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Kanner or Classical Autistic Disorder the Challenges faces by people with Autistim or Kanner
Kanner's or Classical Autistic Disorder
Kanner’s or Classical Autistic Disorder
This is the most familiar type of autism. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition Text Revision (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) states that, at this range, children with autism may experience mild to profound mental retardation. Here are the DSM-IV manual criteria for the diagnosis of Classical Autistic Disorder.
In order to be diagnosed with autism, a person must exhibit at least six symptoms from these 3 categories. Furthermore, these symptoms must be divided as follows: two symptoms from Section 1, a minimum of one symptom from Section 2, a minimum of one symptom from Section 3.
Section 1: Social Interaction (A minimum of two)
1. Difficulties with non-verbal cues (e.g. eye contact and facial expression).
2. Difficulty conversing with people the same age.
3. Difficulty having shared interests with the same age group.
4. Lack of ability to display reciprocity socially or emotionally.
Section 2: Communication (A minimum of one)
1. Spoken language skills that are not normally developed.
2. A pronounced lack of conversational skills (unable to start or maintain conversations).
3. Repetitious language (e.g. constant repetition of a line from a song or movie or other phrase).
Kanner's or Classical Autistic Disorder
4. Repetitious and unvarying play.
Section 3: Repetition (A minimum of one)
1. Preoccupation with at least one interest in which the amount of concentration or focus is abnormally intense.
2. Is inflexible with routines.
3. Hand wringing, hand or finger flapping and other repetitious motor movements.
4. A constant obsession with specific items.
Additionally, the child exhibits delay in one or more of these areas:
• Creative play
• Social involvement
• Practical and spontaneous use of language.
What are the Physical Characteristics of People with Autism?
In his book, “Educating Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education,” Mangal states that it is often not immediately apparent that a child is autistic based on physical appearance. This author maintains that autistic children do not differ physically from their non-disabled peers. Children with autism may exhibit very strong behavioral signs; however, they may simultaneously show no physical manifestations of the condition.
Per Thomas L. Whitman, who wrote: “The Development of Autism – A Self-Regulatory Perspective,” autistic children are quite often unusually attractive. However, there are children with autism who have some small variations in their physical characteristics and physique.
Large Head Size
One distinguishing feature of children with autism is a large head size. Children with autism may have a normal-sized head when born; however, it may increase in size at a rapid rate later on. According to research, autistic children typically possess a head measurement that is ten percent greater than that of their non-disabled peers
Kanner's or Classical Autistic Disorder
.
Excessive Hand Gestures
Children with autism may exhibit more hand gestures than normal. It is speculated that this may be because of a lack of verbal skills. Children with autism often use physical prompts such as pointing and gesturing rather than vocalizing their needs. Often they may act out with tantrums due to frustration at being unable to verbalize thoughts and needs.
Extremes in Activity Levels
Children with autism may exhibit extremes of activity levels from excessive activity to very low levels of activity. In her book, “Scientists Reveal that Autism and Hyperactivity have the Same Cause,” Dr. Angelica Ronald states that one-third of children with autism are hyperactive and inattentive.
In “Autism Is Not a Life Sentence,” by Lynley Summers and Jessica Summers, we learn that children with autism may experience periods of very low activity. It is quite common to observe a child with autism pacing, running to and fro, or running in circles for hours on end followed by hours of sitting still and staring.
Inconsistency in Motor Skills
Some children with autism are unable to perform simple tasks such as getting dressed, using eating utensils, balancing or hopping on one leg. Simultaneously, these children may also have talents such as playing music, drawing, or simply arranging their toys in a very complex manner that seem to be in the gifted range. There is no specific developmental pattern that can be applied to the development of motor skills in children with autism. They may perform at an extremely high level in some areas while being completely incapable of normal performance in other areas.
Additional Physical Characteristics
The physical characteristics of children with autism include:
• An apparent lack of interest in people
• Avoidance of eye contact
• An apparent lack of interest in toys
• Over-sized eyes and ears
• Pale skin tone
• Repetitious behavior such as head shaking and/or banging and hand-flapping
• Low muscle tone and an uneven gait
• Emotional outbursts and aggression
