Children with Autism Disorder
Autism is a condition that affects both children and adults. The effects of autism are, however, unique to each individual, and so are the challenges. Some individuals view autism as a challenge, while others do not consider the condition as a challenge. Children with autism face challenges in two main areas where they have difficulties in social communication and interaction and also face repetitive patterns of certain behaviors, interests, and activities. Generally, challenges in information processing affect the way a child communicates and interacts socially with people or the environment around them.
The challenges faced by children with autism disorder are unique for each child. Some children with autism are brought up to believe that autism is not a challenge but a condition that one can live without facing difficulties — the children who view autism as a challenge face two general problems. The cause of the difficulties stems from the challenges faced when processing information.
Information processing is crucial in the communication system. Coherence is associated with the speed with an individual processes information to come up with meaning. For example, a child is expected to respond in a certain way when they see an animal. The speed with which the child responds is determined by coherence (Quill & Brusnahan, 2017). Children with autism have weak coherence and therefore have difficulties interpreting information when they receive it. Weak coherence means that an individual processes information in pieces and faces significant difficulties in trying to compile the bits into meaningful information. The inability to combine pieces of information to come up with meaningful information affects the children’s ability to communicate and interact socially.
Moreover, poor information processing is associated with challenges that affect the memory capacity of a child. First, children with autism face challenges in creating detailed meaning from a piece of information. Therefore, children with autism will react in unusual ways because they cannot understand their perceptions (Quill & Brusnahan, 2017). Also, the challenge of learning comes up due to autism. Children with autism tend to be unable to have concrete thinking, which is required in learning processes. Generally, a child who cannot manage concrete thinking will have challenges in learning as they cannot connect the processed information to the intended meaning.
Another aspect that aids in the information process is visual thinking. The connection between visual objects and the information they carry needs quick interpretation (Quill & Brusnahan, 2017). Children with autism, however, are not able to interpret the visual information as expected as they have communication challenges. Moreover, memory challenges occur among children with autism. The inability to comfortably connect pieces of information challenges people with autism. Generally, people with autism rely on rote memory and do not generalize experiences. Communication with people with memory challenges becomes a challenge, and their social lives are affected.
In sum, difficulties in information processing affect the way a child communicates and interacts socially with people or the environment around them. The cause of the challenges facing children with autism stems from the difficulties faced when processing information. The inability to combine pieces of information to come up with meaningful information affects the children’s ability to communicate and interact socially. Generally, communication with people with memory challenges is a challenge, and their social lives are affected.
References
Quill, K. A., & Stansberry Brusnahan, L. L. (2017). Do-watch-listen-say: Social and communication intervention for autism spectrum disorder. Paul H Brookes Publishing.