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Autism: A Brief Overview |
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What is Autism?
Autism is a biological and neurological disorder that typically manifests itself in children between the ages of eighteen months and five years of age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism has a prevalence rate upon children in the U.S. of 1 in 150.
Autism is a spectrum disorder affecting children at many levels. A child at the high-functioning end of the spectrum may be perceived as having only a learning disorder, may have an oppositional personality, or lack some social skills but can communicate and eventually develop the skills to live on his or her own. At the other end of the spectrum are children severely affected who display symptoms that are more outwardly noticeable. These symptoms may include rocking, toe-walking, or hand-flapping, to name a few. Typically, these children cannot speak or have limited speech and require constant one-on-one care and, left untreated, will never be able to live on their own.
Autism affects four areas:
1. Communication
2. Social Skills
3. Behavior
4. Learning
What are some of the symptoms of Autism?
- Spinning, rocking, hand-flapping, toe-walking, head-banging
- Echolalia
- Rigid routines
- Insistence on sameness
- Lack of interest in playing with others
- Lack of imaginative play
- Little or no eye contact
- Aggressive behavior toward others
- Self-injurious behavior
- Inappropriate laughter
- Dislike of being held
- Limited diet
- Food allergies
- Chronic ear infections as infant and/or young child
- Chronic diarrhea
- Chronic constipation
- Sensitivity to loud noises, smells, types of clothing, and clothing tags
- Difficulty falling asleep and once asleep, staying asleep
- Seizures
What are some of the signs?
Autism Speaks, a national autism organization, provides a video glossary clearly demonstrating many of the signs of autism. Click here for details.
What are some of the possible causes of Autism?
The biomedical community believes that autism stems from an inflammatory disorder. The impact of the environment on susceptible individuals creates tremendous stress on the human system impacting biochemistry (especially sulfur metabolism, methylation, and transulfuration) immune function and gut permeability. The subsequent impact on development displays itself in what is commonly seen as "behavior problems" or "learning disabilities," including sensory abnormalities, coordination, cognition, mood, general health, sleep, and gastrointestinal function.
Numerous researchers believe there may be multiple causes for autism, including but not limited to, an environmental factor, a genetic component, vaccinations, the overuse of antibiotics, viruses, and other yet unknown causes. The late Bernard Rimland, Ph.D. and James Adams, Ph.D. of the Autism Research Institute (ARI) offer answers to these questions in great detail on the ARI website which can be viewed here.
What about the biology of Autism?
Dr. Jeff Bradstreet, Medical Director of the International Child Development Resource Center, has written extensively about the biology of autism and related disorders. The report entitled Autism and Related Disorders, focuses on:
1. immunotoxicological wounding,
2. viral persistence, and
3. sulfur (cysteine) depletion, resulting in metallothione and glutathione
disruption.
A study published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, written by David Geier, B.A., Jerold Kartzinel, M.D., James Adams, Ph.D., Mark Geier, M.D., Ph.D., and Dr. Jeff Bradstreet entitled, "A Case-Control Study of Mercury Burden in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders," discusses the plausibility of a biologic association between ASD and mercury exposure.
To view a more complete listing of scientific research written by Dr. Jeff Bradstreet and other autism researchers, click here.
What are some of the treatments and therapies?
Biomedical (click here for an explanation of the term):
The following is a list of some, not all, of the biomedically-based treatments and therapies:
Behavioral and Educational Therapies:
A Summary of Teaching Methodologies
Dietary Intervention
The following is a list of dietary interventions that have helped children with autism. There are other dietary interventions that are not listed here.
Evaluating Treatments: How Do You Know When a Treatment Really Works?
The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) has suggestions for parents embarking on what can seem like an overwhelming myriad of treatment choices. Take a few moments and review the suggestions listed.
The importance of finding a physician qualified to diagnose and treat autism cannot be overemphasized. A physician utilizing the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) uses leading-edge medical approaches to autism that produce real and substantive improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. The Autism Research Institute (ARI) maintains a Physician Referral List: Implementing the DAN! Consensus Report. Click here to view this list.
Autistic Disorder (299.00 DSM-IV)
The cental features of Autistic Disorder are the presence of markedly abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communicatin, and a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interest. The manifestitations of this disorder vary greatly depending on the developmental level and hronological age of the individual. Autistic Disorder is sometimes referred to as Early Infantile Autism, Childhood Autism, or Kanner's Autism.
- A total of six (or more) items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1), and one each from (2) and (3):
- qualitative impairment in social interaction, as manifested by at least two of the following:
- 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
- failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
- a lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
- lack of social or emotional reciprocity
- qualitative impairments in communication as manifested by at least one of the following:
- delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
- in individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
- stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language
- lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe play or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level
- restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:
- encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
- apparently inflexible adherence to specific, nonfunctional routines or rituals
- stereotyped and repetitive motor manners (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
- persistent preoccupation with parts of objects
Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years: (1) social interaction, (2) language as used in social communication, or (3) symbolic or imaginative play.
- The disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett’s Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
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