The Importance of Heterogeneity, Reaction Paper Example

Differential Associations between response patterns and language, social and communication measures in children with autism or other development disabilities

Introduction

The importance of heterogeneity is finding new significance in the studies of autistic children. This examining sensory patters and core symptoms of autism. Research has demonstrated that autistic children respond to sensory stimuli. Several investigations have indicated that the severity of autism indicates the level of responsiveness to sensory stimuli.

Knowledge Gained

The knowledge from the research highlighted two main points (1) Children that had severe hyperesponsiveness showed a tendency leaning towards the more social communicative symptoms of autism and (2) Within hyperresponsiveness the sensory patterns indicated a positive relationship to the severity of social communicative symptoms. (Lorenzi, J. et al 2011).

Implications

The research will help educators and teachers of autistic children to better understand the implications of sensory seeking behaviours. These appear immature alongside normal children; as children with autism display signs of disengagement and shifting attention patterns. As such these children are less able to respond to certain stimuli when their attention is preoccupied elsewhere.

Significance

The observance of such behavioural patterns may lead to early identification of those autistic children with a poor prognosis for later adult social communicative comptence. Autism is classified as a serious mental disorder and is widely attributed to be a genetic disorder. I would like to learn more about the concept of hyperresponsiveness in the connection between social and communication measures in Children.

Conclusion

The research stimulates interest in examination of the linkage between autism and the behavioural responses within sensaory perception and language and the pre-determination of social communicative skills at a later date. The patterns of hyperresponsiveneness and sensory responsiveness may account for an important variable in understanding social communicative issues in autistic children. Whilst this research identified certain limitations it points the way for further research and investigation in this field.

References

Coleman, D. (2012, 7 10). Rigorous study of autism points to genetic factors. Retrieved from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/1985/01/29/science/rigorous-study-of-autism-points-to-a-genetic-factor.html?sec=health

Lorenzi, L. W. (2011). Differential associations between sensory response patterns and language, social and communicative measures in children with autism or other developmental disabilities. Journal of Speech language and hearing research Vol 54, 1562-1576.