Your Child and Autism

Autism Is Now Believed To Affect 1 In Every 166 People

What is Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects, often severely, a person's ability to communicate and socially interact with others. It is four times more prevalent in males than females.

Currently, autism is believed to affect 1 in every 166 people. The rate of people being diagnosed with autism has increased substantially over the past two decades.

Although this may be in part due to improved diagnostic techniques and to changes in the criteria for autism spectrum disorders, the majority of experts agree these changes are not enough to explain the epidemic rates at which autism is being diagnosed.

Autism Spectrum Disorders is an umbrella term that includes classic autism (also known as Kanner's autism or Kanner's syndrome), Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD).

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because the number and intensity of the symptoms people with autism display may vary widely. However, all people with autism demonstrate impairments in the following three areas: communication, social relationships and restricted patterns of behavior.

The spectrum ranges from those who are severely affected, less able, and dependent on others to those who are of above-average intelligence and independent, yet lacking in social skills.

What Causes Autism?

Unfortunately, no one knows the answer. This is one of the primary missions of Cure Autism Now to fund the crucial and necessary research to discover the cause of autism, in order to design effective treatments and, eventually, find a cure.

Here is what is known so far:

There is a genetic predisposition for autism spectrum disorders.

Some brain circuits are different in a person with autism.

Serotonin, a neurotransmitter important for normal brain functioning and behavior, has been found to be elevated in a subgroup of people with autism.

Some children with autism and related disorders have biochemical and immunological problems.

Many experts in the field of autism - for example Dr. Edward Ritvo of the University of California Los Angeles - theorize that there exists a genetic predisposition to autism spectrum disorders.

This predisposition, perhaps encoded within a certain gene, interacts with an as-yet-unknown environmental factor or factors and causes alterations to the immune system, the sensory nervous system, the brain and often the gastrointestinal tract as well. These changes then cause the affected person to exhibit the symptoms of autism.

Autism Does Not Discriminate

Last year I went on a 5K walk at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles benefiting Cure Autism Now. I saw thousands of children, their families and friends that are affected in one way or another by autism.

There were people from all walks of life, professional people like athletes, lawyers, doctors and people you see everyday in your own community. People with children that have autism, all getting together to raise money to help find a cure.

Before the walk, I received a letter from a mother whose 4 year old son Danny has autism. She was asking for donations and letting people know about the Cure Autism Now second annual Walk-A-Thon.

After reading her letter, I had a better understanding of not only what autism was, but what parents and the children with autism go through on a daily basis. Below is part of that letter. I think after reading it, you will be more understanding as I was.

Start of letter

It's Walk-a-Thon time! A year has passed so quickly. I want to share with you the progress that Danny has made.

He is amazing. A year ago he couldn't even tell me he loved me. Now, when I say "I love you Danny" he yells back "I love you more!!!" I waited so long to hear those words. But what is so difficult is the fact that he doesn't know what the words mean. He says them from memory. It's like a recording. Every time I say I love you... he automatically responds with the same answer, which is very common with most autistic children.

I ask him what he did in school each day and he can tell me bits and pieces, but he also repeats the same thing everyday or tells me what they did a month ago.

Autistic children have amazing memories. He can take a brand new puzzle, dump all the pieces off the board, pick up any piece without hesitation and put it in it's proper place without even thinking. His mind is incredible.

I wake up in the mornings wondering what kind of day Danny is going to have, and I pray that it's a good one. He is extremely sensitive to his surroundings. If things don't go in the same pattern that he is used to, he flips out...screaming and kicking.

I still find myself in denial sometimes. When we are out in public, I try to do everything in my power to make sure Danny gets his way, as to not cause a scene.

I remember one Friday, I wanted to take a special day and make it "all about Danny," I was going to take him to an indoor playground. It was pouring rain that Friday, but we trampled through the parking lot and into the playground and took off our shoes.

Danny wanted to play the video game and another little boy also wanted to play. Danny doesn't do well when other people are in his space, so he started screaming at the top of his lungs, threw himself on the floor kicking me and anything else that got in his way.

I tried to pick him up but he was kicking so hard I could barely lift him. Every mother and child in the place was staring at me. I tried to calm him, but his screams got louder, as they always do when you try to reason with him.

As I carried Danny to the bathroom to get him away from everyone else, I heard one of the moms say to her friend..."I wish she would shut that kid up!!!" I couldn't help but break into tears.

