DEVELOPMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHILD WITH AUTISM In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements in SPED 19 – Research in Special Education October 26, 2009 First Semester S. Y 2009-2010 I. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION INTRODUCTION: Isolated in worlds of their own, children with autism appear indifferent and remote and are unable to form bonds with others. Although people with this brain disorder can display a wide range of symptoms and disability, many are incapable of understanding other people’s thoughts, feelings, and needs.

In this study, one can be able to understand better about autism specifically on the motor developmental characteristics autistic child, the factors that affect this development and how these are being developed. With this, you can be able to give such interventions whenever it is needed and you will know how to interact with them properly. As a parent, teacher, or a student, you may know the frustration of trying to communicate and connect with children who have autism. You may feel ignored as they engage in endlessly repetitive behaviors. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

His class is in the morning session that starts at ten o’clock and ends around eleven o’clock. They are five autistic pupils in that particular Special class. B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This study aims to describe motor development of a child with autism. More specifically, it answers the following questions: 1. What are the developmental characteristics of a child with autism? 2. What are the factors that affect the developmental characteristics of a child with autism? C. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This research can be a big help to the following: 1.You may despair at the bizarre ways they express their inner needs. Moreover, you may feel sorrow that your hopes and dreams for them may never materialize. But there is help-and hope. Gone are the days when people with autism were isolated, typically sent away to institutions. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.  Today, many youngsters can be helped to attend school with other children. Methods are available to help improve their social, language, academic and motor skills. In that manner, many children with autism can be trained to do meaningful work and articipate in the life of the community. A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY: This research was conducted in Agripino P. Santos Elementary School located in Brgy. 4, Laoag City. It is a two-storey building. The special children has its own classroom located at the first floor of the building infront of the Principals Office. There are different kinds of cases found in that Special Class which includes Down’s Syndrome, Dyslexic children, Physically Handicapped and Autistic children. The researcher focused only to one autistic child namely Brian Dolana.

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For the teachers to have an idea on how to establish developmentally an appropriate learning activities for the developmental characteristics of a child with autism and having this informations, they will understand that such activities that given to the autistic child can help them to have a better concentration and teacher s may learn the importance of such interventions that they will do for the child. 2. For the parents to have a knowledge regarding on the factors that affect the developmental characteristics of a child with autism so that they will give the appropriate treatment for their child. . For the students to have a better basic understanding of child development specifically on the developmental characteristics of a child with autism because it will help them to learn how to mingle properly with those kind of people and they will know how to treat them well. D. DEFINITION OF TERMS Autism. This refers to the developmental disability that severely hinders the way information is gathered and processed by the brain, causing problems in communication and social behaviors. ( Autism Society Philippines ) Motor Development. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

This refers to the growth of muscular coordination in a child and the study of changes in movement over the lifespan, the processes that underlie these changes and the factors that affect them. ( www. wikipedia. com) Gross Motor Skills. This refers to the abilities required in order to control the large body of muscles for walking, running, sitting, crawling and other activities. (www. wikipedia. com ) Fine Motor Skills. This refers to the small movements of the hands, wrists, fingers, toes, lips and tongue. ( www. wikipedia. com) Physical Development.

This refers to the progress of a child’s control over his body that includes control over muscles, physical coordination, ability to sit and stand. (www. ask. com) Social Development. This refers to the development of interaction with the human world around, including relationships with others and the social skills we need to fit into our culture or society. (www. blurtit. com) Cognitive Development. This refers to the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. ( www. ask. com) II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Meaning and Nature of Autism Autism is found in every country and region of the world, and in families of all racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds. When we say autism, it is a brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.  Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.The focus of an autistic child is a consistent routine and includes an interest in repeating odd and peculiar behaviors. Autistic children often have problems in communication, avoid eye contact, and show limited attachment to others. (www. msn. com) Some Things Autism is Not: 1. Autism is not mental retardation.

Some autistic people may be very intelligent – there is a lot of evidence that Albert Einstein may have been autistic. 2. Autism is not “savant” syndrome. Some autistic people are “savants,” (e. g. , instant calculator, etc. ) but most are not. Other autistic people are “gifted,” however, and have high “general” intelligence. Many autistic people have normal intelligence, and some may be retarded. 3. Autism is not an emotional problem. Autism is a neurological condition which people are usually born with. Psychological trauma doesn’t cause it. 4. Autism is not a psychosis or lack of reality contact. . People do not choose to be autistic. 6. Autism is not “a fate worse than death. ” Autistic people have some disadvantages, but some live very happy and rewarding lives. Many autistic people wouldn’t want to be “cured,” as this would be like erasing them and replacing them with different people. Causes of Autism It has long been presumed that there is a common cause at the genetic, cognitive, and neural levels for autism’s characteristic triad of symptoms. However, there is increasing suspicion that autism is instead a complex disorder whose core aspects have distinct causes that often co-occur.

