Autism and Mental Retardation Essay Example for Free

Autism and Mental Retardation Essay Respond to the following: 1. List the primary features of autism. Children with autism are unresponsive to others, uncommunicative, repetitive, and rigid their symptoms usually appear before the age of three. An autistic individual will have difficulty sustaining employment, accomplishing household responsibilities, and leading independent lives. Furthermore, they express having problems displaying closeness and empathy and have limited interests and activities. The characteristics seem to be pronounced as indifferent in physical care and affectionate expressive interest in those who are taking care of them. Verbal communication and language impairments and inability to use speech are often primary features of autism. Some autistic individuals may exhibit Echolalia a echoing of phrases used without apparent understanding. Some may even repeat sentences a week later, this is called delayed echolalia. Their variation of speech difficulties include; paranormal reversal, difficulty in naming objects, lack of verbal understanding and use of suitable tone in their voice while talking. Some noticeable characteristics that often expose autism are their lack of imagination while playing, rigid, abnormal and repetitive behaviors, failure to accept environmental change and obsession with animate things and inanimate things. They express repetitive and unusual motor movements like flapping their hands, and odd facial expressions. Below is a checklist the DSM has provided for a guideline to diagnosis of autism. 1. A total of at least six items from the following groups of symptoms: A. Impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following: (a) Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction. (b) Failure to develop peer relationships appropriately. (c) Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people. (d) Lack of social or emotional reciprocity. B. Impairment in communication, as manifested by at least one of the  following: (a) Delay in or total lack of, the development of spoken language. (b) In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to start or sustain a conversation with others. (c) Stereotyped and repetitive use of language, or idiosyncratic language. (d) Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play. C. Restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following: (a) Abnormal preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest. (b) Inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals. (c) Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting). (d) Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects. 2. Prior to 3 years of age, delay or abnormal functioning in either social interaction, language, or symbolic or imaginative play. 2. Which explanation for autism is no longer considered valid and lacks research support? The sociocultural model lacks support and the theory suggests that autism could progress through particular personality characteristics of the parents. These characteristics generated unfavorable development and contributed to the development of the disorder. This theory is no longer considered. 3. What forms of treatment are helpful for a person with autism? The treatment that is helpful for a person with autism is behavioral therapy, communication training, parent training, and community integration. Psychotropic drugs and certain vitamins have at times aided when joined with other approaches. Behavioral therapies consist of therapist using modeling and operant conditioning. In modeling they exhibit a chosen behavior and direct the individual to reproduce it. In operant conditioning, they reinforce such behaviors, first by shaping them, breaking them down so they can be learned step by step and then rewarding each step visibly and consistently. These measures often create more purposeful behaviors and long term achievements. Communication Training is a therapy that is often taught to those individuals who remain speechless. They are taught other forms of communication, including sign language and simultaneous communication, a method combining sign language and speech. They also learn  to use augmentative communication systems, such as communication boards or computers that use pictures, symbols, or written words to represent objects or needs. In some programs teachers try to recognize essential underlined forcers rather than insignificant ones like food or candy. They encourage participation in choosing an item they want and then encouraging them to ask for it with questions like; what’s that? Where is it? And whose is it? The studies have found that child- directed interventions increase self-initiated communications, language development, and social participation. Parenting training programs train parents so they can apply behavioral techniques at home. They are provided with instruction manuals, and teachers do home visits. Individual therapy and support groups help parents of autistic children deal with their own emotions and needs. Community integration is a great tool for autistic individuals, In today’s school and home based programs there are programs for autism children to teach self-help, self-management, and living, social, and work skills as early as possible to help children function better in their communities. There have been many workshops and group homes available now for teenagers and young adults with autism to help them become a part of their communities. These types of programs give parents a since of relief as their child will always need supervision. 4. List the criteria for a diagnosis of mental retardation: The DSM-IV-TR gives guidelines to the diagnosis of mental retardation. Individuals need to display general intellectual functioning that is well below average, in combination with poor adaptive behavior. As well as having a low IQ score of 70 or below. There should be notable difficulty in communication, home living, self-direction, work or safety. These symptoms should appear before the age of 18. 5. Explain one way in which sociocultural biases in testing might pose problems for assessing mental retardation. Sociocultural biased in testing that might pose a problem for assessing mental retardation is IQ testing. IQ testing in some children has caused them to be labeled retarded when they had trouble speaking the language at a level that would establish their IQ. 6. Of the four levels of mental retardation, into which category do most  people with mental retardation fall? Mild level – IQ ranges from 50 – 70. â€Å"They are sometimes called â€Å"educably retarded† because they can benefit from schooling and can support themselves as adults† (Cromer, 2011). 7. What are the main types of biological causes of mental retardation? The main types of biological causes of mental retardation are Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and fragile X syndrome. 8. What is the only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome? The only way to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome is to not drink during pregnancy. 9. What are normalization and mainstreaming? Normalization and mainstreaming are educational terms; they reference the settlement of mentally retarded individuals within ordered classrooms. This is to make sure these individuals can intermingle and learn along with typical fellow students. The school systems have made adjustments and adaptations to their core curriculum and the teaching given to the mentally retarded child. 10. What is your opinion about mainstreaming and normalization for children and adults with autism or mental retardation? I agree with mainstreaming for a person who is suffering from autism or mental retardation. Autism runs in my family, and I have a cousin who is the same as age as I am and she did not receive mainstreaming when she was younger and she is severely handicapped I believe because of this. On the other hand, our classrooms are overcrowded and teachers are experiencing challenges within the so called â€Å"normal† population. Labeling these individuals at such an early age incorporates stereotyping within the classroom and can cause even more hardship for those individuals. My ex-husband’s brother had an autistic child who is thriving and even attending college classes at a University. He did have special schooling and went to private therapies. His success was through behavioral therapy and parenting training. I would say mainstreaming should be considered on the level of the disorder. If the disorder is extreme, then consideration should be given to the teacher and her other thirty something students. It is a hard question when in fact someone could be mildly retarded or highly retarded and the school system really needs to know just where the individual stands with their language ability and social ability. Resource: Comer, R. J. (2011). Fundamentals of abnormal psychology (6th ed.). New York, NY.

