| Low Functioning Autism |
| Bright Tots information on Autism and Child Development. Low Functioning Autism - What is autism - Autism information |
|
The Autism Society of America estimates that 600,000 adults are living with autism in the United States. That number
will most likely soar, given the CDC's disclosed an increase in the numbers of children with autism. The newest
numbers suggest that one in every 110 children has autism. Autism is generally understood as a group of related
disorders, where people diagnosed with the condition experience its symptoms to a greater or lesser extent. At the
severe end of the spectrum is low-functioning autism, which can cause extensive impairments in all areas of
development. Usually, low functioning autistic children have little or no language, some degree of mental challenges,
little awareness of other people and expectations. Autistic symptoms such as gestures, rituals and many other odd
behaviors are visibly apparent in lower functioning children. Self injurious behavior is much more common in low-
functioning autistics than in their high-functioning peers.
Autism research has been inclined to focus on people at the "milder" end of the scale - with "high functioning" autism.
Consequently, this has led to a comparable neglect of the language impairment and academic disabilities experienced by
people with more severe forms of autism. Researchers from Warwick University have tested their theory that, for a
child with "low functioning autism", an inability to link words such as "spoon" and "chair" with what they know about
spoons and chairs in general is related to severe memory impairment. They also unpredictably found that children with
'high functioning' autism have a similar memory problem, but in a milder form. The results should initiate further
discussion about the causes of language and learning impairment in low functioning autism. Sometimes a child who
seemed to be low-functioning in childhood eventually gains language and some awareness of the world and social
norms and will move towards the high functioning end of the spectrum. So there is hope as determining a child's IQ
under the age of 3 years is very difficult.
Severe Autism and Cognitive Impairment
Individuals who are labeled as having a severe autism with cognitive impairment are individuals who have greater
difficulty with social skills, and academic performance. They often have few readily known and/or socially appropriate
means for communicating with others. It should not be surprising then, that these individuals may easily exhibit
challenging behaviors, such as self-injury and aggression. This may be because they simply have not learned a better
way of reacting or coping with the demands of daily stressors, or may have no better means for communicating with
others.
Children with severe autism may also engage in more sensory-related activities such as hand flapping, spinning, or
rocking. People with severe autism usually do not speak, often do not understand receptive language, do not care nor
do they wish to engage in conversation unless it is absolutely necessary and it is extremely limited due to the lack of
speech, do not respond well to behavioral therapy, and do not show a great deal of improvement. For children with low
functioning autism being mentally challenge is common, epilepsy is common, and other disorders may be present as
well. They do not express emotions (except anger) and whether they experience those emotions is unknown due to
their inability to communicate.
Low Functioning vs. High Functioning
Autism presents in a wide degree, from those who are nearly socially impaired and apparently mentally handicapped to
those whose symptoms are mild or improved enough to appear ordinarily ("normal") to the general public. In terms of
both classification and therapy, autistic individuals are often divided into those with an IQ<80 referred to as having
"low-functioning autism" (LFA), while those with IQ>80 are referred to as having "high-functioning autism" (HFA).
Low and high functioning are more commonly applied to how well an individual can accomplish activities of daily
living, rather than to IQ. The terms low and high functioning in autism are controversial and not all people living with
autism accept these labels. The number of people diagnosed with severe autism is not rising quite as sharply as mild
autism, indicating that at least part of the explanation for the apparent rise is probably better diagnostics.
Children with low-functioning autism are more likely to be mentally challenged, have epilepsy, and extremely limited
receptive/expressive language skills. On the other hand, students with the label of severe disabilities can possess
exceptional talents. In other words, students labeled as high-functioning may be severely disabled by their autism. And
those who are labeled as low- functioning may be less affected by the characteristics associated with autism. People
can be said to have "low-functioning autism" or "high-functioning autism," depending upon the severity of their
symptoms and the results of an IQ (intelligence) test. Even though classification of individuals by IQ test scores have
endured 20 years of criticism, educators still tend to further classify students into the following categories:
1. Educable (IQ 70 - 55)
2. Trainable (IQ 55 - 40)
3. Severe (IQ 40 - 25)
4. Profound (IQ below 25)
Classification of mentally challenged is measured by IQ score and has four levels: mild, moderate, severe, and
profound. Educators use these categories for the intention of curriculum development, classroom placement, and
teacher certification. These terms are mainly stereotypical and unfavorable.
