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Question 1: Temporoparietal cortex (TPC)

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Question 1: Temporoparietal cortex (TPC)

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This is when there is a complex area of the brain that is involved in several functions.

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Older parents increase the probability of Autism within children because as sperm ages it releases toxins that lead to autism

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Sensory processing is often affected in autism, leading to heightened or diminished responses to sensory stimuli. This may include sensitivity to lights, sounds, textures, or smells. These sensory differences can significantly influence behavior and interaction with the environment.

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One significant process affected in autism is neural connectivity. Studies suggest that individuals with autism may experience over-connectivity in some brain areas and under-connectivity in others. This imbalance affects communication between different regions of the brain, contributing to challenges in social interactions and information processing.

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Autism primarily involves differences in brain structure and function. Key areas include the prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making and social interactions), the amygdala (emotion regulation), and the cerebellum (coordination and motor control). These areas show atypical connectivity and development, contributing to the characteristics of autism.

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Differences in the frontal brain structures can contribute to autism by disrupting the neural circuits responsible for executive functions and social interactions.

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Social Communication Challenges

Trouble understanding social hints.

Difficulty with eye contact and facial expressions.

Challenges in forming relationships.

These challenges can foster a sense of isolation, as the vibrant world of social interactions seems just out of reach, filled with intricate signals and cues that are difficult to navigate.

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Most of the time people with austim experience heightened sensitivity with actions they take or things they do.

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Gene mutations and variations are the processes that cause autism. When a gene's code is mutated or some of it is deleted, this is a factor in the causation of autism and autistic traits.

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A long-term effect of autism is difficulty forming and maintaining friendships and relationships.

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Long-Term Treatment for Autism: Speech and Language Therapy

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Long-Term Treatment for Autism: Speech and Language Therapy

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Cost:

The cost typically ranges from $50 to $250 per hour. An annual cost can vary from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on session frequency.

Insurance Coverage:

Most health insurance plans cover speech therapy to some extent, especially when deemed medically necessary. However, coverage may be limited by annual caps, session limits, or specific diagnosis requirements.

Consequences of Avoiding Treatment Due to Cost:

Without speech therapy, individuals may struggle with verbal and non-verbal communication, resulting in social isolation, frustration, and difficulties in academic and professional settings. Poor communication skills can lead to behavioral problems and hinder independence, making future interventions more complex and costly.

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Another long term treatment would be attending behavior therapy. If people attend this they can focus on their specific challenges they are facing and grow to learn and grow from them. Depending on the factors of location or provider can range from $120-$150 per hour. If the child is under the age of 18 the law mandates that 25 hours of therapy can be covered, max of $50,000. If people need to attend more than 25 sessions, it would need to come out of pocket and sometimes people don't want to play for that.

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A long-term effect of autism can be social isolation due to difficulties in communication and forming relationships. Without proper support, this can lead to anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life. However, with appropriate interventions, individuals can improve social skills and achieve fulfilling lives.

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Delayed social and emotional development

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People who have autism happen to be more interested in looking at objects rather than making eye contact with people

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People with autism struggle with delayed language skills.

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OT is a common form of therapy used within kids with autism. This treatment typically supports children with sensory and motor issues.

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1. Developmental Screening: Assessing if a child meets typical developmental milestones through questionnaires and check-ups.

2. Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation: A detailed assessment by specialists using observation and standardized tools like ADOS or ADI-R.

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People with autism tend to have a hard time maintaining friendships due to a lack of social communications.

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aripiprazole this is currently one of the only medications FDA approved for symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders. The cost of this is around 700 dollars but with insurance it can be brought down to about 12 dollars. It does not fully cover all of it but most of it is convered.

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One treatment for autism is applied behavior analysis. The expected cost of applied behavior analysis is between $120 to $150/hour. On a scale of 1-5, the likelihood of this treatment being fully covered is 3. Some long-term consequences may be behavioral issues and reduced skill acquisition if the person chooses NOT to seek treatment because of the cost.

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People with autism may have anxiety that can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on recognizing unproductive thoughts and negative patterns and changing them into positive ones. MBSR is a type of meditation therapy that uses meditation to relax and ease stress and/or anxiety of the patient. The types of professionals that would be required to deliver these treatments would be psychologists, therapists and counselors.

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Social skill training therapy is an approach that teaches individuals, often with autism on how to create and maintain friendships and relationships with their peers.

There are no negative effects to this therapeutic approach. As most therapy it takes time to see results, in this case it varies depending on the individual. But overtime the patient will get comfortable with their communication skills and hopefully be able to create meaningful relationships in the future.

A medical professional would be required to provide treatment and service.

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A special populations that may be affected by autism are low-income families and minority groups. Low-income families may be affected more because of their lack of resources and minorities may be affected more because of cultural stigma or lack of awareness about the condition. These populations may face problems when getting care because of non-affordable care and lack of understanding or a stigma about the condition.