Edgar Allan Poes Writing Essay -- The Raven, The Black Cat, Tell-Tale

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The literary style of Edgar Allan Poe is very dark and has many supernatural connotations. He showed this style in the stories that he wrote such as: The Raven, The Black Cat, and The Tell-Tale Heart. He also wrote many other stories that showed his dark style of writing; however I felt that these stories portrayed his style the best. Many sources think that the reason Poe had such a dark literary style was because of the events that occurred in his life. Some of these events included his father dying, and soon after that his mother died. Many more loved ones' deaths preceded. This put Poe into a state of mind that made him very depressed and some believe that this is where he got his inspiration for his writing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In The Raven, Poe starts off the story with ?Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary.?(Complete 7) This shows how he sets up the setting for the story. This sentence makes you think of a dark lonely night. This is a good example of how Poe?s literary style is dark. Poe also wrote ?Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, and each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the morrow;---vainly I had sought to borrow from books surcease of sorrow---sorrow for the lost Lenore---for the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore---nameless here for evermore? (Complete 7). This is a dark poem of lost love. Whether he was referring to his mother, father or perhaps another loved one is unknown. In the fourth stanza Poe speaks of ?Darkness there, and nothing more?(Complete 8) which allows us to see how alone he must have felt. Later in the story he refers to a bird that is sitti ng above his chamber door. He talks to the bird and gets frustrated with it because all it will ever say to him is ?Nevermore.? You can tell that the narrator is dying to have some kind of social interaction with someone or something but not even the bird will give it to him. He tries to get the bird to leave him alone, but all that the bird does is sit there and continue to say ?Nevermore? (Complete 10). This frustrates him and he says ?Leave my loneliness unbroken! ---quit the bust above the door! Take thy beak out of my heart, and take thy form from off my door! Quoth the Raven, Nevermore.?(Complete 13) He wants to feel sorry for himself and he is sick of the bird repeating to him ?Neve... ...ting style was very dark and sad. In many of his stories there is the death of a loved one or a friend. These stories reflected the real events that happened in Poe?s life. Throughout The Raven, The Black Cat, and A Tell-Tale Heart you can see Poe?s dark style, supernatural influences, and all of the sad thoughts that were running through his mind. Works Cited Edgar?s Childhood. http://www.poedecoder.com/qrisse/allans.html. 3 April 2004 Edgar?s Teens. http://www.poedecoder.com/qrisse/teens.html. 3 April 2004 Hart, Richard. ?The Supernatural in Edgar Allan Poe? E.A. Poe Society of Baltimore. http://www.eapoe.org/papers/psblctrs/p119361.htm. 11 April 2004. Poe, Edgar A. ?The Black Cat.? Litterature: Reading poetry, fiction, and drama. Ed. Robert DiYanni. New York: McGraw-Hill. 2002. 131-137. Poe, Edgar A. ?The Raven.? The Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe. Ed. J.H. Whitty. Houghton, Mifflin and Company. Boston, Mass. New York, N.Y. 1911 Poe, Edgar A. ?The Tell-Tale Heart?. http://www.pambytes.com/poe/stories/heart.html. 12 April 2004. Weston, Debbie. ?The Jingle Man: Edgar Allan Poe.? Monkeyshines on America December 2003. Virginia Issue. Part 1. p25. 2p.