Autism caused by some rare mutations may disrupt some synaptic pathways, such as those involved with cell adhesion. Gene replacement studies in mice suggest that autistic symptoms are closely related to later developmental steps that depend on activity in synapses and on activity-dependent changes. All known teratogens (agents that cause birth defects) related to the risk of autism appear to act during the first eight weeks from conception, and though this does not exclude the possibility that autism can be initiated or affected later, it is strong evidence that autism arises very early in development. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

Although evidence for other environmental causes is anecdotal and has not been confirmed by reliable studies, extensive searches are underway. Environmental factors that have been claimed to contribute to or exacerbate autism, or may be important in future research, include certain foods, infectious disease, heavy metals, solvents, diesel exhaust, and phenols used in plastic products, pesticides, alcohol, smoking, illicit drugs, vaccines, and prenatal stress.

Parents may first become aware of autistic symptoms in their child around the time of a routine vaccination, and this has given rise to theories that vaccines or their preservatives cause autism. Although these theories lack convincing scientific evidence and are biologically implausible, parental concern about autism has led to lower rates of childhood immunizations and higher likelihood of measles outbreaks. (www. msn. com/causes-of-autism) Symptoms of Autism Autism is a complicated disorder that many parents have to adjust to once their child is diagnosed with it.

It is one of the disorders that is difficult to pin down, but for which its characteristics can often be observed. It still is best to consult your pediatrician if your child exhibits signs of autism. Parents are often confused as to what would classify behaviors linked to autism. Children often display behavior prior to three years of age. There are three signs of the disorder that commonly identify it as autism, however varied the degree in which these signs are exhibited by children. One symptom of autism is stunted social skills.

Instances of such behavior is indicated when the child fails to acknowledge when a parent calls out their name, nor do they appear to not hear you calling them. Children with autism also tend to live in a world of their own.  Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.They prefer to play alone, sometimes disregarding other children in the vicinity, even resist being held and hugged. Other symptoms include no eye contact and using another person’s hand to communicate something. Another sign of autism is the lack of communication and the delayed start of language.

Where most children start imitating sounds, words and gestures, children with autism do not communicate as early and do not often show the desire to communicate. And when they do talk, they speak in a strange tone. Where gestures are concerned, the child with autism tends to focus on the gesture itself and not the object of the gesture. For example, if you point at an object, the child with autism will look at the hand rather than the object. Lastly, behavior should be noted. Children with autism tend to stick to repetitive behavior.

They could be stacking books, jars, or blocks, create straight lines with their toys, flap their hands, rocking their body, etc. They are also disturbed with changes in routine. They also tend to focus all their attention on a particular part of an object- a spinning wheel of a toy car. Other signs of autism apart from these three major things include super skills like gross memorization of data and superior skills in musical instruments, often termed as “autistic savants. ” Some develop sensitivity to too much stimuli like light and noise, and under-responsivity like walking into doors and walls.

There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling. The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child. As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. They lack empathy. Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head banging.

They also tend to start speaking later than other children do and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me. ”  Children with autism do not know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking. Many children with autism have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.

Below is a list of autism symptoms that parents should monitor for and document if your toddler displays any. * unresponsive to their name * will not make eye contact * lack of smile (keep in mind that newborns don’t usually smile for a few weeks after birth * dislikes cuddling * poor imagination when playing * dislikes playing with others * loner – difficulty making friends (or no desire to make friends) * no separation anxiety when not around his/her mother * very independent * prefers to play alone * attacks other children for no apparent reason. * lack of conversational skills * does not appear to hear sometimes repeats words * uses strange language * no talking * repeating only the words they hear * mix up pronouns (“I”, “you”, and “we”) * strange activities and interests * repeats motions (staring, swaying, etc. ) * lack of flexibility with routines and rituals * obsessed with specific objects * routinely places things in a line, such as toys * hypersensitive to senses * less sensitive to pain * over-sensitive to sensations * inflicts pain upon self * slow development (miss milestones such as speech) * does not babble by the 12th month * does not gesture by the 12th month * does not speak at all by the 16th month does not speak phrases of two words or more by the 24th month * loses language skills already learned * word vocabulary gets smaller rather than larger * social skills become diminished Treatment of Autism There is no cure for autism. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism:  impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and non- verbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests.

Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better. ·        Educational/behavioral interventions:  Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child. ·        Medications:  Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs. Stimulant drugs, such as those used for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), are sometimes used effectively to help decrease impulsivity and hyperactivity. ·        Other therapies:  There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

Treatment approaches are evolving as more is learned about autism. There are many therapeutic programs, both conventional and complementary, that focus on replacing dysfunctional behaviors and developing specific skills. As a parent, it is natural to want to do something immediately. However, it is important not to rushing with changes. Your child may have already learned to cope with his or her current environment and changes could be stressful. You should investigate various treatment approaches and gather information concerning various options before proceeding with your child’s reatment. You will encounter numerous accounts from parents about successes and failures with many of the treatment approaches mentioned. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay. You will also discover that professionals differ in their theories of what they feel is the most successful treatment for autism. It can be frustrating! However, you will learn to sift through them and make rational, educated decisions on what is appropriate for your child. You live with your child every day and you know his/her needs. Moreover, in time, you will come to know his/her autism.

Trust your instincts as you explore various options. Characteristics of Autism Although every person with autism is unique, some characteristics are viewed as particularly important in the diagnosis of autism. These characteristics fall into four major categories: • Communication skills • Social interaction characteristics • Unusual behavior traits • Learning approaches Other characteristics of behavior and learning in children with autism can be categorized as: • Unusual patterns of attention Irregular responses to sensory stimuli • Anxiety Communication Skills. All children with autism experience language and communication difficulties, although there are considerable differences in language ability among individuals. Some are non-verbal while others may have extensive language with deficits in the area of pragmatics (the social use of language). People with autism may seem caught up in a private world in which communication is insignificant. This is not a deliberate act but rather a failure to communicate.

People with autism often have difficulty in comprehending verbal information, following long verbal instructions, and remembering an order of instructions. The comprehension of language may be on factual-specific information. The extent of difficulty will vary among individuals, but even those who have normal intelligence, usually referred to as high- functioning, may have difficulty with comprehension of verbal information. Often when they communicate, autistic children tend to use non-verbal languages and touches more than words and phrases.

This is because the majority of them, with the exclusion of those patients who have higher mental development, failed to develop natural speech. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.  The onset of common speech milestones is limited as shown by the delay in babbling, ability to form and combine jargons, and ability to use vocabulary properly. Social Interaction. Children with autism display differences in social interaction and often have difficulty establishing relationships. They may have limited social interactions or a harsh manner of interacting with others.

The difficulties they have with social communication should not be seen as a lack of interest or unwillingness to interact with others; this lack of effective communication may result from an inability to collect social information from the social interaction and use appropriate communication skills to respond. Children with autism are not able to understand the viewpoint of others, or understand that other people have an outlook that could be different from their own. They may also have difficulty understanding their own and particularly other people’s beliefs, desires, intentions, comprehension and perceptions.

Children with autism often have problems understanding the connection between mental states and actions. Unusual Behaviors. People with autism often display unusual and unique behaviors. Some behaviors manifested by them are: • Restricted range of interests, and an obsession with one particular interest or object. • Inflexible persistence to an unreasonable routine. • Stereotypic and repetitive motor mannerisms, such as hand flapping, finger flicking, rocking, spinning, walking on tiptoes, spinning objects. • Preoccupation with parts of objects. Fascination with movement, such as the spinning of a fan, or turning wheels on toys. • Insistence on sameness and resistance to change. Many of the odd and stereotypical behaviors associated with autism may be caused by other factors, such as a hyper-sensitivity or hyposensitivity to sensory stimulation, difficulties in understanding social situations, difficulties with changes in routine, and anxiety. It may not be possible to eliminate all repetitive behaviors. Learning Styles. Children with autism have a psycho-educational profile that is different from normally developing individuals. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

Studies show that there may be deficits in many cognitive functions, yet not all are affected. In addition, there may be deficits in intricate abilities, yet the uncomplicated abilities in the same area may be complete. Current research identifies the following cognitive features associated with autism: • Deficits in paying attention to appropriate signals and information, and in focusing on multiple cues. • Receptive and expressive language impairments, particularly the use of language to express pretend reasoning and ideas. Impairment in social cognition, including deficits in the capacity to share attention and emotion with others, and to understand the feelings of others. • Inability to plan, organize, and solve problems. Some children with autism have stronger abilities in the areas of rote memory (focuses on memorization) and visual-spatial tasks (thinks in pictures) than they have in other areas. They may actually excel at visual-spatial tasks, such as putting puzzles together, and perform well at spatial, perceptual (gaining awareness or understanding of sensory information), and matching tasks.

Some may be able to recall simple information, but have difficulty recalling more detailed information. It has been suggested that some people with autism can more easily learn and remember information that is presented in a visual design and that they may have problems learning about things that cannot be thought about in pictures. Many children with autism have a visual image for everything they hear and read, they think in pictures. Some children with autism may have difficulty comprehending oral and written information for example, following directions or understanding what they ead. Yet some higher-functioning individuals may be quite capable of identifying words, applying phonetic skills, and knowing word meanings. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay. Some children may display strength in certain features of speech and language, such as sound production (phonology), vocabulary, and simple grammatical structures yet have significant difficulty carrying on a conversation and using speech for social and interactive purposes (pragmatics). A child who is high-functioning may perform numerical calculations relatively easily, but be unable to solve mathematical problems.

