Autism Vs Apraxia

Autism is a disorder related to the development of the brain. With whatever records that are available in the medical history, it can be safely stated that there are no records of a person turning autistic because of some medical problems. It is a problem that is diagnosed in the very early years of a person's life as an autistic person is born with the problem. Some people however do believe that autistic people should not be treated as though they are suffering from some sort of disorder. They should rather be treated, as people with some sort of difference. Apraxia, on the other hand is a neurological disorder. A person suffering from apraxia in general is physically fit, but cannot perform a movement when asked to do so. He may have the desire to do so and may have done the task before too, but he cannot respond to the command.

Autism Vs Apraxia

The root cause of apraxia is normally given to the formation of a lesion in that part of the brain that deals with the language recognition and speaking capability. Autism, however is a very complex disorder and there are not many clear explanations about its root cause. It has also been diagnosed, that people start suffering from apraxia soon after a brain tumor, dementia, hemodialysis or a stroke. But there are no reported events or causes because of which a person was diagnosed with autism in the later years of his life.

Autistic children show various symptoms, but they are all related to their social interaction. There are no known cases in which a person suffering from autism showed any physical disorders because of autism. Their interests are limited to a certain things. It is not necessary that whatever interests other children of the same age group, will be a matter of enough excitement to a child suffering from autism. It has also been observed that these children show repetitive behavior and imitate the actions of others. They do not respond to emotions and they do not give gestures, like smiles, to others. It has been recorded that people suffering from autism show unusual capabilities in activities like memorizing things and performing calculations. Some medical professionals, researching in the field of autism, have also reported from various studies that people suffering from autism, generally show very aggressive behavior.

Apraxia on the other hand can be classified into various types. Children who are born with apraxia are diagnosed by their behavior in their very early days. If a child has the physical ability but cannot complete the words he speaks and forgets the words that he has learned to speak, then there are chances that the child is suffering from apraxia. There are various other symptoms too that children suffering from apraxia show. They may not be able to respond to a command, which otherwise they can definitely do. This type of apraxia in which the child cannot take commands is known as buccofacial apraxia. When a child has difficulty in achieving and maintaining the articulatory configurations, then the diagnosis is that of apraxia of speech. Limb apraxia is termed as a condition in which a person has difficulty in giving response with a part of his body, though he may not have any specific medical problem in that body part.

Now, finally we come down to the treatment of both these disorders. There are physical, occupational and speech treatments available for the patients suffering from apraxia, but there is no definite medication available. A lot of research is being done on the subject and since it is a neurological disorder, a remedy is expected to be available soon. But there are still no conclusive treatments or therapies available for people suffering from autism.

But again, the biggest challenge lies in ensuring that autistic people are not looked upon as diseased, just as different. When dealing with a person suffering from autism, it is always recommended that you should be very patient.