Autism is an established neurodevelopment disorder which is detected and usually diagnosed in the early years of a child with Autism. Autism is referred to as Autistic disorder, autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder. “The true definition of Autism is, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in emotional expression and recognition, difficulty with social relationships, delayed and/or abnormal language and communication, and preoccupation with repetitive, stereotyped behaviors or interests.” (Slaughter, 2013). Some symptoms relating to autism: “Difficulty with social relationships, language, and communication; preoccupation with repetitive or stereotyped behaviors and interests; generally resistance to changes in routine.” (Slaughter, 2013). Autism is a lifetime disorder, which is usually detected in the early childhood stages.
What is Sensation and Perception? Sensation can be defined as the process when a sensory receptor is stimulated, which produces nerves impulses traveling to the brain where the impulses will then interpret the impulses as a visual image, a noise, a touch, or pain. “The physical stimulus present in the environment emits energy that is absorbed by a sensory organ (known as transduction), causing sensation.” (Sincero, 2008-2018). Sensation uses our six senses; touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell. In most cases, senses can be over- or under- sensitive, at different or the same time.
For example, sound is under sensitive. Some may not acknowledge certain sounds, such as someone unfamiliar calling their name. Perception refers to the process of the brain when the brain organizes the information it obtains from the impulses it receives, and then starts the process of translation and interpretation. This is a process that gives us help to make sense of the information sent to the brain related to the physical stimulus. “Perception occurs when the brain processes information to give meaning to it, by means of emotions, memories, etc.” (Sincero, 2008-2018).
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A simpler definition, perception is the way we interpret these sensations and make sense of our environment. Those diagnosed with autism may not have the same type of reaction or perceive the sense of the situation at hand. Depending how high or how low the individual’s diagnosis is, the individual may react severely differently. For example, if a loved one was venting to him/her, and he/she had seen them crying and was looking for a hug, while crying. He/she would react in a non emotional way towards the loved one and would seem very awkward.
According to, Magill’s Medical Guide (Online Edition), by Virginia Slaughter, “one in sixty-eight children has autism spectrum disorder, with boys being four times more likely than girls to have these conditions.” (Slaughter, 2013). Among Autistic individuals, social interactions are abnormal. They cannot interact appropriately in a social situation, and get unusually awkward when thrown into a social situation. Some things that those with autism will do is avoid eye contact when socially interacting. Autistic individuals will also demonstrate little to no facial expressions, and they do not give off any type of body language.
Autistic individuals also lack any type of empathy; they cannot give the proper empathy or proper reaction in a situation from a loved one or possible friend. Another deficiency those who are diagnosed with autism have is difficulties with language, and communicating. Since these individuals lack social skills they also lack conversational skills, even with normal hearing abilities. Those diagnosed with autism are very peculiar considering the way their brain functions, compared to those who are not diagnosed. Individuals diagnosed with autism have different sensory and perception experiences than people who are not diagnosed.
The diagnosis of autism among a family member can take a toll on their loved ones. Any type of diagnosis can take a toll on any family, especially the negative behavior the child will give off. Family members of the individual may or may not be able handle the type of attention the child, and /or the proper reaction they should give the child when the child reacts negatively. The stress among the family members (parents/siblings, mostly) will not only be because of the child with the diagnosis (autism), but also because caring for a child depending on the behavior and severity of the diagnosis; taking care of the child takes a lot of time out of the day, for which they need to be watched on a daily, especially when the individual of the diagnosis is a child.
For example, the parents may be stressing because they believe that they may not find the time to be able to spend time with their partner, or they may feel for their child’s future. Many causes can be at play when it involves taking care of a child that is not able to handle themselves at the age where they should be able to. Giving the fact that those diagnosed with autism do not give the appropriate reaction at situation at hand, for example if they’re acting very badly or misbehaving in public strangers may think the child is just acting out because the seems to be “spoiled” due to the way the child was reacting.
Communication is another obstacle and challenges fo those diagnosed with autism, especially at such a young age. They are now at the stage where they are able to start communicating with their family, and/or communicate with those in a school setting. Communication is also one of the key factors that can alert family members that something may be different about the child. The type of difficulties that those diagnosed with autism have includes the delay or the lack of development of speech, where the individual would not compensate with any other mean of communication. The individuals may also find it hard to start and even sustain a conversation with another person. As the individuals get older it gets harder and harder for them to be up to date it’s the type of words and complex sentences the individuals may have as they get older, and they will be more evident by being the target of their lack of communication skills. Factors like, repetitive words or sentences and limited vocabulary or responses in the conversation.
As discussed previously in the paper, sensation is the ability to be able to visually see things, being able to smell things, taste things, listen/hear things, and being able to touch and feel things. As well as the fact that those diagnosed with autism may overreact or under react to a sensation considering the fact that those with autism show sensory integrative dysfunctions. For example, an action of the child to overreact would be the child covering their ears with a reasonable volume for music to be playing in the house while at a family gathering.