Unusual Attention. People with autism often exhibit unusual patterns of attention. Children can have a range of difficulties in this area. These have major inferences for effective communication, social development, and achievement of academic skills. Children with autism often have difficulty paying attention to important cues or information in their environment and may focus their attention only on a limited part of the environment, to the elimination of what is significant. For example, a child may look at the ball but not at the person to whom the ball is to be thrown.

Or a child may notice the unrelated details such as the staple in the corner of a paper, but not the information on the paper. This is referred to as stimulus over selectivity. Another feature of autism is impairment in the capacity to share attention between two things or people, which is referred to as joint attention. Children may also have difficulty separating and shifting attention from one stimulus to the next, which may contribute to the characteristic inflexibility and resistance to change. They may also demonstrate a short attention span. Odd Responses to Sensory Stimuli.

Children with autism usually differ from others in their sensory experiences. Responses to sensory stimulation may range from hyposensitivity to hypersensitivity. In some cases, one or more of the person’s senses are either under-reactive (hyporeactive) or over-reactive (hyperreactive). Environmental stimuli may be disturbing or even painful to someone with autism. Tactile System. The tactile system includes the skin and the brain. Information can be gathered by the skin through touch, temperature, and pressure. This information is interpreted by the person as pain, neutral information, or pleasure. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

The tactile system allows us to perceive and respond appropriately to our environment and have the appropriate reaction for survival. We pull away from something that is too hot and might harmus. We respond with pleasure to the warmth and pressure of a hug. When children with autism are affected in the tactile system, they may withdraw when touched. This is called tactile defensive. They may overreact to the texture of objects, clothing, or food. The inappropriate response is the result of the person’s tactile misunderstands, which can lead to behavioral problems, irritability, or withdrawal and isolation.

Although some sources of stimulation may be undesirable, other types and/or quantity of stimulation may have a calming effect. Auditory System. Children with autism may be hyposensitive or hypersensitive to sounds. Parents and teachers report that seemingly harmless sounds can cause extreme responses in some children with autism. This can be particularly problematic in a school setting, which normally includes so many different sounds. The pushing of a chair, bells between classes, intercom announcements and sounds of machinery fill a normal school day. Such sounds seem unbearably intense to a child with autism.

Visual and Sense of Smell. Different responses to sensory stimuli may also be apparent in a child’s reaction to visual information and smells. Some children may react to odors such as perfumes and deodorants. Others may use smell to seek out information about the surroundings in ways that we do not ordinarily expect. Some children with autism cover their eyes to avoid the effect of certain lighting, or in response to reflections or shiny objects, while others seek out shiny things and look at them for extended periods of time. Vestibular Systems. The inner ear contains structures that detect movement and changes in position.

This is how people can tell that their heads are upright, even with closed eyes. Children with autism may have differences in this orienting system so that they are fearful of movement and have trouble adjusting themselves on stairs or ramps. They may seem strangely fearful or clumsy. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay. The opposite is also true. Children may actively seek intense movement that upsets the vestibular system, such as whirling, spinning, or other movements that others cannot tolerate. Through information received from muscles and other body parts, people automatically know how to move or adjust positions efficiently and evenly.

Children who have problems organizing the body’s information have odd posture and may appear clumsy or sloppy. Anxiety. Many children with autism, as well as their parents and teachers, identify anxiety as a characteristic associated with autism. This anxiety may be related to a variety of sources, including: • Inability to express oneself. • Difficulties with processing sensory information. • Fearing some causes of sensory stimulation. • Need for predictability, and having difficulty with change. • Difficulty understanding social expectations. • Fearing situations because they are not understood. Unique Abilities Autistic Children.

Individuals with ASDs have their own strengths and unique abilities: * Some people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder have an accurate and detailed memory for information and facts, high visual recall and a superb ability to manipulate data for useful purposes. * They may be able to concentrate for long periods of time on particular tasks or subjects and be far more attentive to details than most people. * People with an ASD sometimes have unusually good spatial perception and exceptional long-term memories, allowing them to excel in areas of music, math, physics, mechanics, science and technologies, and architecture.

III. METHODOLOGY A. RESEARCH DESIGN This research used a case study that is a comprehensive and extensive examination of the particular child in a given period of time. This method is appropriate for the study of the developmental characteristic of a child with autism. B. DATA GATHERING INSTRUMENTS This study used rating scale and checklist to determine the different developmental characteristic of the child with autism. The researcher did direct observation during the class of the child. Informal interview was also done to validate responses to the items in the checklist and rating scale.

