2. A lifelong issue. Autism is a lifetime diagnosis. Individuals don’t grow out of autism. No medical test (e.g., a blood test) exists to diagnose ASDs. One of the earliest signs of autism in children (which can occur in kids as young as a year old) is a preference not to be held or cuddled.
3. No particular rhyme or reason. Autism is a neurological disorder that is characterized by deficits in three areas - social interaction, communication, and behavior and interests. No known cause for autism exists, although it is generally believed to be the result of abnormalities in brain structure or function.
4. Prescribing a dose of teaching. At the present time, the primary research-based treatment for ASDs is behavioral intervention - teaching basic skills in a highly structured manner. It is important to note that individuals with autism tend to have their own personal preferred learning style (e.g., visual, auditory, and experimental).
5. Move to improve. An increased level of fitness can have a positive impact on a number of factors for individuals with autism, including their feelings of self-worth, sense of happiness, ability to socialize, level of independence, and brain development. Furthermore, because they tend to have muscular imbalances, individuals with autism can lower their chances of incurring an injury by enhancing the strength of their postural muscles and improving their level of overall fitness.
6. Motivation, inspiration, and perspiration. Because movement is sometimes aversive for some children who have an ASD, they may need ongoing encouragement to engage in physical activity. In fact, many individuals with autism often find that participating in physical activity is somewhat challenging because of their limited level of motor ability and relatively lower levels of fitness and motivation.
7. Too many may be too much. Because engaging in team sports may be too difficult for individuals with ASDs, participation in structured activities that involve both gross and fine motor movements should be encouraged (and monitored). Not surprisingly, youth with autism tend to be more successful in individual and partner activities, as opposed to group or team activities.
8. An ocean of emotions. Although individuals with autism may engage in antisocial behaviors (e.g., hitting, biting, kicking, and speaking loudly) when they seem to be upset, their actions are usually not meant to hurt or offend anyone. In fact, their emotional expressions (e.g., anger and happiness) don’t always reflect how they’re truly feeling.
9. At risk. More than half of all children with ASDs are either overweight or have other health issues that put them at an increased risk for numerous health problems, including diabetes, bone and joint problems, depression, and cardiovascular disease. This situation can be exacerbated by the fact that individuals with autism may experience certain otherwise undesirable olfactory/taste-related symptoms, such as having difficulty eating certain foods and eating too much.
10. A lot to offer. Although autism may seem to be an entirely negative diagnosis, the truth is a different matter. In reality, people with autism often are exceptional individuals, with the passion and attributes to be successful in life. As such, almost every person with an ASD has a number of positive strengths and worthwhile abilities that make them ideal for many types of careers.
James A. Peterson, Ph.D., FACSM, is a freelance writer and consultant in sports medicine. From 1990 until 1995, Dr. Peterson was director of sports medicine with StairMaster. Until that time, he was professor of physical education at the United States Military Academy.
Copyright 2010 by the American College of Sports Medicine.
