Is Autism Considered a Mental Health Illness?
Research has come to pinpoint a single cause for autism, but thousands of children and adults are affected by this condition each day. An ongoing debate has been occurring in the medical community about whether autism should be considered a mental illness. Those who feel that autism should fall under the auspices of mental health use several arguments to support their feelings. These include the fact that those who have autism have unusual social and cognitive skills. Autism also influences their behavioral patterns. Professionals who think that autism is genetic or biological and is neurological also argue that this is not a psychological condition but is, instead, a developmental disorder. The truth is that autism is listed as a mental health diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Because both sides of this debate seem to have some merit, the Mental Health Treatment Clinic believes in using an integrated approach to therapy. The incidence of autism appears to be rising, with at least one out of every one hundred and fifty people born, exhibiting symptoms of it. Onset usually occurs well before the third birthday. Sometimes, individuals with autism manage to reach adulthood without being correctly diagnosed. This usually results in greater impairments and the need for more aggressive therapy at Mental Health Treatment Clinics.
Symptoms of autism
Though people with autism may have normal or above-average intelligence, they are slow to develop in other ways. Some have weak motor skills while others lack social skills. Repetitive movement is a common symptom, and communication or speech problems are present in most patients. Some of those with autism have sensory processing problems; others cannot maintain eye contact. The doctors at Mental Health Treatment Clinics have noted that most autistic patients exhibit several of these traits. At a Mental Health Treatment Clinic in Los Angeles, patients are diagnosed by specialists who are highly experienced in the intricacies of placing patients along the autism spectrum.
Research has shown that early intervention can make a drastic difference in outcomes for autistic children. At a Mental Health Treatment Clinic, Los Angeles residents can receive the best autism therapy. The Mental Health Treatment Clinic professionals will use the most recent advancements in treatment, including cognitive behavioral therapy, applied behavioral analysis, relationship development intervention, and proven medications as needed to help the client meet his or her chosen objectives.