Checklist on the Physical Characteristics of the Child with Autism. This was a list of the physical characteristics of the child with autism. Checklist on the Social Characteristics of the Child with Autism. This was a list of social characteristics of the child with autism. Checklist on the Cognitive Characteristics of the Child with Autism. This was a list of cognitive characteristic of the child with autism. A Rating Scale Determining the Motor Skills of an Autistic Child. This was a list of different activities on how the motor skills of the child is being developed.

It includes activities for gross motor skills as well as the fine motor skills. Responses to the items were indicated and interpreted using the following scale: Response OptionDescription 4 Always 3 Often 2 Sometimes 1 Never C. DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE Through a formal letter of request of the researcher noted by the instructor of the subject, the BEed Chair and the Dean of the College, permission was secured to conduct a study at A. P. Santos Elementary School. Checklist and rating scale were used as data gathering instruments to identify the developmental characteristics of the child.

The said instruments were checked by the instructor. Informal interview was done by the researcher and the parent of the child to gather more information and those data that were gathered were used to supplement the items in the checklist and rating scale. IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS In this study, the researcher has observed how an autistic child acts and excels in the different aspect of child’s development. The child is Brian Geloso Dolana. He is from Brgy. 55-C, Sitio Pammalian, Vira, Laoag City. He is seven years old. He was born on January 15, 2002 here in Laoag City. He is the only child of Mr.

Nelson Dolana, a chef and Ms. Rhodella Geloso, a housewife. Brian is living with his mom. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.  According to Ms. Geloso, Brian became an autistic child because during the conception of the child, she undergone stress and depression. And during the delivery of the child, though it was a normal delivery, she considered it as a difficult labor. After the delivery, the child was immediately given oxygen. And a lot of medicines were given to him. So Ms. Geloso believed that those were some reasons of Brians’ case. At present, Brian is currently enrolled in Agripino P. Santos Elementary School as Grade 1 pupil in the Special Class.

He is in the morning class together with other autistic pupils. Due to his disorder, he lacks some skills that normal children possess. Developmental Characteristics of the Child Physical Characteristics. In some cases, there are not any visible characteristics of autism while in other instances, the presence of autism is recognizable. On the case of Brian, you cannot easily recognize that he is an autistic child until you try to talk to him, communicate with him and stare him for a period of time. Sometimes, the first indicator that he is an autistic child is when he talks or when he will not make eye contact.

Brian has a low facial muscle tone. He also does some head banging. He has limited attention to social interaction, lack of nonverbal communication and no eye contact. He also make repetitive motions like touching his forehead and nose with his hands, keeps on running around and climbing. He also lacks social responses like smiling but sometimes he is laughing and crying alone with no reason at all. Table 1. Physical Characteristics of the Child with Autism | Physical Characteristics| YES| NO| Low facial muscle tone| 5| 0| Large eyes (often perceived this way because of pupil dilation)| 1| 4| Pale skin| 2| 3|  Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

Head Banging| 4| 1| Ear slapping| 1| 4| Impaired motor skills| 2| 3| Atypical eating habits| 3| 2| Social deficits such as lack of intuition and the inability to understand communication| 1| 4| Limited or no attention to social stimuli| 5| 0| Lower response to name or eye contact| 5| 0| Lack of social understanding and nonverbal communication| 5| 0| Difficulty in maintaining friendships| 1| 4| Show of aggression, destruction and tantrums| 2| 3| Language impairment| 5| 0| Unusual gestures and vocal patterns| 1| 4| Stereotype or purposeless movement| 4| 1| Limited focus and interest in any activity| 5| 0|

Instances of self-injury| 1| 4| Under-responsiveness and over-responsiveness| 1 | 4| Poor motor planning and muscle tone| 5| 0| | | Table 1 shows that some characteristics listed in the table are being seen in the pupil. This includes low facial muscle tone, head banging, atypical eating habits, limited or no attention to social stimuli, lower response to name or eye contact, lack of social understanding and nonverbal communication, language impairment, stereotype or purposeless movement, limited focus and interest in any activity, and poor motor planning and muscle tone.

Others are not really seen as a characteristic of the child. This includes large eyes, pale skin, ear slapping, impaired motor skills, social deficits such as lack of intuition and the inability to understand communication, difficulty in maintaining friendships, show of aggression, destruction and tantrums, unusual gestures and vocal patterns, instances of self-injury and under-responsiveness and over-responsiveness. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay. Cognitive Characteristics. Some people with autism are mentally retarded and their cognitive level is significantly associated with the severity of the autistic symptoms.

