ASD and autism are general terms for what can be a complex disorder that relates to brain development.

 

Autism spectrum disorder, also known as ASD and autism, are general terms for what can be a complex disorder that relates to brain development. An autistic child or adult will have difficulties in interacting socially, verbally, non-verbally as well as displaying repetitive behaviours. The extent that these affect an autistic person will vary from one person to the next.

The varying degrees in which these symptoms show themselves can make it harder to interact with a child that is autistic. For those teaching assistant, teachers and those working in the care profession, training by attending autism awareness courses, for example, can provide valuable insight and skills in managing behaviour and so on.

What is autism spectrum disorder? – Securing a diagnosis

Until recently, securing a diagnosis varied from one local authority or health board area to the next. Autism is measured via a spectrum, a scale of how ‘bad’ or not autism affects the child or adult. This moveable scale meant that some children were misdiagnosed, or not diagnosed at all.

In May 2013, a new way of diagnosing autism came into being. This diagnosis umbrella for the first time recognised under one label, rather than distinct sub-types such as Asperger syndrome and so on.

The way in which autism manifests itself tends to be related to intellectual disability, as well as difficulties in motor coordination, and the ability to pay attention for a close period. There are times when some autistic children and adults can excel, to almost genius proportions, in music, math, art and so on.

Modern-day understanding is far more than in previous times and although there has been no one cause pinpointed as being the root of autism, it is thought to have its roots in very early brain development.

This is why obvious signs of autism tend to emerge between the ages of two and three.

How common is autism?

It is thought that in the UK, 1 in every 100 children is on the autistic spectrum, around 100,000 children. Diagnosis and understanding are improving all the time; thus, it may be that in coming years, this figure increases.

It is not a disorder that comes from parents doing something wrong; neither is it ‘naughty child’ syndrome. Currently, more boys than girls are diagnosed with autism – four times as many in fact. This is not because it is more prevalent in boys but more that girls are thought to exhibit autism in different ways. It may be too that we accept some of these behaviour patterns in the girl child, more than we do boys as a society, parents and so on, feel that these behaviours are more in line with their gender.

What are autism spectrum disorders and its causes?

Until recently, the answer would have been ‘no idea’. However, research is beginning to deliver some answers:

  • There is no one cause of autism, as there is no one type of autism
  • Mutations of some key genes have been discovered that are sufficient enough to give rise to autism but more work is needed to be able to use this information to prevent and treat autism effectively
  • Autism also seems to be influenced by environmental factors too on the early development of the brain

These environmental factors are related to before pregnancy, during and after the birth. Common denominators include parents being older, illness during pregnancy, shortage of oxygen during the birth itself and so on. However, these factors are not the sole reason for autism but are more likely contributory factors in a complex situation that we currently do not fully understand.

Being on the spectrum

Every child or adult who is autistic is unique. Some have exceptional abilities, but may struggle to communicate verbally or pick up on non-verbal language. Attempting to categorise everyone the same is not helpful in determining treatment, nor in how to manage certain behaviours and so on.

In some ways, securing a diagnosis can be a relief for many parents. Understanding it and how to deal with a child who may struggle to fit in is something that many people feel they need support with. Autism is not a label for naughty children, neither does it mean that a child is ‘thick’. Some autistic children will be considered to have additional learning needs, but other autistic children, with support, can thrive and function well in main stream education.

The complexity of autism means that information and training are key, and not just for the parents of autistic children. Teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and so on can all benefit from autism awareness courses. Raising acceptance, respect and support for people with autism are important and has helped enormously those people living with autism.

Our Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties within Education course is now available.

 

NCC Home Learning are pleased to announce that our Speech, Language and Communication Difficulties within Education course is now available.

This home study course aims to provide the learner with detailed knowledge on different types of communication difficulties that can be found within education settings.

The course is suitable for anyone working within an educational setting.  All educational provisions should be focusing on inclusion of pupils with SLC Difficulties and this course will enable understanding of a variety of SLC difficulties.   The course includes historical aspects relating to speech, language and communication and provides a fascinating insight into how provision and attitudes have changed over the last 40 years or so.

Click here to take a look at our dedicated course page.

If you require any additional information our course advisors can provide you with further information or answer any specific questions you may have. They can be contacted by telephone on 0800 970 2522 or via email at [email protected].