Critical Success Factors and Marketing Mix Essay

Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide an insight into the footwear company TOMS’ critical success factors (CSF’s) and make recommendations for the company based on them. CSF’s have become essential elements to strategic planning and no business can achieve consistent success without effectively adopting them, it is a term that describes a component that is essential for a company to succeed in its tasks. (Howell, M. 2009) The report will identify, analyse and evaluate TOMS’ critical success factors (CSF’s) on the basis of the market and marketing mix that surrounds the company. The marketing mix is defined as a set of controllable, tactical marketing tools that can be blended to produce the desired results within the target market.  (Kotler, P. Et al, 2010). The report will then provide potential links between the factors of the marketing mix and the CSF’s of TOMS, suggesting potential changes to the marketing mix and what the effects of the changes may be. Research Methods The research methods undertaken in the report are secondary. The CSF’s of TOMS I have presented come as a result of previous research carried out within a group project based on the company, in which we analysed the microeconomic and macroeconomic factors of TOMS, allowing us to present a list of critical success factors. Basic findings and Recommendations The three key Critical Success Factors for TOMS I have chosen to look into are firstly for the company to expand into wider markets. Secondly is for TOMS to focus on their business ethics and their ethical procedures. The final CSF is the marketing and advertisement of TOMS. The recommendations are mainly based upon making changes to the factors of TOMS’ marketing mix that link to its CSF’s. Some of the factors, such as product, place, promotion and positioning can be changed slightly to aid in TOMS’ CSF’s and result in great benefits for the company. However I recommend that some of the factors of the marketing mix are not as vital for TOMS success as the others and therefore do not need to be changed as much. TOMS (2013) About TOMS TOMS originated from the word ‘Tomorrow, which further originated from the ‘Shoes for Tomorrow’ Project. The company was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, who formed an idea whilst on vacation doing voluntary work. Mycoskie had noticed how many children in Argentina were without shoes, provoking him to sell his company for $500,000 and invest in TOMS. The company went on to sell 10,000 pairs of shoes in its first 6 months. By 2012 over 2million pairs of shoes had been donated in over 40 countries, with over 500 retailers selling them. (TOMS 2012) Business Model TOMS is a for profit company, however they have a non-profit subsidiary, Friends of TOMS. The company designs and sells shoes based on the Argentine Alpargata design, as well as eyewear. The shoes are made from canvas or cotton fabric with a rubber sole and come in a variety of colours and styles. The business model is referred to as the ‘One for One concept’. The slogan used by TOMS is ‘One for One’. The model uses a word for mouth advocacy and the main focus for the business is based on corporate and social responsibilities. When TOMS sells a pair of shoes, a pair of shoes is given to an impoverished child. When TOMS sells eyewear, part of the profit is used to save or restore the eyesight for people in developing countries. TOMS also works with a large variety of charities and None Government Organisations in order to distribute its shoes and create awareness for the cause. (TOMS 2012) ‘Countries we distribute to’ – TOMS Giving Report (2012) The Critical Success Factors The first CSF for TOMS to succeed is for them to expand. TOMS currently only sell through other retailers and online stores, meaning that they have a lack of physical presence on the high street. If TOMS acquired a chain of physical stores it would allow them to provide their whole range of stock to an increased potential customer base. It would also allow them to market and advertise themselves more successfully, making their brand known to more people. TOMS already has just over 500 retailers for their products worldwide, however I think that they could benefit from having more, especially as there are only a handful in the UK. They may be able to increase their presence in more countries worldwide. TOMS could also expand their product range and move into new areas of clothing or accessories. The second factor surrounds the ethics of their business. Although TOMS is focused heavily on being a socially and corporately responsible company,  research showed that it has come under a vast amount of scrutiny regarding its policies and ethical procedures. There is a growing opposition to the TOMS business model and the way TOMS operates. The one for one system is being scrutinised and the way in which TOMS shoes are produced are being questioned. TOMS need to clearly establish how they manufacture their shoes and illustrate the benefits of the one for one system, helping impoverished people. The final CSF is to increase their marketing. This is based around the marketing of TOM’s products and the business itself. Whilst the company is known worldwide, it only advertises its products through fashion shows, word of mouth marketing and pop-up-stores. If TOMS were to change its marketing techniques such as advertising through social and other forms of media, they could pose more of a threat to competition and reach a much