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A lifestyle change that would benefit these types of individuals would be having routines and creating schedules in advance (i.e., planning their week, doing their nighttime routine every night/morning, having a job, going to school, etc.). Individuals with autism may have a harder time regulating emotions when it comes to interruptions and unplanned events. This may prove to be harder for them because they would need to break their own already-made patterns and create new ones. The best professionals involved in facilitating these tasks would be psychologists and therapists.

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The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) provides a list of criteria that help health professionals identify autism in an individual. In order to meet the criteria, the individual must showcase persistent deficits in three areas of communication/interaction and at least two types of restrictive behaviors.

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Technology can be utilized in many ways to assist those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is an example of a technology that can treat ASD. It comes in many forms but in general, it provides a way for people to communicate. Many times it is an app or a tablet that has premade phrases or signs for the person to click and it conveys their message to others for them. A possible negative aspect of utilizing this technology is that it could potentially hinder someone from trying to be more independent and even communicate verbally in the future. However, for most of those who are on the spectrum, it provides assistance that may increase social interactions and lead to overall better mental and physical health.

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The excepted cost of occupational therapy is between $93-$119 per session in the state of Arizona.

On a scale of 1-5, the likelihood of OT being fully covered is 4. Most insurance policies cover up to 60 visits per calendar year.

Depending on on the insurance plan, occupational therapy will either apply to the deductible or a set copay, assuming they are using an in-network provider.

Those who do not receive occupational therapy because of cost may not achieve the same skills, educational opportunities, and independence as those who do.

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Social, Emotional, and Educational challenges

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Social, Emotional, and Educational challenges

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People with Autism tend to have emotional dysregulation or trouble dealing with their emotions. They are also more susceptible to anxiety and depression but it does not necessarily cause them.

Because people with Autism have trouble recognizing social cues, they may have difficulty forming personal and business relationships.

People with autism also struggle with education specifically standardized testing and adjusting to changes in routines at school.

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For some children, autism spectrum disorder can be associated with a genetic disorder, such as Rett syndrome or fragile X syndrome. For other children, genetic changes (mutations) may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder.

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Autism is a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.

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There are many anatomical structures involved with autism. Some include the pontine, bilateral hippocampus, and the left para hippocampus gyrus. Also, various temporal and occipital gyrases.

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Autism, usually caused by an overgrowth in the frontal cortex during the early prenatal stages of development. It is usually diagnosed through behavior. Recent findings have shown differences in brain development compared to children who are neurotypical. Including mutations, rare gene changes, and genetic variations among many others.

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Autism has been associated with Gastrointestinal (GI) Abnormalities and Immune Imbalances. People with autism are more likely to develop GI issues such as Crohn's disease in more severe cases. Various organs and bodily processes may also be affected as people with autism suffer from immune imbalances.

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Neural system process- ASD can impar neural connectivity causing hyperfocus and attention trapped in he left frontal lobe.

Sensory process-

People with autism may have abnormal brain wave patterns so they may have sensory disturbances, such as finding everyday sounds unbearably loud.

Social attention-

people with ASD often have difficulty interpreting social contex and exhibit abnormal social behaviors.

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Neural cell bodies in the neocortex are "stacked" forming "minicolumns". These columns allow for a larger number of neurons to be connected by fewer axons. This is important in the integration of complex tasks requiring executive function. There is a wider length between the columns in ASD causing defectiveness in executive functioning.

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Every case of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is different, treatment changes case by case. Because it is a spectrum disorder some individuals might get treatment others might not need, and vice versa. In some cases, individuals with Autism might need: Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, sensory integration therapy, and many more.

Some individuals with Autism may be prescribed specific medications such as antipsychotics: Risperidone and Aripiprazole for example.

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Advanced parental age at time of conception

Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides

Maternal obesity, diabetes, or immune system disorders

Extreme prematurity or very low birth weight

Any birth difficulty leading to periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain

These factors alone are unlikely to cause autism. But it seems that they increase a child’s risk for developing autism when combined with genetic factors

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Restricted or repetitive behaviors or interest 

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Restricted or repetitive behaviors or interest 

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Individuals with autism can show signs of restricted or repetitive behaviors. This can be seen by how they repeat words and phrases, play with the same toy every time, get up set at minor changes, line up their toys and get upset when the order may change, and many other things.

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Signs and symptoms of autism in infants often can been seen through social interaction and interaction skills. Some of the signs/symptoms can include not responding to name by 9 months, not showing facial expressions by 9 months, using few or no gestures at 12 months, and not pointing to something interesting by 18 months.

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Individuals with Autism can present many different types of emotions. This can be just overreacting at small things. Becoming very stressed or anxious randomly. They can also have a lack of fear or be very fearful.

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Diagnostic tools usually rely on two main sources of information—parents' descriptions of their child's symptoms and a professional's observation of the child's behavior.

