Autism Spectrum Disorder

For several years I have been an assistant coach for a special needs soccer team program in AYSO. I start my junior year in high school and only agreed because my best friend Lauren's mom started the program and needed more helpers; meaning we had to participate. The children within the program vary in disorders with the majority of the kids diagnosed with either Down Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder. Seven years later, I am still assistant coaching and more than ever I want to learn more about the disorder. After learning that "as many as 1 in 110 people have autism, which is more common in guys than in girls" (Teenshealth) I wanted to learn a little bit more about the disorder that is becoming so common in today's society. Autism has many different characteristics which helps identify the disorder but unfortunately where the disorder is from is still unknown. However, with constant research and with the information that is known treatments are being introduced to those who are diagnosed with Autism.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

"Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a range of complex neurodevelopment disorders, characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autistic disorder, sometimes called autism or classical ASD, is the most severe form of ASD, while other conditions along the spectrum include a milder form known as Asperger syndrome, the rare condition called Rett syndrome, and childhood disintegrative disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). ASD varies significantly in character and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group" (Ninds.nih).

Another way to describe Autism is the "lack of ability for the child to connect his or herself with the environment around them" (Ninds.nih). Stated in teenshealth.org, "characteristic of autism is what some people describe as 'sensory overload': Sounds seem louder, lights brighter, or smells stronger." Of course, not all people diagnosed have the same symptoms.

Imagine walking up to a soccer field and seeing a little boy sitting down in the grass picking the weeds out from the ground, humming to himself and uninterested in the children all around him running around obnoxiously, kicking over cones, kicking the soccer ball, and interacting with each other. He never participates in activities; is completely content playing by himself and when calling his name he is completely unresponsive.

"Autism first appears during infancy and childhood and generally never goes away. Noticeable symptoms start beginning around the age of six months and are in full swing by the age of three. The core symptoms are difficulty communicating nonverbally (facial expressions, eye contact), unable to become friends with kids their own age, lack of interest in normal activities, and lack of empathy" (WebMD). Nearly all the parents on the soccer team noted that they started noticing slight abnormalities when their kids were around the age of one and has intensified ever since. "The severity of these symptoms rages depending on the child but every child with the disorder has these core symptoms. Other symptoms include delay or lack of communication, difficulty in conversations and repetitive language. Children with Autism pay particular attention to pieces or parts of an object instead of the object as a whole they have the need for routines and are interested in only certain activities" (ninds.nih). Diego is one of my favorite boys on the team and he happens to have Autism. Depending on Diego's mood depends on how he decides to participate; but normally his routine is sitting down next to the soccer cones that are lined up like bowling pins and lining them up perfectly. The slightest uneven line upsets him and he has to fix it. The moment another child kicks the soccer ball into the cones; Diego angrily stands up, picks up the cones and re-organizes them; "some people with autism may have tantrums or act aggressively when frustrated" (teenshealth). Another player who has a more severe form of Autism gets angry easily yet cannot communicate and when other children try to cheer him up he does not understand. According to teenshealth.org, "children and adults may have difficulty making eye contact or understanding social cues like smiling or scowling" (teenshealth).

In the teenage years and into adulthood, the symptoms of Autism change. "Many teens gain skills but still lag behind in their ability to relate to and understand others. Puberty and emerging sexuality may be more difficult for teens that have autism than for others this age. Teens are at an increased risk for developing problems related to depression, anxiety and epilepsy" (WebMD). Many adults who have the disorder are able to live on their own and according to WebMD, "nearly thirty-three percent are able to achieve at least partial independence." We have three teams in VIP with the third team consisting of adults. There are around eight adults on the team who have Autism and three out of the eight can perform normal every day activities and live semi independently. WebMD also mentions that "adults with severe Autism need part time or fulltime supervision, thankfully there are programs for such individuals." One question a parent always wonders once their child is diagnosed with Autism is where did it come from?

"Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability" according to AutismSocity.org and after speaking with many of the parents with children on the soccer team, the majority of them all have the same question: how did my child end up with Autism? Frustration, discouragement, guilt, and shame are all emotions these parents share with each other on a weekly basis. I have the upmost respect to these parents and the patience they have and I have often wondered as well where and how this disorder came about.

According to Autism Resources, "before the discovery of the pattern of symptoms now known as autism, that people did exist with the syndrome, and were lumped together either with the mentally retarded or the insane." What I find interesting with this statement is knowing how smart Autistic children are; it's a shame that they would be lumped together in a group titled "insane".

Because Autism is so complex and difficult to diagnose, researchers and doctors have changed their view on the disorder many times. Leo Kanner first diagnosed children with Autism in 1943. In 1944 "a German scientist Hans Asperger describes a "milder" form of autism, known today as Asperger's