wider audience. My research illustrated that TOMS do not currently have many marketing methods other than those mentioned above, resulting in TOMS being frequently overshadowed by rival companies. Blake Mycoskie, TOMS (2011) How does the marketing mix link with the CSF’s? The factors of the marketing mix that link to the first CSF are Placement and Product. Placement is where and how the product is sold. For example, it could be where TOMS products can be bought and how they may be bought, such as online, in a physical store or at trade shows. It would aid TOMS expansion if they were to use a combination of placement methods for their company and products. I recommend that they implement more distribution channels and ensure that they offer a wider variety of ways for consumers to buy their products. The next factor, product, can relate to the CSF in that TOMS need to expand their product range, offering a wider range of products. This may allow them to gain market superiority over it’s rivals and lead the company into new markets. I recommend that TOMS evaluate their products’ life cycles and look into potential new product development in order to fulfil this CSF. The second factor that relates to TOMS’ CSF’s is positioning. Positioning is about how the company stands within their market, such as how the customers and rivals see the company. This factor links in with TOMS’ CSF of being an ethically and socially responsible company. Research suggested that TOMS has large amount of people opposing its ethical procedures and its business model. If they were to re-evaluate their market position and try to boost their current image by re-assuring customers that the one for one model is in fact beneficial to impoverished people, as well as providing evidence that their shoes are made ethically, they will silence their critics. TOMS may also want to adapt to its competitors marketed position, focusing on their USP’s and making the most of them. The final marketing mix factor that can link with the CSF’s of TOMS is promotion. This consists of all the ways in which TOMS products and services are advertised and sold. My research suggested that TOMS currently has a relatively poor promotion structure, therefore if they were able to change the way that they promote and advertise themselves, they could abolish the problem. Making use of promotional tools such as advertisement, public relations, direct marketing and sponsorship, TOMS could reconstruct their promotional factor of the marketing mix to further allow them to succeed. There are however three factors of the marketing mix that don’t tend to link with the CSF’s. The first factor is price. Although research suggests that some may think that TOMS’ products are overpriced for what they are, they still succeed in selling a very large amount. TOMS has appeared to do well with its current price structure, therefore I do not think that the price factor needs to be changed in order to aid the CSF’s. The next factor is packaging. Packaging for TOMS seems to be a minor issue, if an issue at all. The packaging for TOMS’ products is more than satisfactory and has little to no effect on their current CSF’s. As a result of this, packaging is not as important in the marketing mix for TOMS as the other factors. The final factor that has less effect on the CSF’s is people. TOMS only has around 80 employees, however if the company were to expand this would be much more. Currently, the people factor doesn’t aid in helping TOMS achieve success as much as the other factors, however if the CSF’s develop and TOMS expands, people may become more and more important for the company. It would be essential that they have the right people on board to help them achieve their goals in the long run. TOMS Giving Report (2012) REFERENCES Howell, M.T. (2009) Critical Success Factors: The measurable path to success. Taylor and Francis. Accessed 19th April 2013 TOMS (No Date) Corporate Responsibility at TOMS [Online] Available from: http://www.toms.com/corporate-responsibility/ Accessed 20th April 2013 TOMS (No Date) Official Website, Available from: http://www.toms.co.uk/ Accessed 28th February 2013 TOMS (No Date) Corporate Information [Online] Available from: http://www.toms.com/corp-info/ Accessed 20th April 2013 Kotler, P.J., Armstrong, G.M., (2010). The Principles of Marketing, P 76 Pearson education Accessed 22nd April 2013 Schultz, D. and Dev, C. (2012) ‘Revisiting the marketing mix’. Marketing Management P45-47 Accessed 22nd April 2013

Aging Dependent Changes During Aging - 864 Words

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Sensitization of GWR result in growth of new synaptic connections, whereas habituation induces retraction of synapses. Thus, the experimental system allows for precise measurements of electrophysiological, morphological and molecular changes to address the specific aims of this proposal. (5) As described in the â€Å"Significance† section it is important to recognize that many concepts that are central to our overall understanding of the LTM were established using Aplysia [5, 13-17;18-23]. Therefore it is expected thatShow MoreRelatedA Study Of Neurological And Behavioral Disorders859 Words   |  4 Pagessubsequent senescence that are physiologically distinct. As in mammals, Aplysia show several aging-dependent changes such as changes in anatomy and function in identified neurons [8], behavioral changes [9,10], expression of mRNAs [11], and neurotransmitter regulation [12]. 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