Or, if the child does not like haircuts because the sounds the scissors make, or the feeling of being touched on the head. Most know this type of behavior as hypersensitivity. The other range of sense with sensation is the under-reaction, or also known as the hyposensitivity. An example of the rage of sensation that thee curiosity of it is what makes the child seek that sensation. For example, if the child was interested in a certain type of cologne or perfume and would go up to the people and smell their clothes, in which the stranger has the same or similar scent of their favorite smell. There is no telling which types of sensation and individual may be hyper or hypo sensitive to.
Hyper, or hyposensitivity, can be one of the main problems that those diagnosed with autism face, especially when at school. Depending on what is hypo or hyper with the individual, their reaction or misunderstanding of a situation may be one of their biggest challenges in a classroom. An example, those with autism have difficulties being able to point out the importance in facial expressions when being in a social environment and may misread the whole situation and conversations and may react or say things that are abnormal in that type of everyday situation. Other factors that may be very difficult and a problem for an autistic individual is that sound and light may or may not bother them while in a classroom setting.
Some may be very sensitive to the light or sound in the classroom In some cases, autistic individuals cannot adapt to new material and new agendas on a day to day basis.These individuals have a hard time, especially when they are physically unable to be able to change up their agenda, or their hyper or hypo sensitive issues, such as those who are not diagnosed with autism. In a study, autistic, adolescent individuals reported,” sensory sensitivity affected their leaning to some extent, and reported their sensory experiences I think the classroom as largely negative.” (Howe, Stagg, 2016). There is very limited study with what autistic individuals experience when in a classroom ranging from their sensory issues to the problems they may face personally.
Autistic individuals already have a hard time “fitting in” and not being able to adapt to the growing of their world around them. Things like, social interactions, communication, and even being able to adapt physically, as a young man or woman. In puberty, there are emotional changes, physical changes, and a mature mindset, in some cases. With puberty, individuals receive the excitement of transitioning from ate childhood to early adulthood. They also are now having to transition into a more mature physique, and the role of maturation and responsibilities.
At this stage in life, puberty is one of the most vulnerable stages in our lives. With it the depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems start to come into play, particularly in this age. Those with autism also face the same realities in their adolescence era, which can make them even more vulnerable than what they already are in society. They are not capable of even having a very open relationship because of the lack of communications skills, and not being able to fully express themselves while going through adolescence which causes them to be very vulnerable and need more help and support from their loved ones.
Adults with autism spectrum disorder are most likely be more vulnerable to have anxiety among themselves, along with behavioral challenges. A factor of anxiety and autism is the loneliness among them, especially for adults with autism. They are not up to date with the communication skills in the world, and most likely for their age to be able to keep a conversation going causing them to feel lonely and have anxiety from the cause of the loneliness. It also effects their self esteem, their social confidence, and mental and physical health. Most time adults with autism will isolate themselves because of their issues and difficulties of social interaction and communications skills. In some cases their hypo or hyper sensitivity may cause anxiety or loneliness because people may react in a way to where they think something is wrong with the individual.
Even though they have autism they function abnormally to what other people do normally. An example for difficulties for those with autism on a day to day basis are easy tasks, such as driving a car. But for those with stick it can seem like a very har to almost impossible task. “Only around 25% of adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder drive independently in comparison with 755 of the population as whole..” (Sheppard, 2016). Individuals with autism admit that they do get very side tracked when driving and sometimes their attention will be somewhere where they’re not supposed to be. They aren’t able to keep in mind many rules of the road, like staying the the lane, turning the blinker on while switching lanes, or being able to maintain the speed.
I, personally view those with autism as a way to think differently or find different solutions in problems. My little cousin has autism and he is deaf as well. He uses sign language to communicate or will move my hand onto an object to ask for something to be opened or to get for him. There is nothing wrong with autism, beside the fact that they aren’t able to react normally. I believe they are made the way they are because of the way think think and adapt differently than “normal”.
References
- Chapter 5: Section 1: Sensation and Perception. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://allpsych.com/psychology101/sensation_perception/
- Howe, F., & Stagg, S. (2016). How Sensory Experiences Affect Adolescents with an Autistic Spectrum Condition within the Classroom. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 46(5), 1656–1668. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2693-1
- Sensory differences. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.autism.org.uk/sensory
- Sheppard, E., Loon, E., Underwood, G., & Ropar, D. (2017). Attentional Differences in a Driving Hazard Perception Task in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 47(2), 405–414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2965-4
- Syu, Y.-C., & Lin, L.-Y. (2018). Sensory Overresponsivity, Loneliness, and Anxiety in Taiwanese Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Occupational Therapy International, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9165978
