Autism Signs and Epidemiology
Symptoms for Diagnosis and Recent Reports of Epidemiological Causes
Feb 13, 2009
Autism is a pervasive developmental condition that hits youngsters before age three. It is a disorder that has a spectrum of affected behaviors from moderate to extreme and is characterized by troubles with communicating, withdrawal and behavioral problems. Classes of autism include classic autism, childhood degenerative disorder, Aspergers syndrome, Retts disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
Symptoms of Autism
Family members of autistic children are commonly the initial ones to mark a pattern of withdrawal or inability of their son or daughter to engage with family members. Beginning in infancy, the child may not answer to hearing noise or the sound of somebody else's voice. The child might not be able to tolerate direct visual contact and might become agitated if the adult takes a firm stand on maintaining visual contact. The baby might have difficulty being touched, stroked or drawn close and might fight to withdraw from being physically touched. The adults may discover that the baby doesn't return grins or different facial expressions.
As the baby matures into a toddler, parents may find that rather than babbling with nonsense sounds like "ba-ba" or "wa-wa" similar to other children, their daughter or son sits down quietly and avoids them when attempting to engage in "peek-a-boo" or "where's the ball?". Parents might notice that rather than getting out favorite toys to share, their child instead sits alone, avoiding other youngsters or siblings. If their child does begin to verbalize and use language, parents may observe that instead of using the phrases I or me, they may say their own name and speak in third-person.
Parents may also notice their daughter or son engaging in persistent behaviors, like rocking, twirling or slapping the floor with their hands. Parents might also notice their daughter or son repeatedly slapping his or her face or biting his or her arms or legs. These children may register reduced sensitivity to pain sensation, but be highly sensitive to noise, light, touch or the sensation of clothing or other things against their skin. There is some opinion that autism includes a component of an extreme sensory process condition in addition to other brain dysfunctions.
Causes of Autism
While there are no full resolutions about what causes autism, there is considerable inquiry being conducted through University of California Davis MIND Institute to discover some answers. A recent article in the journal Epidemiology reports that it has been discovered that there is a genetic element to the disorder. Families with one autistic child have a 5% likelihood of having another autistic child. (Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L. 2009)
Additionally, researchers have discovered assorted abnormalities in the brain. It has also been suggested that irregularities in neurotransmitters like serotonin contribute to the condition. (Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L. 2009) It has long been suggested that childhood vaccines given to babies in infancy also add to the disorder. The truth is, it is probably that autism is caused by a combination of both environment and genetics.
Autism can be a devastating condition for families to cope with. Children with autism exhibit limited ability to communicate with others, do not socially interact and engage in repetitive behaviors such as flapping their hands or rocking. While it is not known once and for all what causes autism, continued study is slowly unlocking the enigma of this pervasive childhood disorder.
If you notice a pattern of these behaviors in your own child, seek help from your pediatrician. There are wonderful organizations which provide assistance and support for families coping with this illness. AutismSpeaks is a wonderful resource of information. The MIND Institute at University of California, Davis is dedicated to researching autistic disorders and providing support for families and children with autism. You can find the latest research results on their website.
Reference
Hertz-Picciotto I, Delwiche L. 2009. The Rise in Autism and the Role of Age at Diagnosis. Epidemiology 20(1): 84-90.