We didn't even last five minutes in public. I grabbed our shoes in one hand, Danny in the other and ran to the car in my socks in the pouring rain. I just sat in my car and cried.

I wish that woman could spend just ONE day in the life of Danny. I sometimes want to wear a sign around my neck that say "My child is autistic, please excuse the excessive noise."

Despite Danny's outbursts...he has made incredible progress. He is talking so much. Almost too much. (just kidding) He can write his name all on his own and is starting to sing songs(which he would never do before) He is a very expressive little boy...

End of letter.

After reading that letter, now when I see a child screaming and kicking in a store or someplace, and we all have, I think that the child may be autistic. It made me realize that it's not the child's or the parents fault and I should be more understanding.

The number of autistic cases is rising faster than we can count, but progress is being made. At Cure Autism Now, they are currently funding more than 15 research projects examining the causes of autism. You can go to Danny's page at Cure Autism Now and you will see a picture of Danny, who is 5 years old now and his father at last years Walk-A-Thon. You can donate what you can, learn more about autism and find out where there might be a Walk-A-Thon in your area. Danny's page

Thank you,

About The Author

Paul Bittle is the owner of http://www.bitsnwits.com an information web site with free articles and free courses. Also, for Danny's page you can go to Bits N Wits home page and look for Special Announcement.

MORE ARTICLES:

Asperger?s Syndrome Children At School
Between the age of 6-18 children spend a third of each day at school, so it?s important to ensure they?re in the best environment for their needs This is particularly true for children with Asperger?s Syndrome

The Looting of American Taxpayers Social Security Disability by Fraudulent Employers Pt. 1
For more than a decade, you the American taxpayer have been burdened with my disability assistance. Why? Because my high-profile employer, a member of the bar and a politically connected entity in this area along with the assistance of his insurance carrier, insurance investigator and other members of the bar as well as a president-elect of a national civil rights organization at the local level assisted my former employer to get away with denying multiply sustained on-the-job injury and infirmities.

Why Let A Disability Limit Your Mobility?
For those of use who are able to walk around on our own, it's difficult to imagine the challenges facing those with a disability. We take for granted the simple act of traveling by car. Unfortunately for those with a disability, getting in and out of their vehicle is not their only challenge. Storing the wheelchair in their car becomes an immediate concern.

What Are Phospholipid Deficiencies In Autism?
The word phospholipid might not be something you are familiar with, but if you have a child with autism, it could be a useful term to understand. Studies suggest that children with autism are lacking in essential fatty acids that are crucial for proper brain function and development. By measuring the amount of these fatty acids in the plasma phospholipids (otherwise known as the blood cell surface or membrane), some believe the information found will reflect neurological disorders in children with autism. The research is pointing towards phospholipid deficiencies in autism cases.

New Guidelines Promise Earlier Identification of Autism - CDC/ICDL Working Group Releases New Report during Autism Awareness Month
Leading experts on child development today presented a new framework for identifying children at risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental challenges, saying that current guidelines fail to identify many children who need and would benefit from early intervention.

Here?s Some Good News ? Autism Treatment Is Possible Today
Autism treatment is possible and that is the good news. People with autism find it difficult to express themselves through verbal or non verbal communication and are often unable to form social relationships. They are also prone to restricted or repetitive behavior. Previously people with autism were misinterpreted as being mentally retarded, but modern science has shown that many people with autism are rather highly-functioning individuals. With proper autism treatment, education and support, a real difference can be brought about in their lives. In this article, it will be discussed how autism can be treated, the different autism treatment centers for autism and also how a project taken up by the Autism Research Institute is making a diff...

Seven Mistakes to Avoid When Seeking Social Security Disability Benefits
Allsup outlines missteps that can be obstacles when applying for SSDI benefits.

New Specials on "Conversation Starters" Help Autism-Spectrum Kids to Converse with Ease
Just in Time for Back to School, One of Natural Learning Concepts' Most Popular Products is Now on Special through September 20, 2007

Prevention of Disability Discrimination
Being disabled has many disadvantages and it is also a continuous suffering experienced by disabled people. In addition to the hardships that a person with disability is experiencing due to his/her physical condition, there are times when discrimination against that person happens.

Is There An Autism Yeast Infection Link?
The exact cause of autism is unknown with theories ranging from the result of immunization, genetics, or a combination of both. However, latest findings have demonstrated that there may also be an autism yeast infection link.