Pyschlogy of Autistic People

Autism, some people consider it to be a terrible disease. Autistic people can't execute small daily things. I disagree with these people. Obviously there are different cases; some people may be more functioning then others. But even low function autistic people are extraordinary. I wanted to dive into the psychology of a autistic person, specifically younger kids and older adults. mid 50s.

The dictionary definition is as follows, Autism is a neurological disorder that affects the development of social abilities, communication, and behaviour in characteristic ways. The term "autistic spectrum disorder" (ASD) reflects the current view that the effects of ASD can range from relatively mild to severe in any or all of these areas of development. 

There are various cases that the neurological 'disorder' can be severe and the person may need help. There are those cases. But they can be helped. Psychological assessment a autistic child's strength and weaknesses can  provide insight for the development of the child. Taking advantage of their age during development can help them be a higher functioning individual when they are growing up. Evidence shows that early, intensive interventions based on the teaching principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) help children with ASD as part of a comprehensive, individualized treatment program. Key areas for intervention include social skills, communication, daily living skills, academics, self-management or coping skills, and family support. A variety of psychological interventions may be integrated with ABA approaches to meet an individual child’s needs. These include incidental teaching (using teaching opportunities that naturally arise every day in the home and community) and structured teaching, which emphasizes organizing the person’s environment (schedules, materials and settings) to optimize the individual’s ability to learn and function. Peer-mediated interventions in which other children are taught effective ways to interact with a child with ASD can promote more positive social opportunities. For older and more able individuals with ASD, modified cognitive-behavioral strategies in which behavior is changed by changing the way the person thinks, as well as systematic relaxation therapies, can be used to help manage the anxiety that is often associated with social situations and the unpredictable challenges of daily living.

Developing young individuals through psychological techniques can benefit both parties, the autistic individual as well as the one helping that person develop. Doing their best can give them a higher advantage in life and can also help them live a normal life.

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