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Essay on Adult vs. Child Learning
Autism, or the broader category of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental disability characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior. While research indicates that there are no statistically significant group differences between child behaviors in clinic versus home settings or in father versus mother behaviors, there is wide behavioral variability in each setting and differences when comparing individual cases. These findings are consistent with the clinical impression that autism is a syndrome with various, symptom configurations and individual differences in behaviors.
Autism, or the broader category of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental disability with uncertain, multiple etiologies. It is characterized by qualitative impairments in social interaction and communication and restricted repetitive patterns of behavior (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). The presenting features of autism can vary substantially among individuals, and there is some indication that child behavior may be affected by environment as well as parent-child interactions.
Elder and Goodman (1996) investigated parent-child reciprocity in children with autism and related disorders during unstructured clinic play sessions. Their results support the view that observations of parent-child interactions are critical components of child assessment and intervention development. Furthermore, these findings suggest that fathers interact with their children differently than mothers. The fathers in the study tended to be more directive, responded to child initiations with less consistency, and engaged in more parallel play than mothers did. The authors also raised questions regarding whether child behavior was negatively influenced by unfamiliar clinic settings.
Rarely diagnosed conclusively before 24 months of age, children with autism usually receive their initial evaluations in physicians' offices or clinics. Interestingly, one of the characteristics of this disorder is difficulty with change and unfamiliar settings. Because variability of behavior across settings is typical of children with autism (National Research Council, 2001)..........