1. First, parents may observe abnormal behaviors (to be further discussed).

2. Then, parents may choose to refer their child to a specialists for clinical diagnosis. Some professionals include:

*Neurodevelopmental pediatricians

*Developmental-behavioral pediatricians

*Child neurologists

*Geneticists

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Teen peers may notice that a teen behaves strangely during a conversation; they may stand too close or speak too loudly. They might also notice that the teen seems rude due to their comments, unaware that certain comments might hurt people's feelings. Lastly, a teen with autism might grow unusually upset at class disruption or shifts in their daily schedule.

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Different treatment and medication types

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Autism has been associated with increased gastrointestinal (GI) issues and immune imbalances. These issues are treated through different methods, on a case-by-case basis, by a physician. Some treatments for GI issues include a special diet, medication, and procedures such as surgery. Treatments for immune imbalances include medication and prevention of infection.

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Individuals with autism can struggle later in life with living on their own. They can struggle with things such as self care and household management. They may need to have assisted living or stay with a trusted adult for most of their life.

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High:

Individuals with high-functioning ASD usually have similar abilities as their peers. Symptoms can be unidentifiable to others outside the individual's circle.

ASD individuals are usually condemned for having a disability, as a result, they learn to mask or self-soothe in ways other people might not notice.

Low:

Those with a higher level of autism need more support throughout their life. Some even have personal caretakers they meet with daily. They have a higher risk of having co-morbid conditions (fragile X-syndrome, tuberous syndrome, and epilepsy), which are not direct effects but can be associated conditions.

Socialization at all ages can be difficult due to many other long-term effects such as trouble with communication. Which are subjective and depend on the severity/level of diagnosis.

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A session of speech therapy can cost between $100-$250. Insurance is likely to cover some of the therapy, but it just depends on the persons insurance plan. It's about a 3 out of 5 to be fully covered. If an individual does not get speech therapy when needed they may struggle from a speech delay, communication difficulties, frustration, and learning/academic challenges.

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Under the Affordable Care Act, many insurance companies are required to cover services that aid mental health, including medication used for treatment of Autism. Additionally, Medicaid will also cover most costs for prescription medications, which is great for low-income families. Commonly used medications are Anti-anxiety, SSRI's, Antidepressants, etc. The average cost of generic antidepressants without insurance is $62.50 for 30 tablets, but brand-named antidepressants are $487.75.

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Individuals with autism may experience levels of anxiety, especially in social settings and/or when a change in their daily routine occurs. Depression can also occur due to them feeling isolated and having difficulty regulating their emotions. Anxiety and depression can be worked on by cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps individuals in the autism spectrum identify negative thought patterns and replace them with more positive thinking and better coping strategies. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be provided by a licensed mental health professional with specialized training in cognitive behavioral therapy and experience working with individuals with autism, such as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.

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Interpersonal therapy focuses on helping individuals improve interpersonal functioning and relationships and relieve mental health symptoms.

This method is specifically designed to treat mood swing and delayed social development effects that can be associated with Autism.

A variety of professionals can administer these treatments:

Psychologists

Psychiatrists

Psychiatric nurses

Social workers

Family therapists

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Social skills training is a psychosocial rehabilitation treatment for Autism. The treatment involves the practice of social skills, modeling/roleplaying skills, and training for other day-to-day activities.

These kinds of therapies assist in the reduction of social anxiety and improvement in communication and self-confidence. The practice of these skills allows individuals with autism to apply their practiced scenarios in real-life situations.

People at any level on the spectrum of ASD can benefit from this form of treatment. It is a long-term treatment that improves the quality of life and mental health.

The professionals involved in this treatment may include special education teachers, behavioral therapists, social workers, speech pathologists, and many others.

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Physical Therapy helps those stretch muscles, work on balance, but over all it is pretty specific to what the person needs are. It helps those with autism with balance, posture, gross motor skills, etc. A physical therapist is who would help with this treatment.

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The second lifestyle change is including visual supports throughout routine activities. Visual supports help navigate challenges and provide stability and predictability which can help independence.  Visual supports can include picture cards of daily tasks, social stories, and visual timetables. A behavior analysist can help provide visual supports. A challenge that can come with including visual supports into daily life can be if a child with autism will benefit from these supports but don't have the family that will help them to include them into life.

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Diet is an important lifestyle change for people with Autism. Autism patients should avoid/limit high-inflammatory foods since autism is linked to inflammation. These foods can include dairy and gluten. On the other hand, whole foods, unsaturated fats, fruits, and vegetables keep blood sugar levels balanced and decrease discomfort in the gut microbiome (abdominal discomfort which many autistic children experience). Parents can consult a dietitian for advice on how to give their child a balanced diet.