More Common Traits in Low Functioning / Severe Autism
• Hand-wringing
• Appearance of poorly coordinated manner of walking / stepping
• Severely impaired expressive and receptive language development
• Lack of or infrequent initiation
• Lack of usual nonverbal gestures (i.e., pointing, head shake, nod)
• Unable to control improper behavior
• Avoids or uses eye contact in odd ways
• Prefers to be alone
• Inability to imitate (body movement, vocal, motor)
• Engages in rhythmic body movements such as rocking, pacing, hand flapping, toe walking, spinning
• Over- and under-sensitivity to sound, smell, touch, visual stimulus and pain
• May not be seek physical comfort from parents/caregiver
• Unusual display of emotion, for example, giggling or weeping for no apparent reason
• Impulsive
• Unwillingness
• Aggressive behavior
• Self-injurious behavior
Education for Low Functioning Autism
Limited grammar and an impulsive sensitivity to stimulus are often thought to be typical of low-functioning autism, as
is a strong visual processing preference. When designing educational programs for students with autism labeled as
severely disabled, professionals and family members are advised to consider that programs for a particular student is to
be specifically determined through the individualized education program (IEP) process. There is no IEP for people who
are low-functioning versus people who are high-functioning. There are only IEPs for each individual student.
Individualized programs must explain approaches for providing the student with acceptable and understandable ways of
communication, teaching situation-appropriate social behaviors, and providing experiences that satisfy sensory needs by
promoting desensitization or reducing sensory overload in specific settings and situations.
If a child with severe autism has greater difficulty learning, then the crucial school years should be spent teaching
him/her to participate in beneficial activities. A functional living curriculum is various activities the person will need in
order to live, work, and participate in his/her community. Life skills such as balancing a check book, recreating at the
neighborhood YMCA, eating at a restaurant, maintaining a job, and shopping are vital goals. Parents of those children
who are perceived as low functioning autism must advocate the need for such living activities in the child’s IEP. Many
children with autism are grouped in programs relating on the level of functioning and disabilities instead of their abilities.
There is no set label or curriculum which fits all students with autism; no precise placement. What children learn in
school should express their diversity of preferences.
Behavior & emotional problems - Children with mental challenges are more likely to exhibit behavior and emotional
problems than their peers. Rejection often results from peers' perception of the inappropriate nature of explicit behavior
rather than academic incompetence. Therefore, the teachers should emphasize integration efforts and focus on the need
for instruction in social skills and social competence. Cooperative learning strategies can be very effective.
Concrete concepts - Students with mild mental disabilities work better with physical concepts rather than with
thinking, have difficulty with short-term memory and in organizing information for later recall, and find it difficult to
simplify to a variety of situations.
Achievement - Academically, low functioning children lag behind in achievement for their age expectations. Typically,
students with mental challenges are three to four years behind their peers without disabilities and may manage from a
second- to a sixth-grade level of achievement upon completion of formal education.
Locus of control theory - is a concept in between psychology and sociology, related to where individuals approach
responsibility, choice, and control for events in their lives. It distinguishes between two common paths which place the
actual control either internal or external to the person themselves. This decision, which is not usually within conscious
awareness, strongly influences motivation and a sense of self direction and psychological integrity on the one hand (if
seen as something outside the control of the person themselves), and supports notions of helplessness, blame, and lack
of psychological potency. Train children with autism to be aware of the importance of attention and to learn how to
actively monitor its occurrence in his or her own learning efforts. The concept of attention can be broken down into
attention span (length of time on task); focus (to restrain from distracting or unforeseen stimuli); and selective attention
(the discrimination of important stimulus characteristics).
Physical problems - Physically, some children with mild mental disabilities are below average in height, weight, and
skeletal maturity. Many of these children display coinciding physical problems.
Functional skills - Students with mild mental challenges can reach academic goals, even though it may take them
longer than other students to do so. Children with severe autism can acquire basic communication skills, both oral and
written. The teacher should emphasize functional achievement (adaptive skills) that will help students become
financially and socially independent adults. Frequent practice and reinforcement can help students acquire appropriate
social response acquisition.
Mediation processes – The use of the mediation processes can help children in problem solving, retention, or recall.