Today is the first ever Author Day, marking the importance of both independent and traditionally published authors.

 

Today is the first ever Author Day, marking the importance of both independent and traditionally published authors. It has been organised by the people behind Europe’s largest publishing conference, The Futurebook Conference, which is now entering its fifth year.

As the day is celebrating both established and emerging authors, we decided to delve into the past of some famous authors. The authors of the world’s most popular books are household names, however many decide to use a ‘pen name’ for their writing.

Below, we take a look at five of the most recognisable pen names, and discover the truth surrounding why their real names were changed.

J.K. Rowling – Joanne Rowling

Known to many as the author of one of the most popular franchises ever, the Harry Potter series of books, J.K. Rowling is a name known by children and adults alike the world over. The series, which has sold over 450 million copies worldwide and been turned into films that made over £4 billion, was imagined by Rowling on a 4 hour delayed train from Manchester to London. When discussing the book’s release with her publishers, Rowling was asked to use two initials when publishing, as it was believed that boys in her target age range wouldn’t like to read a book about magic by a woman. Ms. Rowling agreed, however as she didn’t have a middle name for the second initial, she opted to choose her grandmothers name of Kathleen to create the name instantly recognised around the world today.

Lewis Carroll – Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

Alongside being the author of some of the most loved children’s books, Lewis Carroll was also a famed mathematician, writing many books on topics such as geometry, algebra and logic. He gained first class honours in the subject, graduating top in his class, and held the post of Mathematical Lecturer for 26 years at Oxford College, Christ Church. Whilst he was a gifted mathematician, he had a love for writing poetry and literature, and decided to write works such as Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. When it came to publishing, he decided to keep his fictional work separate from his factual writings, so decided to use a pen name. He came up with four, three of which were rejected, and the final choice, an complicated Latin and English translation of his name became the name he would be synonymous with. However, even though his books gained immense popularity, Carroll would never answer to his pen name, even going as far as to refuse letters sent to Lewis Carroll at his place of work.

George Orwell – Eric Blair

George Orwell, a writer concerned with social injustice, was famed for novels such as Nineteen Eighty Four and Animal Farm. His novels have spawned many well-known phrases in modern day language, such as cold war, and even ideas for television programmes such as Room 101 and Big Brother. His first novel, a documentation of his time living in poverty and undertaking menial jobs, entitled Down and Out in Paris and London, created the need for a pen name. He did not wish to cause embarrassment to his family with regards to his time living as a ‘tramp’, so his agent selected George Orwell from a list provided. Orwell is said to have been inspired by the River Orwell in Suffolk, and was described by the author as a ‘good round English name’.

Dr. Seuss – Theodore Geisel

Many of us remember reading the poems and stories by Dr. Seuss as a child, including works such as ‘The Cat in the Hat’ and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas!’.  He published over 60 books, which have sold over 600 million copies worldwide, and adapted into films, television programmes and plays. However Dr. Seuss, the author behind the poems, is not really a doctor, and neither is his surname Seuss! Theodore Geisel, a student attending Dartmouth College was an active contributor to the university’s humorous magazine, ‘Jack-O-Lantern’. However, he faced trouble at the college when he was found to be drinking gin with his friends, during the prohibition in America, a time when alcohol was banned. He was banned from extracurricular activities, including his burgeoning journalism career, so began writing under various pen names to continue his hobby whilst avoiding detection by the dean. He later added the ‘Dr.’ to one of his pen names, T. Seuss, to pay tribute to his father, and his wish that his son would gain his PhD. Ironically, due to his notoriety as a well-respected children’s author, Dr. Seuss would later receive multiple honorary doctorates from various establishments, making his father’s wish come true!

Mark Twain – Samuel Langhorne Clemens

The 19th century author of novels such as ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ and ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ started out his career as an apprentice to a printer, before moving away from lettering and decided to work on the water, acting as a riverboat pilot along the Mississippi. At the beginning of the American Civil War in 1861, boats were no longer allowed to travel on the river, so Twain found himself without a job. He eventually found his way back to where he began his career, in writing, however his new pen name was a reminder of the career he could have had. The word ‘Twain’ is another way of saying ‘two’, and ‘mark twain’ was a phrase used in boating to refer to the depth of the water. For a steamboat to be safe to pass, water had to be two fathoms deep, therefore the saying ‘mark twain’ meant that the waters ahead were safe to travel on. According to Twain himself, he was not the first to adopt this pen name, as a Captain who wrote news stories about the rivers was using the name. After his death, Twain decided to use the name for himself, stating, “He could no longer need that signature, I laid violent hands upon it without asking permission of the proprietor’s remains.”

