Throughout all of my life, I have witnessed my older brother reach milestones that I would have never thought he could reach. When we were children, whenever he spoke he could never use his own words to describe how he felt. He could “script”, mimic scenes verbatim from movies, television shows, or other influential external sources, but he could not use his own voice to say exactly what he wanted to say. As the years passed he shed some of his scripting tendencies, and he could communicate in his own words with his peers, teachers, and our parents more effectively.

After he started going to his first couple therapy sessions, he was a little more reflective and thoughtful than before–where he would usually go close himself off in his room with an electronic device of some sort before and be solely focused on his wants and needs–and he was able to articulate his feelings more and not feel as frustrated due to not utilizing an outlet in which to transcribe his thoughts and emotions, such as journaling or practicing his piano.

Within this past year, he started taking medication to help calm him down for the first time and began ABA therapy – where he and his other therapist participate in social situations outside of the home. So far he has been the most thoughtful, diligent, and more helpful than ever before. Even though we are siblings and engage in petty fights with each other, I am so proud of the person that he is and is continuing to become.

He has had to overcome more challenges than I will ever know, like the hundreds of times throughout his academic career he has been maliciously teased for his sensitivity to certain sounds such as whistling and humming or having realized that he just does not understand the world like his neurotypical peers do. Even growing up with my autistic brother, autism is so complex and unique that it can be difficult to sift through all of the medical studies, reputablably sourced articles and the several advocacy groups with tons of information. So, with autism being one of the fastest growing neurological conditions in the world, it is of the utmost importance to educate the population about autism to increase understanding and decrease the amount of bullying that occurs for autistic individuals.

What is Autism?

Autism is a term used to describe a broad range of similarly characterized behavioral disorders whose effects vary person to person, because of the tremendous variation in its type and severity doctors will place their diagnoses on the autism spectrum. People who are diagnosed with autism generally do not pick up on the social cues and social behaviors, and may have a difficult time engaging in social interactions- both verbally and physically. There is widespread emphasis on receiving a diagnosis for autism at an early age.

Symptoms of Autism

• Different sensory experiences–i.e. Heightened sensitivity to light and sounds, or synesthesia
• May focus on restricted interests
• Repetitive behaviors
• Delay or difficulty in learning language or lack of functional speaking
• Social communication challenges–i.e lack of eye contact
• Lack of interest or difficulty in developing and maintaining relationships with peers
• Need for consistency and routine

Even though autism is as unique as the people who possess it, these are common symptoms that are usually recognizable across the board. Depending upon the culture in which the individual is from, it can increase or decrease their likelihood of being diagnosed because social cues are differently defined than in the United States.

What Causes Autism?

There is not just one cause for autism. According to The National Institute of Mental Health,” research suggests that genes act together with influences from the environment to affect development in ways that lead to ASD.” Autism generally tends to occur more in people who have a sibling with autism, having older parents, displaying a very low birth weight, and certain medical conditions that bear similarities to autism, such as tourettes, “fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome and untreated phenylketonuria (PKU)”, (Autism Society) and many more.

Treatments

While there is no “cure all” for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), there are several different kinds of treatment for the myriad of kinds presented. Typically, the majority of those with ASD respond best to highly structured and specialized programs. Programs such as cognitive behavior therapy, physical therapy, social skills training, and behavioral management therapy, along with medication treatment, are among the most popular forms of treatment for those with ASD.

The American Academy for Pediatrics encourages parents to have their children screened for developmental delays and for specifically for autistic characteristics as well. It is imperative that young people, as well as adults, strive to receive a doctor’s diagnosis.

-Sierra, NVHS

Sources

• Global Autism Project
• Autism Speaks
• The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• The Autism Society
• National PKU Alliance
• Disabilities Study Quarterly
• Psychology Today
• Autistic Self Advocacy Network
• The National Institute of Mental Health
• American Academy for Pediatrics