Kanner's Autism Symptoms
Kanner’s autism, which is commonly referred to as autism disorder, is a developmental disorder that is characterized by a decreased social and communicative function and the presence of repetitive behaviors. The onset is usually before the age of 3, and its effects last for the patient’s life. Initial symptoms include delayed onset of speech, lack of interest in activities of peers or appearing to tune others out. Most symptoms can be organized based on their function and are often used as measurements for diagnosis 3.
Social Interaction Problems
One of the primary problems the patient has relates to how he socializes with others. Lack of interest in sharing his own joy or pain, failure to establish friendships with other children the same age, and deficits with nonverbal communication (such as eye contact, posture and facial expressions) all combine to severely stunt the social growth of the individual. In addition, the patient demonstrates a marked lack of empathy, or the ability to be in touch with the emotions of others.
Communication Deficits
Symptoms of ADHD and ODD
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These can include problems with verbal and non-verbal communication. Development of speech is markedly affected, and those who can talk have problems either starting a conversation or keeping it going. Patients also use repetitive language, which can include repeating phrases or words inappropriately during conversation. They also fail to catch the nuances of conversation such as humor and implied meanings and tend to interpret conversations very literally.
- These can include problems with verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Patients also use repetitive language, which can include repeating phrases or words inappropriately during conversation.
Apathy To Activity
Children with autism do not play or engage in activities like typical children. Examples include fascination with components, such as fixating on one building block out of dozens and only playing with that instead of the whole set. They also engage in repetitive behaviors like repeated head bobbing, hand waving, blinking, etc. The occurrence of activities outside a specific routine is also distressing as many insist on events happening repeatedly in order on a daily basis or irritation and aggression can result.
- Children with autism do not play or engage in activities like typical children.
- The occurrence of activities outside a specific routine is also distressing as many insist on events happening repeatedly in order on a daily basis or irritation and aggression can result.
Related Articles
References
- “Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th Edition;” Kliegman; 2007
- “Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry, 1st edition;” Stern; 2008
- Pediatric Clinics of North America. “Autism: Definition, Neurobiology, Screening, Diagnosis.” Rapin I, Tuchman R. Volume 55, Issue 5 (October 2008)
- Swineford LB, Thurm A, Baird G, Wetherby AM, Swedo S. Social (pragmatic) communication disorder: a research review of this new DSM-5 diagnostic category. J Neurodev Disord. 2014;6(1):41. doi:10.1186/1866-1955-6-41
- King BH, Navot N, Bernier R, Webb SJ. Update on diagnostic classification in autism. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2014;27(2):105-9. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000040
- Swineford LB, Thurm A, Baird G, Wetherby AM, Swedo S. Social (pragmatic) communication disorder: a research review of this new DSM-5 diagnostic category. J Neurodev Disord. 2014;6(1):41. doi: 10.1186/1866-1955-6-41
- American Speech Language Hearing Association. Social Communication Disorder.
- Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Gibson J, Adams C, Lockton E, Green J. Social communication disorder outside autism? A diagnostic classification approach to delineating pragmatic language impairment, high functioning autism and specific language impairment. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013;54(11):1186-97. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12079
- Vahia VN. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5: A quick glance. Indian J Psychiatry. 2013;55(3):220-3. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.117131
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC.
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Writer Bio
Saad Mohammad, M.D., is currently in the process of applying to residency anesthesiology. His first published research occurred in 2009 at the American Thoracic Society National Conference where a poster presentation was accepted and at the Bridgeport Symposium 2009. He began professionally writing in 2009 for Demand Studios as a freelance writer on issues in health and medicine.