 

If you are interested in becoming an author and creating your own pen name, why not take a look at our popular Fiction Writing course?

 

With the concentration and patience required for long-reads and highlighting any mistakes or inaccuracies in copy, proof readers are zen-like masters of the English language.

 

With the concentration and patience required for long-reads and highlighting any mistakes or inaccuracies in copy, proof readers are zen-like masters of the English language. Needless to say, it’s a great skill to have and is ideal for people with an excellent attention to detail, intricate understanding of grammar, and a keen eye for picking up on any grammatical mistakes.

There are a few tips to becoming an ace proof reader, so below we’ve given six of the best:

No Distractions

If you’re going to be proof reading and correcting on-screen then disconnect from the internet, hide your mobile phone, turn off the TV, and close the door. If you still don’t trust yourself not to get distracted, it’s a good idea to print your document off and go to a library or similar environment.

Don’t Read – Analyse

Ignore the content, ignore the story, and don’t read like you’re a fan. You should be analysing each sentence word by word in a scientific manner.

Read and Re-read For Clarity

Read sentences a number of times for a variety of different issues – check spelling and punctuation on one read-through of a sentence, then read it again to check grammar. Developing a methodical system of editing will lead to a more thorough proofing.

Keep a Notepad Handy

If you need to look a word up, check a date, or research a quote then make a quick note of the page number and come back to it later on. Stopping to research the issue there and then will lead to a loss of focus and throw you off your game.

Be Familiar With Frequent Mistakes

Every writer makes common mistakes the longer they’ve been writing a peace of work. Weather its mixing up their and there, too and to, or misplacing apostrophes, any writer switches off after a while and it’s up to the proof reader to be familiar with them and have an eagle eye for these mistakes. Did you spot the ones I just made?

Don’t Rely On Spell-check

If you’re proof reading on a computer, don’t overly rely on spell-check. While it can correct standard and accidental misspells, there are other spellings it will just assume are right. To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer, as the old saying goes.

 

If you’re an avid reader you might have a great sense of how a sentence should look, but without an understanding of basic grammar and punctuation rules then attempts at proof reading might fall a little flat. By attaining a recognised diploma you can refine your base skills and gain the qualification to start proof reading professionally.

Do you think you have what it takes to work in an educational setting? Do you enjoy working with children both individually and in small groups?

 

With over 240,000 Teaching Assistants working in the UK today, many people across the country are celebrating National Teaching Assistant Day today! An overwhelming 96% of headteachers believe that a Teaching Assistant is an asset to their school, and schools throughout the UK are joining in to celebrate.

We are joining in with the celebrations by offering a massive 35% off our popular Teaching Assistant Diploma. This means that it is only £220, as opposed to the normal price of £340!

Could you be a teaching assistant?

Teaching assistants work to support the development of children in the classroom, helping the teacher with issues such as one-to-one tuition for a specific child or helping smaller groups of children with different tasks. They are helpful in classrooms that include children with a learning disability, as they can help a particular child to work at a similar level to other children in the class. There are a wide range of terms for a teaching assistant, you may be more familiar with the term classroom assistant or learning support assistant.

Depending on the level of the children you are supporting, you may be asked to complete a varied list of tasks. If you choose to work with younger children, you are more likely to be asked to help children with arts and crafts, complete displays, or work with small groups of children who are struggling with a particular topic such as reading, writing or mathematics. If you choose to work with older children, for example in a high school, it is more common for a teaching assistant to work with one single student who is struggling. This could entail giving support in each classroom with different learning matters, or if they have a physical issue they may require assistance in getting around the school itself.

If the above description sounds appealing, why not take a look at the Level 3 Teaching Assistant Diploma that we offer? It can help people who are looking to find work as a learning support assistant throughout the different age ranges, and can also be helpful for those currently working in a school to gain qualified status.