Some children with autism are in effective treatment program improving significantly. Poor insights into what other is thinking persist throughout life. Creativity is usually limited. Other people with autism have surprisingly good musical or mathematical abilities despite their deficits in other domains. All children with autism experience language and communication difficulties. Some are nonverbal while other may have extensive language with deficits. Those who speak often use language in unusual ways. Some seem unable to combine words into meaningful sentences. Some speak only single words.

Some children are only able to parrot what they hear. Some also tend to confuse pronouns. With Brians’ cognitive skills, he cannot talk or pronounce words properly. He cannot easily understand when people are talking with him. Sometimes, he repeats what others say. When he speaks, he speaks in different ways and not in a clear manner. On his writing skills, he can hold a pencil and crayon properly. However, he cannot write correctly if no one will assist him. He can draw simple lines and shapes. He can also trace dotted figures and lines properly. On his ability to read, he cannot pronounce the letters, numbers r phrases properly, especially if no one will guide him. On the other hand, he can identify things like ball and book. Table 2. Cognitve Characteristics of Child with Autism COGNITIVE CHARATERISTICS| YES| NO| Have difficulty in communicating with speech or gestures| 5| 0| Have difficulty starting or continuing a conversation| 5| 0| Keeps on repeating what other say| 5| 0| Speaks in unusual ways| 5| 0| Tends to be confused on the correct usage of pronouns| 5| 0| Have difficulty to understand body language| 4| 1| Can write alphabet letters correctly| 3| 2| Can draw lines, circles and shapes| 4| 1|

Can trace dotted lines and figures alone| 3| 2| Can hold pencil or crayon properly| 4| 1| | Table 2 presents the cognitive skills of the child. The child manifests all characteristics. This includes have difficulty in communicating with speech or gestures, have difficulty starting or continuing a conversation, keeps on repeating what other say, speaks in unusual ways, tends to be confused on the correct usage of pronouns, have difficulty to understand body language, can write alphabet letters correctly, can draw lines, circles and shapes, can trace dotted lines and figures alone and can hold pencil or crayon properly. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

Social Characteristics. Children with autism display differences in social interactions and often have difficulty establishing relationships. They may have limited social interactions or a harsh manner of interacting with others. Since one of the prime areas concerning the education of children with autism is the social sensitivity and social skills that most typical children display, there have been attempts to counteract that lack. Children with autism are not totally devoid of social skills. According to McGee, Feldman and Morrier (1997), they found that young hildren with autism engage to some degree in play, social participation and social interaction will be a big help for them to develop their social skills. Children with autism can follow such a schedule and encouragement, and the result is that autistic children can engage in more effective and interactive play behavior and that it will increase and enhance their social behaviors. Understanding social situations typically requires language processing and nonverbal communication, which are often areas of deficit for children with autism.

They may not notice important social cues, and may miss necessary information. Children with autism demonstrate difficulties in many visible ways. They have tendency to play with toys and objects in unusual ways. Some may engage in inappropriate laughing or giggling. Some may cry without any reason. Some children with autism play near others, but do not share and take turns, while others may withdraw entirely from social situations. With Brians’ social skills, he displays different behaviors. He acts like deaf. He prefers to be playing alone than to mingle with others.

Sometimes, if his classmates touch him or approach him, he would just ignore it. He has a short span of attention that is why he lacks to share enjoyment with other people. Sometimes, he laughs or cries with no reason. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay. He cannot focus himself of one activity because he easily get distracted with other things. He lacks eye contact with others. He cannot sustain a conversation with other people. Thus, he is hard up in engaging himself to others. Table 3. Social Characteristics of Children with Autism | SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS| YES| NO|

Displays indifference ( acts as if deaf)| 5| 0| Joins only in an activity if adults insists and assists| 4| 0| One-sided interaction| 4| 1| No eye contact| 4| 1| Does not play with other children| 2| 3| Lack of creative pretend play| 3| 2| Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment and interest with other people| 2| 3| Fails to develop peer relationships| 3| 2| Act as if unaware of the coming and going of others| 4| 1| Physically attack and injure others without provocation| 5| 0| | Table 3 shows the social characteristics of the child.

