 |
1 in
150 children is diagnosed with autism
|
|
1 in
94 boys is on the autism spectrum
|
|
Boys
are four times more likely than girls to have autism
|
|
67
children are diagnosed per day
|
|
A
new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
|
|
More
children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes &
cancer combined
|
|
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
|
|
Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double
in the next decade
|
|
Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent
childhood diseases
|
|
There is no medical detection or cure for autism
|
|
The
State of Michigan does not require insurance plans to cover treatment for autism
|
What is Autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of developmental
disabilities—including classic autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not
otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger’s Syndrome—that affect a person’s
ability to understand what they see, hear, and otherwise sense. It is a brain
disorder that impacts communication, social interaction, and behavior.
Individuals with ASD typically have difficulty understanding verbal and
nonverbal communication and learning appropriate ways of relating to other
people, objects, and events. No two people with ASD are the same. As its name
implies, ASD is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and
with varying degrees of severity.
What are the Signs of Autism?
People with ASD may have problems with social, behavioral, and communication
skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not understand change in
their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of
learning, paying attention, or reacting to things.
A
child or adult with an ASD might:
|
have severe language deficits or differences; |
|
talk about or show interest in a restricted range of topics; |
|
not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over);
|
|
not look at objects when another person points at them; |
|
have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people at
all; |
|
avoid eye contact and want to be alone; |
|
have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own
feelings; |
|
prefer not to be held or cuddled or might cuddle only when they want to;
|
|
appear to be unaware when other people talk to them but respond to other
sounds; |
|
repeat or echo words or phrases said to them, or repeat words or phrases in
place of normal language (echolalia); |
|
have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions;
|
|
laugh, cry, or show distress for no apparent reason; |
|
repeat actions over and over again; |
|
have trouble adapting when a routine changes; |
|
have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound;
|
|
be oversensitive or under-sensitive to pain; |
|
lose skills they once had (for instance, stop saying words they were once
using). |
|
RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) is a newer therapy that focuses on
developing dynamic intelligence through experience sharing, episodic memory,
flexible and creative problem solving, self awareness, and collaboration.
Rather than put a band-aid on the deficits of autism, RDI seeks to remediate
autism by focusing on the social/relational skills that individuals with ASD
lack. |
|
RDI empowers the parents to be the “therapist” for their child. We would work
with a certified consultant that would develop a plan for Elliott. After
watching our interactions with him through weekly video submissions, the
consultant will direct us in our Guide/Apprentice relationship with Elliott
and working through the stages of remediation. |
|
RDI is not covered by insurance and a 9-month program will cost us
approximately $4,500. |
|
Click here to learn
more about RDI or
here for the local office we would employ. |