Such processes or strategies are: verbal
Children with low-functioning autism do not control their behavior while out in public. They can be violent and for no
apparent reason, to the rest of us, attack someone and then passive again a few minutes later. These children do not
acquire the communication necessary for holding a conversation with strangers, and the skills therapists provide is very
limited. There has been surprisingly little research investigating the causes for the language and learning difficulties in
low functioning autism. About half of all autistic children are mute, and those who speak often only repeat what they
have heard. It is estimated that fifty percent of individuals with autism develop purposeful communicative language.
will most likely soar, given the CDC's disclosed an increase in the numbers of children with autism. The newest
numbers suggest that one in every 110 children has autism. Autism is generally understood as a group of related
disorders, where people diagnosed with the condition experience its symptoms to a greater or lesser extent. At the
severe end of the spectrum is low-functioning autism, which can cause extensive impairments in all areas of
development. Usually, low functioning autistic children have little or no language, some degree of mental challenges,
little awareness of other people and expectations. Autistic symptoms such as gestures, rituals and many other odd
behaviors are visibly apparent in lower functioning children. Self injurious behavior is much more common in low-
functioning autistics than in their high-functioning peers.
Autism research has been inclined to focus on people at the "milder" end of the scale - with "high functioning" autism.
Consequently, this has led to a comparable neglect of the language impairment and academic disabilities experienced by
people with more severe forms of autism. Researchers from Warwick University have tested their theory that, for a
child with "low functioning autism", an inability to link words such as "spoon" and "chair" with what they know about
spoons and chairs in general is related to severe memory impairment. They also unpredictably found that children with
'high functioning' autism have a similar memory problem, but in a milder form. The results should initiate further
discussion about the causes of language and learning impairment in low functioning autism. Sometimes a child who
seemed to be low-functioning in childhood eventually gains language and some awareness of the world and social
norms and will move towards the high functioning end of the spectrum. So there is hope as determining a child's IQ
under the age of 3 years is very difficult.
Severe Autism and Cognitive Impairment
Individuals who are labeled as having a severe autism with cognitive impairment are individuals who have greater
difficulty with social skills, and academic performance. They often have few readily known and/or socially appropriate
means for communicating with others. It should not be surprising then, that these individuals may easily exhibit
challenging behaviors, such as self-injury and aggression. This may be because they simply have not learned a better
way of reacting or coping with the demands of daily stressors, or may have no better means for communicating with
others.
Children with severe autism may also engage in more sensory-related activities such as hand flapping, spinning, or
rocking. People with severe autism usually do not speak, often do not understand receptive language, do not care nor
do they wish to engage in conversation unless it is absolutely necessary and it is extremely limited due to the lack of
speech, do not respond well to behavioral therapy, and do not show a great deal of improvement. For children with low
functioning autism being mentally challenge is common, epilepsy is common, and other disorders may be present as
well. They do not express emotions (except anger) and whether they experience those emotions is unknown due to
their inability to communicate.
Low Functioning vs. High Functioning
Autism presents in a wide degree, from those who are nearly socially impaired and apparently mentally handicapped to
those whose symptoms are mild or improved enough to appear ordinarily ("normal") to the general public. In terms of
both classification and therapy, autistic individuals are often divided into those with an IQ<80 referred to as having
"low-functioning autism" (LFA), while those with IQ>80 are referred to as having "high-functioning autism" (HFA).
Low and high functioning are more commonly applied to how well an individual can accomplish activities of daily
living, rather than to IQ. The terms low and high functioning in autism are controversial and not all people living with
autism accept these labels. The number of people diagnosed with severe autism is not rising quite as sharply as mild
autism, indicating that at least part of the explanation for the apparent rise is probably better diagnostics.
Children with low-functioning autism are more likely to be mentally challenged, have epilepsy, and extremely limited
receptive/expressive language skills. On the other hand, students with the label of severe disabilities can possess
exceptional talents. In other words, students labeled as high-functioning may be severely disabled by their autism. And
those who are labeled as low- functioning may be less affected by the characteristics associated with autism. People
can be said to have "low-functioning autism" or "high-functioning autism," depending upon the severity of their
symptoms and the results of an IQ (intelligence) test. Even though classification of individuals by IQ test scores have
endured 20 years of criticism, educators still tend to further classify students into the following categories:
1. Educable (IQ 70 - 55)
2. Trainable (IQ 55 - 40)
3. Severe (IQ 40 - 25)
4. Profound (IQ below 25)
Classification of mentally challenged is measured by IQ score and has four levels: mild, moderate, severe, and
profound. Educators use these categories for the intention of curriculum development, classroom placement, and
teacher certification. These terms are mainly stereotypical and unfavorable.
