What is Autism?
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during
the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder
that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in
a multitude of areas but specifically targeting social interaction and
communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show
difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions,
and leisure or play activities.
Prevalence of Autism
Autism affects an estimated 1 in 150 births (Centers for Disease Control
Prevention, 2007). Care of an autistic loved one can cost $3.2 million over
a lifetime; and the cost for all persons with autism totals about $35
billion per year. Most of these require lifelong assistance.
Based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and other
governmental agencies, autism is growing by a startling 10-17 percent per
year. At this rate, the ASA estimates its prevalence could reach 4 million
Americans in the next decade.
Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries; nor family income,
lifestyle, or educational levels. It can affect any family, any child.
And although the overall incidence of autism is consistent around the
globe, it is four times more prevalent in boys than in girls.
Learn the Signs
As mentioned previously, autism is a spectrum disorder, and although
defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults with autism can
exhibit any combination of them, in any degree of severity. Two children,
both with the same diagnosis, can act completely different from
one another and have varying capabilities.
You may hear different terms used to describe children within this
spectrum, such as autistic-like, autistic tendencies, autism spectrum,
high-functioning or low-functioning autism, more-abled or less-abled; but
more important than the term used to describe autism is understanding that
whatever the diagnosis, children with autism can learn and function
normally and show improvement with appropriate treatment and education.
Every person with autism is an individual, and like all individuals, has a
unique personality and combination of characteristics. Some individuals
mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater
challenges with social interactions. They may have difficulty initiating
and/or maintaining a conversation. Their communication is often described
as talking at others instead of to them. (For example, monologue on a
favorite subject that continues despite attempts by others to interject
comments).
People with autism also process and respond to information in unique ways.
In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present:
- Insistence on sameness; resistance to change;
- Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words;
- Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language;
- Laughing, crying, or showing distress for reasons not apparent to others;
- Prefers to be alone; aloof manner;
- Tantrums;
- Difficulty in mixing with others;
- May not want to cuddle or be cuddled;
- Little or no eye contact;
- Unresponsive to normal teaching methods;
- Sustained odd play;
- Spins objects;
- Obsessive attachments to objects;
- Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain;
- No real fears of danger;
- Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity;
- Uneven gross/fine motor skills;
- Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests in normal
range.
For most of us, the integration of our senses helps us to understand what
we are experiencing. For example, our sense of touch, smell and taste work
together in the experience of eating a ripe peach: the feel of the peach's
skin, its sweet smell, and the juices running down your face. For children
with autism, sensory integration problems are common, which may throw
their senses off—they may be over- or underactive. The fuzz on the peach
may actually be experienced as painful and the smell may make the child
gag. Some children with autism are particularly sensitive to sound,
finding even the most ordinary daily noises painful. Many professionals
feel that some of the typical autism behaviors, like the ones listed
above, are actually a result of sensory integration difficulties.
There are also many myths and misconceptions about autism. Contrary to
popular belief, many autistic children do make eye contact; it just may be
less often or different from a non-autistic child. Many children with
autism can develop good functional language and others can develop some
type of communication skills, such as sign language or use of pictures.
Children do not "outgrow" autism, but symptoms may lessen as the child
develops and receives treatment.
One of the most devastating myths about autistic children is that they
cannot show affection. While sensory stimulation is processed differently
in some children, they can and do give affection. However, it may require
patience on the parents' part to accept and give love in the child's
terms.
Theories on Causes
There is no single known cause for autism, but it is generally accepted
by the medical community that it is caused by abnormalities in brain
structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and
structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children.
Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link
between heredity, genetics and medical problems. While no one gene has
been identified as causing autism, in many families there appears to be a
pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic
basis to the disorder. Researchers are searching for irregular segments of
genetic code that autistic children may have inherited. It also appears
that some children are born with a higher susceptibility to autism, but
researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism
to develop.
Researchers are also investigating the possibility that, under certain
conditions, a cluster of unstable genes may interfere with brain
development, resulting in autism. Still other researchers are
investigating problems during pregnancy or delivery; as well as
environmental factors such as viral infections, metabolic imbalances, and
exposure to environmental chemicals.
Autism tends to occur more frequently than expected among individuals who
have certain medical conditions, including Fragile X syndrome, tuberous
sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and untreated phenylketonuria
(PKU). Some harmful substances ingested during pregnancy have also been
associated with an increased risk of autism. Early in 2002, The Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) prepared a review of
hazardous chemical exposures and autism and found no compelling evidence
for an association. However, there was very limited research and more
needs to be done to rule out chemicals.
The question regarding a relationship between vaccines and autism
continues to be debated. In 2001, an investigation by a committee of the
Institute of Medicine concluded that the "evidence favors rejection of a
causal relationship.... between MMR vaccines and autistic spectrum
disorders (ASD)." The committee however, acknowledged that "they could not
rule out" the possibility that the MMR vaccine could contribute to ASD in
a small number of children. While other researchers agree the data does
not support a link between the MMR and autism, they also agree more
research is clearly needed.
Whatever the cause, it is clear that children with autism and PDD are born
with the disorder or born with the potential to develop it. Bad parenting
does not cause it. It is not a mental illness. Children with autism are
not unruly kids who choose not to behave. Furthermore, no known
psychological factors in the development of a child have been shown to
cause autism.
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