Paula Perez

Jonathan Ryan
English Period 6
December 2016

Have you ever heard the word autism? Do you have a basic understanding of what this
is? Autism is more common than what you think. It affects one in every sixty-eight people in the
world. The Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, that affects
how people communicate and relate with the environment that surrounds them. Why spectrum?
This is a group of developmental disorders, with a range of types and symptoms. Theres the
Asperger's syndrome, the Autistic Disorder, and the Pervasive Developmental Disorder. Autism
is so difficult to understand because it is different for every person, while behaviors are the
same. Autistic people have trouble talking, playing, being with other people, and specifically
communicating.

This affects the social aspect of life enormously. All social interactions start with clear
and direct communication. You can never start a conversation without communicating and
expressing your thoughts or emotions, as well as you cant keep a conversation going without
being able to do those things. Autistic people fall behind when all of that comes to play. The
main characteristics of people who suffer from the Autistic Spectrum are the following; not being
able to show and therefore interpret facial expressions, body language, and even distinguish the
tone of voice. They have needs for routines, sudden change scares and upsets them, they have
repetitive behavior and strange interests, they also struggle at understanding sarcasm and
common phrases, and maintaining eye contact. Lastly, their senses like smell, taste, touch and
even sounds are perceived differently than the majority of people. All of these things are a broad
spectrum of essentials to having social interaction. Therefore, the absence of these makes it
extra hard to make friends and to communicate with others, even family members.

Paula Perez
Jonathan Ryan
English Period 6
December 2016
For example, going to a party is harder than what you think. It may become too crowded
and too noisy for them to stand. Since their hearing sense is really sensitive, noises that dont
molest you may become really annoying to them. That may result in a nervous breakdown. On
children, going to the supermarket can be difficult; too. Its also hard for parents. That place has
so many different smells and noises put together that make people with autism disgusted. Since
they dont know how to express themselves, they cry or scream uncontrollably. That makes it
hard and awkward for the parents too. They dont understand that people have emotions and
thoughts rather than their own. People with no understanding of this condition, may be
judgemental to any quarrel, screaming or nervous breakdowns caused by these things.They'll
often throw looks, or even give lectures on how theyre doing everything wrong. It is hard to be
able to differentiate, because autistic people dont look disabled and theyre usually thought to
be just naughty or spoiled children.

Communication is seen affected not only with friends, but family. It begins way before we
learn how to speak. This begins when humans are babies. They communicate by looking at
their relatives whenever theyre spoken to, showing enthusiasm when they hear someone elses
voice, and sometimes maybe even babbling back. For someone who suffers autism, this
happens more gradually and discordantly. Autistics are more into sounds in the environment
than sounds of human voice. Parents have to become familiar with their condition and read a
lot. Also study their behavior and patterns in order to fulfill their needs. They will usually cry,
directly look at the thing they want, repeat what others say, or trying to accomplish things by
themselves. Theres no communication, so most of the time parents have to guess what is is
that they need. Overtime parents learn what are the childs interests, strengths, capabilities,
when and where does he or she feel comfortable and with who. That is key to trigger

Paula Perez
Jonathan Ryan
English Period 6
December 2016
communication. Parents can motivate their kid to develop new communication skills, that
overtime can be useful in other places that dont include their own home.

All people with Autism are hit differently though. Some small minority may not have
problems with language atl all. Some are able to develop communicative abilities better and
faster than others. This depends on their intellectual abilities. While this disorder doesnt make it
hard for people to pronounce words, it does make it hard for them to use it the correct context
and the appropriate time.

People with autism may look detached, indifferent, or weird. They may start
conversations on really confusing and even cryptic matters. They may be lost in their own
thoughts, and fail at the attempt of bonding with someone else. No matter how much they try,
and no matter what someones diagnosis on autism is, they all lack the ability to understand the
complex things that portrays the social life.

Dawson, G., Meltzoff, A.N., Osterling, J., Rinaldi, J., & Brown, E. (1998). Children with
autism fail to orient to naturally occurring social stimuli. J ournal of Autism and Developmental
Disorders, 28(6), 479-485.
"Communicating and Interacting - NAS." Communicating and Interacting - NAS. The National
Autistic Society, 2016. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
"Autism Spectrum Disorder: Communication Problems in Children." National Institutes of Health.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, May 2012. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.
"Family Issues - Autism Society." Autism Society. Accredited Charity, 2016. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.

Paula Perez
Jonathan Ryan
English Period 6
December 2016
"Building Communication in Children with Autism." Building Communication in Children with Autism.
The Hanen Centre, 2016. Web. 11 Dec. 2016.