Some characteristics are seen to the child which includes displays indifference, joins only in an activity if adults insists and assists, one-sided interaction, no eye contact, lack of creative pretend play, fails to develop peer relationships, act as if unaware of the coming and going of others and physically attack and injure others without provocation. Other characteristics listed in the table are not really seen to the child. These are does not play with other children and lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment and interest with other people,

Motor Characteristics. Many children with autism suffer from poor coordination and motor skill development. They often have trouble in performing tasks. Sometimes, fun activities can be used to strengthen them in this area by doing some repetitive tasks that can help them practice the skills they are lacking. Young children with autism often have difficulty in developing their motor skills that lead to eye-hand coordination, visual discrimination and reading and writing. Brian has the ability to perform simple actions that helps his motor skills to be developed. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

In his gross motor skills, he can hold a ball and able to throw it when being told to do so. He can jump from one place to another and even climb. He can sit independently and walk without any support. He can go up and down in a stairs alone. In his fine motor skills, Brian can hold a pencil or crayon properly. He can draw simple lines and shapes. He can manipulate toy with his wrist movements. He can eat using spoon and he can carry a glass of water without assisting him. Table 4. Motor Characteristics of a Child with Autism Table 4. 1 Fine Motor Skills of a Child with Autism |

Fine Motor Skills| Mean| Description| 1. He tries to pick up tiny objects. | 2. 25| Sometimes| 2. He manipulates toy actively with his wrist movements. | 2. 5| Sometimes| 3. He reaches and grasps movements with his extended elbow. | 2. 5| Sometimes| 4. He holds two objects at one at a time in one hand. | 1. 5| Never| 5. He pokes with index finger. | 2| Sometimes| 6. He holds crayon with thumb and forefinger. | 2. 25| Sometimes| 7. He folds paper in half. | 1. 25| Never| 8. He puts object into its proper container. | 1. 5| Never| 9. He can draw a circle, vertical and horizontal lines. 3. 5| Often| 10. He can turn book pages one at a time. | 2| Sometimes| 11. He can hold a pencil in writing position. | 2. 25| Sometimes| 12. He can draw a person with two to four parts. | 1| Never| 13. He begins to copy some letters of the alphabet. | 2. 5| Sometimes| | Total Mean:2. 08Sometimes Legend: Range of Weighted MeanDescriptive Interpretation 3. 51 – 4. 00Always 2. 51 – 3. 00Often 1. 51 – 2. 50Sometimes 1. 00 – 1. 50Never Table 4. 1 presents the fine motor skills of the child. The child sometimes shows majority of the listed skills.

These skills include: tries to pick up tiny objects, manipulates toy actively with his wrist movements, reaches and grasps movements with his extended elbow, pokes with index finger, holds crayon with thumb and forefinger, can turn book pages one at a time, can hold a pencil in writing position and begins to copy some letters of the alphabet. He often draws a circle, vertical and horizontal lines. But he can never holds two objects at one at a time in one hand, folds paper in half, puts object into its proper container and draw a person with two to four parts. Table 4. 2 Gross Motor Skills of a Child with Autism. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

Gross Motor Skills| Mean| Description| 1. He can sit independently for long periods of time. | 3. 5| Always| 2. He can walk without any support. | 4| Always| 3. He can bend over. | 3. 5| Always| 4. He can throw ball forward. | 4| Always| 5. He can walk up stairs while holding a rail and both feet on one-step. | 4| Always| 6. He can walk down stairs alone with both feet on one-step. | 4| Always| 7. He can jump forward. | 4| Always| 8. He can climb ladders. | 3. 5| Always| 9. He can hop and stand on one foot. | 2. 5| Sometimes| 10. He can skip and do swings. | 2. 5| Sometimes| | | | Total Mean:3. 55Always Legend:

Range of Weighted MeanDescriptive Interpretation 3. 51 – 4. 00Always 2. 51 – 3. 00Often 1. 51 – 2. 50Sometimes 1. 00 – 1. 50Never Table 4. 2 shows the gross motor skills of the child. The child manifests almost all skills. He can always sit independently for long periods of time, walk without any support, bend over, throw ball forward, walk up stairs while holding a rail and both feet on one-step, walk down stairs alone with both feet on one-step, jump forward and climb ladders. He can sometimes hop and stand on one foot and skip and do swings. Factors that Affect the Developmental Characteristics of the Child with Autism

Relationships play a major role in early childhood education and development, which will have lasting affects on the outcome of every child. They will strengthen and build up a child’s ability to learn and control their emotions or they will weaken and hinder their ability to learn and control their emotions. Home. All children can learn, but not all children learn in the same way. Some children may need more time to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform at the level of his or her peers. Parents of young children with autism play multiple roles in their children’s life.

Often they are the first people to recognize a developmental problem, and they must pursue their concern until they receive a satisfactory diagnosis and find or develop appropriate services for their child. Brian is currently living with his mother together with his two uncles. His father is currently working in the other country. Based on the data gathered from the interview with Brian’s mom, she stands as Brian’s mother as well as his father, too. According to her, it is hard for her to raise Brian because he is just alone and with his case, it is difficult for her to handle her son.

However, with the help and support of Brian’s relatives, he is able to grow up properly despite his situation. His grandmother, as well as his other tita’s and tito’s, serve as parents his mom is away. They eat with him, play with him and even sleep with him. Having a child with autistic disorder is a challenge for their family. But if they will help each other to take good care of Brian, provide him his needs, especially love and care, it is rest assured that Brian will have a good life in the near future. School.

