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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 the areas of 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. One should keep in mind
however, that autism is a spectrum disorder and it affects each
individual differently and at varying degrees - this is why early
diagnosis is so crucial. By learning the signs, a child can begin
benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention programs (see
treatment and
education).
Autism is one of five disorders that falls under the umbrella of
Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological
disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several
areas of development.”
The five disorders under PDD are:
Each of these disorders has specific diagnostic
criteria which been outlined in the American Psychiatric Association's
Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR).
Prevalence of Autism
Autism is the most common of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders,
affecting an estimated 1 in 166 births (Centers for Disease Control
Prevention, 2004). Roughly translated, this means as many as 1.5 million
Americans today are believed to have some form of autism. And this
number is on the rise.
Based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and other
governmental agencies, autism is growing at a startling rate of 10-17
percent per year. At this rate, the ASA estimates that the prevalence of
autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade.
Autism knows no racial, ethnic, social boundaries, family income,
lifestyle, or educational levels and can affect any family, and 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.
As mentioned previously, autism is a spectrum
disorder, and although it is defined by a certain set of behaviors,
children and adults with autism can exhibit any combination of these
behaviors 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. Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following
traits:
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Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
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Difficulty in expressing needs, using gestures or
pointing instead of words
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Repeating words or phrases in place of normal,
responsive language
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Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason
showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
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Preference to being alone; aloof manner
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Tantrums
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Difficulty in mixing with others
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Not wanting to cuddle or be cuddled
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Little or no eye contact
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Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
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Sustained odd play
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Spinning objects
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Obsessive attachment to objects
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Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to
pain
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No real fears of danger
-
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme
under-activity
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Uneven gross/fine motor skills
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Non 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 under active. 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.
There is no known single 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.
Treatment
source: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WhatisAutism |