More Common Traits in Low Functioning / Severe Autism
• Hand-wringing
• Appearance of poorly coordinated manner of walking / stepping
• Severely impaired expressive and receptive language development
• Lack of or infrequent initiation
• Lack of usual nonverbal gestures (i.e., pointing, head shake, nod)
• Unable to control improper behavior
• Avoids or uses eye contact in odd ways
• Prefers to be alone
• Inability to imitate (body movement, vocal, motor)
• Engages in rhythmic body movements such as rocking, pacing, hand flapping, toe walking, spinning
• Over- and under-sensitivity to sound, smell, touch, visual stimulus and pain
• May not be seek physical comfort from parents/caregiver
• Unusual display of emotion, for example, giggling or weeping for no apparent reason
• Impulsive
• Unwillingness
• Aggressive behavior
• Self-injurious behavior
Education for Low Functioning Autism
Limited grammar and an impulsive sensitivity to stimulus are often thought to be typical of low-functioning autism, as
is a strong visual processing preference. When designing educational programs for students with autism labeled as
severely disabled, professionals and family members are advised to consider that programs for a particular student is to
be specifically determined through the individualized education program (IEP) process. There is no IEP for people who
are low-functioning versus people who are high-functioning. There are only IEPs for each individual student.
Individualized programs must explain approaches for providing the student with acceptable and understandable ways of
communication, teaching situation-appropriate social behaviors, and providing experiences that satisfy sensory needs by
promoting desensitization or reducing sensory overload in specific settings and situations.
If a child with severe autism has greater difficulty learning, then the crucial school years should be spent teaching
him/her to participate in beneficial activities. A functional living curriculum is various activities the person will need in
order to live, work, and participate in his/her community. Life skills such as balancing a check book, recreating at the
neighborhood YMCA, eating at a restaurant, maintaining a job, and shopping are vital goals. Parents of those children
who are perceived as low functioning autism must advocate the need for such living activities in the child’s IEP. Many
children with autism are grouped in programs relating on the level of functioning and disabilities instead of their abilities.
There is no set label or curriculum which fits all students with autism; no precise placement. What children learn in
school should express their diversity of preferences.
Behavior & emotional problems - Children with mental challenges are more likely to exhibit behavior and emotional
problems than their peers. Rejection often results from peers' perception of the inappropriate nature of explicit behavior
rather than academic incompetence. Therefore, the teachers should emphasize integration efforts and focus on the need
for instruction in social skills and social competence. Cooperative learning strategies can be very effective.
Concrete concepts - Students with mild mental disabilities work better with physical concepts rather than with
thinking, have difficulty with short-term memory and in organizing information for later recall, and find it difficult to
simplify to a variety of situations.
Achievement - Academically, low functioning children lag behind in achievement for their age expectations. Typically,
students with mental challenges are three to four years behind their peers without disabilities and may manage from a
second- to a sixth-grade level of achievement upon completion of formal education.
Locus of control theory - is a concept in between psychology and sociology, related to where individuals approach
responsibility, choice, and control for events in their lives. It distinguishes between two common paths which place the
actual control either internal or external to the person themselves. This decision, which is not usually within conscious
awareness, strongly influences motivation and a sense of self direction and psychological integrity on the one hand (if
seen as something outside the control of the person themselves), and supports notions of helplessness, blame, and lack
of psychological potency. Train children with autism to be aware of the importance of attention and to learn how to
actively monitor its occurrence in his or her own learning efforts. The concept of attention can be broken down into
attention span (length of time on task); focus (to restrain from distracting or unforeseen stimuli); and selective attention
(the discrimination of important stimulus characteristics).
Physical problems - Physically, some children with mild mental disabilities are below average in height, weight, and
skeletal maturity. Many of these children display coinciding physical problems.
Functional skills - Students with mild mental challenges can reach academic goals, even though it may take them
longer than other students to do so. Children with severe autism can acquire basic communication skills, both oral and
written. The teacher should emphasize functional achievement (adaptive skills) that will help students become
financially and socially independent adults. Frequent practice and reinforcement can help students acquire appropriate
social response acquisition.
Mediation processes – The use of the mediation processes can help children in problem solving, retention, or recall.
Such processes or strategies are: verbal
Children with low-functioning autism do not control their behavior while out in public. They can be violent and for no
apparent reason, to the rest of us, attack someone and then passive again a few minutes later. These children do not
acquire the communication necessary for holding a conversation with strangers, and the skills therapists provide is very
limited. There has been surprisingly little research investigating the causes for the language and learning difficulties in
low functioning autism. About half of all autistic children are mute, and those who speak often only repeat what they
have heard. It is estimated that fifty percent of individuals with autism develop purposeful communicative language.
| Low Functioning Autism |
| ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright © 2004 Bright Tots® Inc. - Educational Toys & Resource Guide to Child Development - All rights reserved. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
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