Some children may need more time to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to perform at the level of his or her peers. When young children are unable to respond appropriately to the classroom and school environment, they often are labeled as having some form of learning disabilities.  Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.The school as well as the classroom environment should be nurturing, supportive and successful for all students. To help make this true for learners, teachers may need to make adaptations to the classroom environment. Brian is currently enrolled in A. P.

Santos Elementary School as Grade 1 pupil in the Special Class of Mrs. Sarandi. Being handled by Mrs. Sarandi, Brian learns day-by-day. He learns letters of the alphabet, numbers and he can even pronounce words with the help of his teacher. He can also identify the names of some animals shown by his teacher through pictures. Mrs. Sarandi is a good and responsible teacher. She shows some love and care to her learners. She treats her pupils like her own children and with that attitude, she gives her pupils a supportive and nurturing classroom environment.

Having a good, caring and effective teachers, it is a great factor for the learners, normal children and even children with disabilities to learn and achieve their goals in their lives. Community. The community as a whole can also have a large effect on the development of a child. The values of the community are often held in high regard by the members of the community and are therefore translated onto the thinking of the child. Brian is currently residing in Brgy. 55, Vira, Laoag City. A quiet and one of the peaceful barangays in the city. According to his mom, Brian is not usually going out in their place.

He just stays in their house, playing alone with his toys and their computer. However, he is sometimes going out with his mom, walking around their place. With this, Brians’ social skills is not being developed because he cannot mingle with others properly. He cannot participate or engage in some activities in their community. On the other hand, their community shows a positive attitude towards Brian. Although he cannot mingle with others, they still accept him as a member of their place. With those children with autism, the community should be able to accept them and able to mingle with them properly just like a normal ones. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay.

They should not be treated as different individuals. They should treat those children properly. Show them that they are accepted by everyone and not treated as outcast in their community. Everyone is made by God so we must love and respect each other. V. REFLECTION Conclusion: Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability. The characteristics of the disability, little or lack of speech development, avoiding social contact or awareness and routines of behaviors are not experienced in the same degree for everyone living with autism.

Children with autism are always misunderstood, they don’t involve themselves with other children because they are particularly shy and see the world from different eyes. If you ever see a child on the outer, it’s not because everyone has put them there, it’s because they prefer to be there alone where no-one can hurt them. Although in the classroom, they may surprise you for they are generally slightly smarter than others. If you see a child doing strange, unmoral things, just remember they aren’t being naughty they have an autismal disorder and need your help to fit in with the others.

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Children with autistic disorders share some characteristics with children who have other developmental disorders and may benefit from many of the same educational techniques, they offer unique challenges to families, teachers, and others who work with them. Their deficits in nonverbal and verbal communication require intense effort and skill even in the teaching of basic information. The unique difficulties in social interaction may require more individual guidance than for other children in order to attract and sustain their children’s attention. Moreover, ordinary social exchanges between eers do not usually occur without deliberate planning and ongoing structuring by the adults in the child’s environment. Developmental Characteristics of a Child with Autism Essay. The absence of typical friendships and peer relationships affects children’s motivation systems and the meaning of experiences. Appropriate social interactions may be some of the most difficult and important lessons a child with autistic spectrum disorders will learn. Recommendation: Handling an autistic child is a difficult task. For a family with an autistic child, be able to provide his needs as well as love him and take care good care of him so that he will feel that he is accepted despite his disability.

In the school, especially to the teachers, they must provide activities suited for him in order to develop his talents as well as his abilities to the fullest. So in the near future, he can be a productive citizen of their place. And lastly, in his community where he belongs, they should be able to accept him and treat him properly so that he won’t feel that he is different compared to others. REFERENCE LISTS: www. wikipedia. com www. ask. com www. blurtit. com www. msn. com www. msn. com/causes-of-autism http://www. brighttots. com/Print_page/Characteristics_of_autism_print-page. html http://characteristicsofautism. et/ http://www. autismsocietycanada. ca/understanding_autism/characteristics_of_asc/index_e. html http://autism. lovetoknow. com/Physical_Characteristics_of_Children_with_Autism http://autism. lovetoknow. com/Physical_Characteristics_of_Autism http://www. buzzle. com/articles/physical-characteristics-of-children-with-autism. html http://www. pbs. org/parents/inclusivecommunities/autism2. html http://ezinearticles. com/? Autism-Toddler-Checklist—35-Behaviors-Every-Parent-Should-Look-For-in-Their-Child&id=2726132 http://www. healthsystem. virginia. edu/UVAHealth/peds_mentalhealth/autism. cfm