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As a result of autism, people may experience difficulties with coordination, balance, gait, fine motor skills, and muscle tone, which can impact their daily functioning and participation in activities. Some physical rehabilitation treatments that may be necessary to treat autism are swimming, dance/movement, and play therapy. These physical treatments help people with autism refine their gross motor skills because of their low muscle tone. A physical therapist would be required to deliver these treatments.

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One of the primary rehabilitation therapies for people with autism is occupational therapy, which is a third intervention. It seeks to assist individuals in acquiring and enhancing the abilities required for everyday duties. Activities that are aimed at improving independence and engagement in daily life include self-care (e.g., eating, dressing), fine motor coordination, sensory processing, and social contact. This treatment is provided by a professional occupational therapist who creates specialized interventions to address sensory, motor, and cognitive issues.

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1. Most likely to suffer from autism genetically:

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1. Most likely to suffer from autism genetically:

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• Highly heritable.
• Most heritable neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Common genetic variants also play a role.
• Associated with syndromes like Williams and Phelan-McDermid.
• Gene-environment interactions are an area of ongoing research.
• Complex genetic architecture involving multiple types of alterations.

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Two or more lifestyle changes that would be helpful to treat autism are to make and stick to a structured routine, have sensory management, and participate in regular physical activity. These lifestyle changes are planning out one’s day and sticking to that plan, participating in more sensory-friendly activities, and moving regularly to increase one’s overall mood and focus. Occupational and physical therapists could help with these lifestyle changes.

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Dietary Modifications:

Some individuals with autism may benefit from a gluten-free or casein-free diet, which involves eliminating gluten (found in wheat) and casein (found in dairy) from their meals. This change may help reduce gastrointestinal issues and improve behavioral symptoms in some individuals.

A nutritionist or dietitian can assist in creating and managing dietary modifications, ensuring nutritional needs are met while following specific dietary restrictions.

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Special populations that may be affected by autism are males and individuals with older parents. Males are at a higher risk when it comes to autism is because of possible hormones and gene expression. However there is still no definite answer as to why. As for those with older parents, children are more likely to have autism because the older the father's sperm becomes, it releases toxins that affect whether a child has autism.

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Autism is treated primarily with different kinds of therapy such as behavioral and educational therapy.

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older adults a special group due to that fact that their immune system is going to be lower and their bodies might be less efficient. This can cause them to have a greater risk of having a child with autism in the future. Do to the fact that they have this risk they might need to be more monitored by doctors during their pregnancies.

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rehabilitation treatment ( speech therapy)

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rehabilitation treatment ( speech therapy)

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speech therapy is a good treatment which focuses on improving communication skills by addressing areas like understanding language, and it can help them to express thoughts. Some techniques that are often utilized are pictures to exchange communication systems (PECS) or verbal behavior therapy (VBT).  For this the client would need to see a speech therapist to get this type of treatment. With speech therapy you do not get better over night it is something that takes time to get better at.

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Those with autism may have peripheral hearing problems which give them an unusual sensitivity to sound in one ear. They also may have issues processing what is being said.

Depending on severity the person may be given hearing aids, but often times these people wear headphones to mask the noises.

An audiologist would help with hearing issues like prescribing hearing aids.

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Reducing Exposure to Environmental Toxins

Description: Limiting exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, air pollution, and chemicals like phthalates, may lower the risk of ASD. Studies suggest that these toxins could disrupt brain development during pregnancy.

Challenges: Many environmental toxins are pervasive and often beyond individual control. Achieving significant reductions may require policy changes, changes in industrial practices, and widespread public education.

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It is important for the mother carrying the baby to have prenatal care. This includes regular check-ups, eating a healthy diet, and taking vitamins and supplements. If this doesn't happen then the mother and the baby are at risk. It may be difficult for some mothers to get care because they may not have healthcare. Taking these preventive measures does not 100% ensure a healthy baby, sometimes things happen, but it does help.

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Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a tertiary intervention that helps individuals with autism by using reinforcement to encourage positive behaviors and improve quality of life. Sensory-friendly environments, a secondary intervention, modify spaces to reduce sensory overload and help individuals feel more comfortable. Both interventions face challenges, such as the need for consistent application or costly changes to spaces.

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Getting vaccinated is an important primary prevention public health intervention. Vaccines help protect individuals from developing certain illnesses and contribute to community immunity, reducing the overall spread of diseases. By staying vaccinated, you can help keep yourself and others healthy. Additionally, if you do get sick, seeking timely treatment is a form of secondary intervention, which focuses on early detection and treatment to prevent complications.

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A speech device is invaluable for someone who is nonverbal and has autism, aiding communication and language development. However, difficulties such as cost, technological complexity, and the need for consistent practice can limit its accessibility and ease of use.

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Visual technologies, such as visual timers, are often used to support individuals with autism, especially in classrooms, by providing visuals to aid task completion and transitions. However, challenges can arise, such as reliance on the timer causing anxiety when it ends, difficulty generalizing its use outside structured environments, and potential distractions if the visuals are not suited to the individual’s needs.

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Autism can affect long-term social and behavioral development. Challenges with social communication, repetitive behaviors, and adaptability to change are common. Early intervention and support are crucial for fostering skills and enhancing quality of life for individuals with autism.