You may not have been in school for some time, or may not believe you have the grades required to work in a school, however our Level 3 course does not require any previous qualifications! The main thing is that you are enthusiastic about working with children to aid their progression through their education. You should also have a patient nature, and be able to get along well with a wide range of ages, as it is imperative that you form good relationships with students, teachers and parents alike. You might encounter some difficult behaviour from students whilst working as a teaching assistant, so it is vital that you are able to keep a level head and be able to disperse a difficult situation.

As you will be helping children with their education, it is important that you have a good grasp of spoken and written English skills, along with a good understanding of mathematics at the level you wish to assist with, even if you don’t hold formal qualifications. You may benefit if you hold an additional skill, such as a talent at music or different languages, as these topics are now on the curriculum in schools. Having a skill such as this will make you more attractive to future potential employers.

If you are interested in this course, but wish to make sure that it is the right way of studying for you, why not take a look at our free sample module? You can have access to module 7 of the course: “Supporting a Child with Disabilities or Special Educational Needs”, for an entire month, to give you an idea of the type of learning, assignments and work you would be required to complete to become qualified. To access this, click on the button below!

 

 

Last month we delved into the world of foreign languages and exactly how learning a second or even third language can be beneficial.

 

Last month we delved into the world of foreign languages and exactly how learning a second or even third language can be beneficial.

It can improve job prospects, memory and even make you smarter, but these are by no means the only benefits.

Don’t worry if you’re not a natural linguist, it’s not only those that can already speak multiple languages that can reap these rewards. If you’re currently learning a language or considering learning one then these benefits might just help make your decision.

Alzheimer’s and dementia

There have been a number of studies and articles published over the years that suggest a link between bilingualism and staving off Alzheimer’s. The mean age for the onset of symptoms in a monolingual adult is 71.4 years, whereas for those regularly speaking two or more languages this age rises to 75.5. Despite taking into account factors including physical health, gender, education and income, the results of the studies have been consistent.

Decision-making

Multi-linguals use all of their language skills to make a decision and are therefore able to reach much more rational conclusions. Every language contains subtle intonations and pragmatic tone within the vocabulary, and these can subconsciously manipulate your judgement. Multi-linguals are much more confident in their decisions because they subconsciously evaluate situations in each of the languages they understand. This allows them to analyse their initial conclusion to ensure it still stands up.

Improved English skills

When learning a foreign language you focus much more on the mechanics of language – grammar, sentence structure and spelling, for example. When you’re learning a language these are things that you don’t take for granted because a detailed understanding is essential. Awareness of these elements of language makes you much more aware of the way you use your first language, for example how it is structured and can be manipulated. The English skills that you develop because of this will make you a better communicator, writer and even listener because you become skilled at understanding meaning from discreet sounds.

Although it helps, learning a new language doesn’t only assist with boosting your CV and making travelling that little bit easier, it benefits many cognitive processes too.


Although it helps, learning a new language doesn’t only assist with boosting your CV and making travelling that little bit easier, it benefits many cognitive processes too.

Studies have shown that being able to speak two or more languages aids a number of cognitive processes. The brains of those that can speak multiple languages work differently than single language speakers; these differences offer a number of mental benefits.

These benefits only apply to those people that speak multiple languages regularly. If you’re currently learning a language then don’t panic, because you can still reach fluency and you’ll reap the same benefits as those that have been speaking multiple languages since they learned to walk.

Smarter

Using a language other than your first challenges your brain to negotiate meaning, communicate and recognise alternative language systems. This skill can then be applied to other problem-solving tasks, for example, students who study languages tend to gain higher grades in standardised tests, particularly in the areas of maths and vocabulary.

Multitasking

Switching between two or more languages forces people to swap and change between multiple speech, writing and structure systems. This ability to mentally juggle a number of structures means that linguists become great multi-taskers.

More perceptive

Studies have shown that polyglots are much better than the single language speaker at observing their surroundings and retaining information, as well as omitting anything that’s irrelevant.

Improved memory

We’ve all seen the hundreds of brain training games out there, and that’s because the brain improves with exercise – just like a muscle. When you learn a new language you aren’t just learning a new vocabulary, you have to memorise rules and structures that are very different to what you’re used to. Doing this helps to strengthen your brain and improve overall memory which results in multi-language speakers being much better at retaining and recalling information like shopping lists, directions and phone numbers.