A Crash Course in Autism

Abnormal growth of the brain. Difficulties with social interaction. Repetitive patterns of behavior. Communication and cognitive impairments. 

These are all principal features of Autism Spectrum Disorder. And all problems that over 75 million people worldwide diagnosed with this neurodevelopmental disorder, as reported by the CDC in 2023, experience at some level or the other.

With autism affecting an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States, and the prevalence of this disorder steadily increasing, autistic individuals notably struggle with their executive functions, high-level cognitive skills such as problem solving, memory, communication, attention, and planning, among various others. These executive function deficits, consistently linked to autism by numerous studies, lead to significant difficulties with simple daily tasks and activities for autistic individuals.

However, fine motor skills, which require individuals to use the small muscles in their hands and wrists to make precise movements (e.g. writing, coloring), have been found to aid neurotypicals (non-autistics, those with typical neurological functioning) with their executive functioning. Consequently, my project aims to determine if the utilization of fine motor skills can improve executive functioning in autistic individuals. I anticipate that all participants (both autistic and neurotypical) will perform better on the executive functioning task when using their fine motor skills. 

While there is no definitive “cure” for autism, there are a variety of treatments and therapies to mitigate its symptoms and help autistic people live as normal a life as possible. This project may provide greater insight into existing treatments/therapies, as well as potentially encourage modes of therapy for autistic individuals that hone in on their fine motor skills as a means to improve their otherwise impaired executive functions. 

Now to be able to create any viable solution, you must first fully understand the problem itself. Accordingly, this week, I delved into the 2007 novel New Developments in Autism, through which I gained a deeper understanding of the characteristics that define autism, although the definite etiology of the disorder remains uncertain. I specifically focused on Chapter 8 of the novel, “Executive Functions in Autism,” which detailed both the nature of executive dysfunction in autism and possible correlations between executive dysfunction and other core symptoms of autism, particularly repetitive behaviors and social impairments. 

This week, I also researched the perception of autism and autistic individuals in contemporary society, finding that autism remains largely stigmatized, with many neurotypical adults and adolescents having misconceptions about autism and perceiving autistic adults much more negatively. Additionally, autistic individuals are often depicted in the media as emotionally distant, socially awkward, and intellectually challenged, a portrayal that not only misrepresents the disorder, but also fosters negative stereotypes that contribute to the stigmatization of autism as a whole. 

This further highlights the present necessity for a wider variety of therapies and treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder, in order to ensure the greatest possible quality of life for autistic individuals.