Autism Spectrum Disorder

Princess Maduako

Kenia Thompson

COM 231: Public Speaking

24 October 2020

Autism Spectrum Disorder

General Purpose: To inform

Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about autism spectrum disorder

Thesis Statement: At the end of the speech, my audience will understand the meaning, causes, symptoms, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

1. Introduction
   1. How many of you have ever heard of autism or know someone who has autism? Autism spectrum disorder is regarded as a developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and persists throughout a person’s life. The disorder affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact. Autism spectrum disorder can exhibit a wide range of symptoms and severity in different people.
   2. Last year I had an opportunity to tutor an autistic person, and I got the first-hand experience of some of the challenges experienced by people who give care to autistic people.
   3. According to the World Health Organization, “One in 160 children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).”
   4. The high prevalence of autism led the United Nations to set 2 April as the World Autism Awareness day, which reinforces the importance of being knowledgeable about autism spectrum disorder.
   5. Throughout the speech, we will explore the meaning of Autism Spectrum Disorder, its causes, symptoms and treatment.

Transition to the first main point: To begin with, it essential to know what Autism Spectrum Disorder is.

1. Body
   1. To have a better understanding of autism spectrum disorder, we must explore what it means.
      1. The World Health Organization defines autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as “a range of conditions characterized by some degree of impaired social behavior, communication and language, and a narrow range of interests and activities that are both unique to the individual and carried out repetitively.”
      2. The word spectrum is used to describe autism because different types of autism vary in the severity of symptoms experienced by individuals (World Health Organization).

• People with autism are just like you and me with the only difference being some unusual behavior. Some autistic people cannot communicate verbally and may have challenges in social interaction. However, autism does not mean that a person is intellectually disabled because some autistic people are smarter than regular people their age. Also, not every autistic person shows obvious signs of autism.

Transition to the second point: Now that we know what autism spectrum disorder is, we will explore its causes and associated risk factors.

1. Interestingly, autism spectrum disorder has no single known cause, and scientists assert that since there is variation in symptoms and severity, the disorder could be caused by several genetical and environmental factors.
   1. There is no definite answer as to why some people develop autism spectrum disorder, and others do not.
   2. According to research, factors such as a child’s sex, family history, extremely preterm babies, parent’s ages, and children with certain medical conditions increases the risk of having ASD (Mayo Clinic).
      1. “Boy are about four times more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder than girls” (Mayo Clinic).
      2. If in a family where one sibling has ASD, there is a high chance of the parents having another child with the disorder.
      3. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “between 12-13% of ASD among children in multiple U.S. communities was related to being born too early, too small, and/or by Caesarean delivery.”
      4. Children suffering from medical conditions such as fragile X syndrome and tuberous sclerosis have increased risk of ASD.
         1. Fragile X syndrome – an inherited medical problem that affects a person’s intellectual ability (Mayo Clinic).
         2. Tuberous sclerosis – causes benign brain tumors (Mayo Clinic).

Transition to the third main point: So far, we have explored what ASD is and its causes, and we will analyze some of the symptoms exhibited by a person with ASD.

1. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “people with ASD have difficulty with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.” However, different autistic people may show different symptoms. A majority of autistic children develops symptoms of ASD as early as when they are two years old.
   1. Social communication and interaction behaviors may include:
      1. Uncoordinated facial expressions, gestures and movements.
      2. An unusual tone of voice.
      3. Avoiding eye contact
      4. Difficulties in maintaining a normal conversation.
   2. Restrictive and repetitive behavior symptoms:
      1. Repetition of words and phrases
      2. Intense interest in certain activities or topics such as facts, numbers, and art.
      3. Obsession with routine.

Transition to the fourth main point: Having looked at the causes and symptoms of ASD, it is essential to learn about the various treatments and therapies available.

1. Just like any other medical disorder, the diagnosis of ASD must be made early to ensure that a person gets early treatment. Also, it is important to note that there is no single best treatment for ASD, and treatment only works on certain symptoms (National Institute of Mental Health). Doctors and health care professionals can help in finding the right treatment program for an autistic person. Depending on the symptoms, treatment may include medication and therapy.
   1. Medication is used to treat specific symptoms, such as:
      1. Aggressiveness
      2. Hyperactivity
      3. Anxiety and Depression
   2. Therapy may be meant for behavioral, psychological, and educational intervention, such as:
      1. Training for life skills that enables an autistic person to live independently
      2. Social interaction skills include learning how to communicate and use of language.
      3. Reduction of challenging behaviors.

Transition to the conclusion: In conclusion, we have learned that autism spectral disorder does not select race, ethnicity, or economic group.

• Conclusion
  1. It is essential to learn about autism spectral disorder because autism is a global problem.
  2. During the speech, we defined ASD, outlined its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
  3. Having interacted with an autistic person, I understand the importance of being aware and knowledgeable about ASD to ensure that we can make life better for autistic people.

 

 

Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Key Findings: Risk Factors for ASDs, 2002 and 2008.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4 June 2020, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/features/keyfindings-risk-factors.html. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.

Mayo Clinic. “Autism Spectrum Disorder – Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 6 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/autism-spectrum-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352928. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.

National Institute of Mental Health. “Autism Spectrum Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml#part_145441. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.

World Health Organization. “Autism Spectrum Disorders.” World Health Organization, 7 Nov. 2019, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/autism-spectrum-disorders. Accessed 19 Oct. 2020.