subject: Special Needs Products And Toys Help The Autistic Child Learn [print this page] Autism is a developmental disorder with symptoms typically appearing in affected children by the age of three. It is a complex neurological disorder that affects normal brain development in the areas of communication and social interaction. The signs of autism can be demonstrated by a range of behavioral characteristics, including poor language development, repetitive or unusual behaviors, and lack of interest in people and activities that generally attract normally developing children. It is referred to as a "spectrum" disorder since autistic individuals exhibit a range of differing behaviors with similar features, which can be from mild to serious in effect. The Autism Society of America cites the occurrence of autism to be about 15 of every 10,000 persons, though exact figures aren't known due to the range of symptoms and diagnostic limitations.
Though many autistic individuals may appear to be mentally challenged, autism is not a form of retardation as many autistic people are highly intelligent. Rather, autism affects an individual's ability to interact with their environments and other people with symptoms that last throughout the lifetime. Early identification and intervention on the parts of professionals and parents are keys to the best developmental outcomes for children with autism.
Play is an essential part of learning for children, where many developmental and life skills are learned and refined. This is also true for autistic children though they are at a disadvantage with many of the available toys for children without such special needs. Unlike other children who have a natural curiosity and interest in play and toys, autistic children often require extra help with toys that are appropriate to their specific needs and limitations.
Quality educational toys such as sensory toys, cause and effect toys, sign language cards, textured and high contrast toys, and light up toys will help to stimulate children and assist with motor skills development and refinement. Educational games and toys can help children learn to interact with appropriate social skills and to learn to recognize feelings. There are toys and tools designed especially to assist autistic children with their special needs that parents can use to engage them.
Parents and families of autistic children can do so much through play to help the special needs child live a happy and fulfilling life. There are resources to help. Web-based companies that specialize in special needs products and toys inform and educate parents on how to best use them to help meet the needs of their special children.
by: Art Gib
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