the fifth principle, stating that both the process and the how the results are interpreted must be definitively traced back to the initial intervention and behavior. The effective approach is the sixth principle, which verifies that all techniques used really do work. The general approach is the last principle, ensuring that the behavior will not change back after time, a different environment, or the cease of the intervention are applied.

Autism centers deserve a lot of credit in diminishing the effects of the disorder. They are places where the children that attend feel normal and can make friends with those struggling similarly. Parents receive special training and emotional support, being able to meet other people that understand with what they are dealing on a regular basis. They are places where people that care want nothing more than to see the children succeed. Patience and a helping hand make all the difference in these families lives.

Mark Bree writes articles The New Jersey Center For Autism, a NJ Autism resource that specializes in the ABA program. Their website is http://www.njautismcenter.org

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