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People with autism can suffer from delayed development of motor skills. This can affect daily life skills such as dressing, bathing, and eating. To help improve a delay in life skills people with autism can go to occupational therapy. Occupational therapists help patients to improve vocational, daily living, and other skills. The type of professional is an occupational therapist.

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Minorities struggling with Autism may have a difficult time receiving treatment for multiple reasons. They may not have the financial resources to properly manage their symptoms. Additionally, minorities are less likely to be diagnosed with autism than their white peers. Primarily because their showcased symptoms are perceived differently by those around them. For example, black males with autism may have their behavior seen as "aggressive" or just being a "difficult child" in comparison to others showcasing similar struggles. Despite this fact, minorities are more likely to have autism than their white peers.

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Stray Dog (common in areas with low socioeconomic status)

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While the effects of autism depend on the spectrum of every person, autism has greater effects on special populations. One of these special populations affected by autism is people/children with low socioeconomic status. Low socioeconomic status poses challenges for diagnosis and treatment for people with ASD. Low socioeconomic status can make it challenging to afford treatment or even a diagnosis, especially for those who do not have insurance and cannot afford to pay out of pocket. This status makes access to psychologists, doctors, therapists, or other professionals difficult.

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One special population that may be affected by autism is children born to older parents.

This could be because as men age their sperm cells are more prone to genetic mutation. The mutation passed on to their offspring can contribute to problems including autism.

I can't think of any reason why this special population would encounter specific problems when finding care.

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AAC methods are helpful techniques that can allow people with autism that struggle with communication the ability to communicate with those around them. An example of a technique used would be a picture communication board. The communication boards can come equipped with pictures and sounds that provide them further communication abilities. These techniques can be implemented through the help of an SLP or other relevantly trained professionals.

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Speech, hearing, and cognitive impairments can all occur as a result of autism. The presence of these impairments and their severity depend on many things and vary from person to person. One of the speech impairments that may occur is repetitive and rigid language, usually called disfluent speech. Some therapies used in helping individuals impacted by this would be speech therapy, augmentative communication, and oral-motor therapies. Oral-motor therapy is the practice of muscle movement to help coordination and clearer speech. Argumentative therapies can be other types of languages that help in communication (sign language, picture communication). Professionals that may be involved in these therapies are speech and language pathologists, teachers, psychologists, and physical therapists/occupational therapists.

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There is currently no way to prevent autism as it is difficult to identify prenatal autism and even more difficult to find a preventative solution. There are, however, preventative measures for the effects of autism on physical and mental health. These measures include early diagnosis, early encouragement of social interactions, and many forms of therapy and early intervention.

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Although there is no proven solution to prevent autism one theory that may help is Maternal health and prenatal care which is maintaining optimal maternal health, including managing stress, avoiding exposure to environmental toxins, and following a nutritious diet help to prevent autism spectrum disorder. One challenge of this may it that it can be difficult for individuals in low-income situations, and lack of access to healthcare to do these things.

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1 in 36 children are diagnosed with autism. Boys are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed.

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Many countries screen young children for autism early so they can get help sooner, which improves their development, this is normal done at their pediatric well-checks. This is designed to target the individuals with autism and their family. Possible challenges can be those who do not have access to well-checks because they may live in rural areas not near doctor offices.

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Educating the public about autism helps to inform society about autism and its effects. It also helps to reduce stigma around autism. This targets the community as a whole. A challenge could be getting the public to actually listen and take in the information and apply it when needed.

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The Affordable Care Act protects individuals with disorders by requiring that insurance companies don't deny coverage or charge higher premiums for people with preexisting conditions like autism.

One challenge associated with the Affordable Care Act could be the potential lack of access to qualified specialists and services for individuals with autism.

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Eye tracking systems use cameras to monitor and analyze eye movements and gaze patterns in children. Eye tracking systems can assist with early diagnosis of autism by identifying atypical patterns of attention that are characteristics of autism. An example of eye-tracking technology for diagnosing autism is the Marcus Autism Center's Eye-Tracking System. A possible negative aspect to this is that the technology might not account for cultural or individual differences in gaze behavior, potentially leading to false positives or negatives. This highlights the importance of using eye tracking as part of a broader diagnostic process rather than a standalone tool.

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Researchers have begun to use AI (Artificial intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. These systems go through many different informational sources such as; MRI screenings, an individual's motor and communication skills, and social skills. They are comparing their inputted data with real-life patients and helping doctors diagnose children and adults with ASD. Even allowing them to see how far on the spectrum an individual may be. Even though this is a huge leap in medical technology, the accuracy of AI and ML is not 100% and can be wrong. Researchers are working to improve these systems; so far, some have had higher efficiency than humans.

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Prior to 2016, a higher percentage of white children among the age of 8 years old were identified to have ASD than children of another ethnic group. This could be the cause of stigma and lack of proper healthcare in other ethnicities.