ADHD+&+ADD+and+Asperger's+Syndrome+&+Autismand

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Overview
__What is Autism? __ Autism is a mental disorder that can be diagnosed in children ages 4-17. Autism affects the child's senses [taste, touch, smell, hear, and sight]. This means that sounds can be louder, tastes stronger, and lights brighter (Research and Therapy). Autism can typically become noticeable because some kids may want to be alone, or others may throw tantrums. Some kids may want friends, but they do not understand or know how to make them (Begley).  __What is ADHD? __ [|ADHD] stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Children with ADHD have a faster pace of mind, so they do not think about what they are saying- and instead they just say things on their impulse (Barkley). This also means that children who are diagnosed with ADHD have difficulties paying attention. ADHD can also make children's thought process somewhat of a struggle (Lollo). __How Autism and ADHD Relate: __ In general Autism and ADHD both relate to each other because they are mental health issues. Furthermore autism and ADHD are mental disabilities within a child’s mind. Most times these two diagnoses are seen as a negative thing, but are not actually. Children who were diagnosed with autism are not unintelligent, it is actually proven that they have an extremely remarkable ability to excel in reading, art and more. Many experts ignore the fact that children with Autism do excel in those areas and that more than a third of Autistic children score among the highest test scores in fluid intelligence testing (Dowshen). As for ADHD psychologist [|Russ Barkley] said, "People with ADHD have Ferrari brains with no brakes." This means that children with ADHD are able to process things at a faster pace (Barkley). Faster moving minds can make room for more thoughts, that many people have never had before.

Problem
__Problems with Autism:__ Autistic children are affected by the enhancement of their senses [taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight]. To an autistic child the simple raise of a person’s voice can end up being unbearably louder than what most people might hear. Therefore, autistic children react to these enhanced senses by throwing temper tantrums (NIH). This can also create an issue for people because of the fact that autistic children do not communicate well with others. When autistic children do not communicate well, and are upset, there is no way for anyone to help them, because they can not communicate (Parsell). This in turn leaves people unsure how to properly deal with an autistic child, who is throwing a temper tantrum. Due to the fact that autistic children are not able to control the enhancement of their senses, people end up seeing their outbursts as a problem. Another social problem revolving around autism is that people treat them as if they are unintelligent. When autistic children took an IQ test their scores were incredibly low [in the 20's] (Begley). But, what people do not realize is that when autistic children took a fluid intelligence test, a third of them scored within the highest percentile (Begley). This clearly shows that most people’s views on autistic children are incorrect, and this creates a negative social environment for autistic children (NIH).

__Problems with ADHD:__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Children who have ADHD are affected by the speed of their minds. Their minds move in an incredibly fast pace, so fast that their thought process does not get edited. What this means is that they do not take the time to think about what they say or do, before they do it (Barkley). Many times you will find that children with ADHD get in trouble for their actions because they have no filter. They also have a problem with focus. Children who have ADHD have a very difficult time focusing because their minds move so much faster than most people’s (Barkley). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Oftentimes children who are diagnosed with ADHD end up saying what is first on their mind (Barkley). Because their thoughts are not filtered properly children with ADHD end up saying things that do not make sense. This in return leads other people to believe and view children who have ADHD as unintelligent. This then leads to a social ranking problem.

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Solutions = __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Medication: __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Although there is no distinct solution to cure autism and ADHD, there are ways to lessen the symptoms of these mental health issues. One way that is very helpful to both issues is medication. In fact, many medications are used to help both simultaneously, such as[| stimulant medications] that treat inattention and hyperactivity (Medical Review Board Medications). Medication is a helpful “solution” to autism and ADHD because it is beneficial to both disorders. For example, two symptoms that people with autism or ADHD both have to deal with are anxiety and depression. (Medical Review Board Medications). So there could be one medication that is good to solve both symptoms for both disorders. __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Therapy: __ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Another option to make the lives of people with autism and ADHD easier is for them to go to therapy. This is used to make ADHD breakouts occur less often and to teach those children proper behavior. ADHD patients are taught how to concentrate and control their energy and focus it on staying on task and focusing. In therapy for autistic children, they go and learn how to behave around other children and improve their social skills (Medical Review Board Treatment). The therapists work their way up to the children’s full potential and help them to maintain that behavior in order for them to succeed.

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">References =

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Begley, Sharon. "The Puzzle of Hidden Ability." Newsweek 20 Aug. 2007: 50. Infotrac Newsstand. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Medical Review Board. "Medications for Autism." About.com Pediatrics. NIH Publication No.04-5511, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012. [].

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Medical Review Board. "Treatment Programs for Autism" About.com Pediatrics. NIH Publication No.04-5511, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"NIH-funded study shows pre-birth brain growth problems linked to autism." National Institutes of Health: News and Events 8 Nov. 2011. Student Resources in Context. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">"Research and therapy for autistic children: autism center offers immediate help for patients while conducting studies aimed at making treatments more effective." Florida Trend June 2006: S11. Student Resources in Context. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">[[image:MPj034147900001.329124500_std-1.jpg width="140" height="105"]]
=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">External Links = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">Autism: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">1. [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">2. [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">3.[| http://nationalautismassociation.org/] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">ADHD: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">1. @http://www.add.org/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">2. @http://www.chadd.org/ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%;">3. @http://www.additudemag.com/