Autism rising at alarming, epidemic rate
Alarm-raiser: Physician Andrew Wakefield (C) is the first doctor to relate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine with autism _ a lifelong disease which is growing _ prompting many parents to refuse to have their children vaccinated. Picture: EPA
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
AUTISM is a profoundly challenging disorder that causing immense difficulties for those affected and their families. Many parents of children with autism have an indelible memory of the day they realised that the unusual behaviours apparent in their child were attributable to autistm. This realisation may have felt like the end of the world, and would certainly have marked the loss of their dream that their child grow up developing as expected and easily creating a life with rich and meaningful connections with others. Autism is said to be a lifelong disorder that is not curable. Many diagnosed with autism will require supported living throughout their lives as independent living is not feasible. Clearly, autism has profound social ramifications for society, yet while the incidence of many disorders is being reduced, the incidence of autism is growing at an alarming, even epidemic rate.
Autism is best described as a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, causing restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. It is part of what is referred to as the Autism Spectrum Disorder that includes Asperger Syndrome, which is similar to autism but without the language delays. There are several defining characteristics of autism. These are language delays; social impairments; and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. It is expected that there will be delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following: social interaction, language as used in social communication, symbolic or imaginative play.
Autism is not evident at birth, or medically testable at any point in life. Therefore, it is a disorder that comes completely unannounced and unexpected, especially since autistic infants progress through the physical milestones as expected. However, parents often remark that, in retrospect, telltale signs were there. Autistic infants show less attention to social stimuli, smile and look at others less often and respond less to their own name. Infants with autism frequently display delayed onset of babbling, unusual gestures, diminished responsiveness, and a lack of matching the vocal patterns of caregiver. As those with autism become toddlers it becomes more apparent that they use much less eye contact, imitate their parents less, may not wave goodbye or hello, and fail to learn to take turns and communicate nonverbally. Autistic children are less likely to make requests, share experiences and point to objects. Instead, they may repeat others' words (echolalia). Autistic children may have difficulty with imaginative play and with developing symbols into language. Often they appear more interested in things than people.
As children age they frequently display many forms of repetitive or restricted behaviour. Some engage in stereotypy, which is an apparently purposeless movement, such as hand flapping, head rolling, or body rocking. Many will have compulsive behaviour such as arranging objects in a certain way. Rather than playing with their toys, many autistic children will line them up or stack them, arranging them neatly by size or colour and exhibit extreme frustration if this order is disturbed. Many insist on sameness and may actively resisting change such as the rearranging of furniture. Many have great difficulty with being interrupted when they are engaged in an activity. This is closely liked to ritualistic behaviour which involves the performance of daily activities the same way each time, such as an unvarying menu or dressing ritual. Restricted behaviours may also be observed, indicated by a limited focus in interests or activities, or even a preoccupation.
The cause, or causes, of autism is not understood, yet there are many possible explanations and associated traits. There is certainly a strong genetic basis of autism, however, it does not appear that one gene holds the answer. More likely, there is an interaction of many genes. It is also strongly suspected that there are environmental causes that may include chemicals, heavy metals (especially mercury) or antibiotics. Researchers have frequently found vitamin and mineral deficiencies or excesses in those with autism. Many have treated autistic children with enzymes and found that to be helpful. A gluten and casein free diet has also appeared to prove beneficial for many with autism. Many people strongly suspect that there is a link between the MMR vaccines that children receive and autism.
In short, there are many researchers actively seeking the defining cause of autism. One of the reasons for this effort is the staggering increase in the number of reported cases of autism. This may be partially due to better medical care and educational practices, an increase in awareness, improvements in diagnosis and the handling of such disorders. However, these alone can hardly account for the increases that have been observed. In the US in the 1970s the incidence of autism was two to three per 10,000 while in 2007 the incidence rate was one per 150 in the US and one per 58 in the UK. Rates are even higher in Asian countries, and it is four times more common in boys than girls. In California, which keeps some of the best records, autism now accounts for 45 per cent of all new diagnoses of developmental disabilities.
Clearly there is a great need for more research into the cause and treatment of autism, especially since the prognosis for untreated autism is rather dismal. Fortunately, the treatments of autism have advanced greatly in the last decades and many in the field now speak of individuals having achieved a "recovery from autism".
The writer is a private psychologist at Brunei's Riverview Medical Clinic.
The Brunei Times
Autism is best described as a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, causing restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. It is part of what is referred to as the Autism Spectrum Disorder that includes Asperger Syndrome, which is similar to autism but without the language delays. There are several defining characteristics of autism. These are language delays; social impairments; and restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. It is expected that there will be delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following: social interaction, language as used in social communication, symbolic or imaginative play.
Autism is not evident at birth, or medically testable at any point in life. Therefore, it is a disorder that comes completely unannounced and unexpected, especially since autistic infants progress through the physical milestones as expected. However, parents often remark that, in retrospect, telltale signs were there. Autistic infants show less attention to social stimuli, smile and look at others less often and respond less to their own name. Infants with autism frequently display delayed onset of babbling, unusual gestures, diminished responsiveness, and a lack of matching the vocal patterns of caregiver. As those with autism become toddlers it becomes more apparent that they use much less eye contact, imitate their parents less, may not wave goodbye or hello, and fail to learn to take turns and communicate nonverbally. Autistic children are less likely to make requests, share experiences and point to objects. Instead, they may repeat others' words (echolalia). Autistic children may have difficulty with imaginative play and with developing symbols into language. Often they appear more interested in things than people.
As children age they frequently display many forms of repetitive or restricted behaviour. Some engage in stereotypy, which is an apparently purposeless movement, such as hand flapping, head rolling, or body rocking. Many will have compulsive behaviour such as arranging objects in a certain way. Rather than playing with their toys, many autistic children will line them up or stack them, arranging them neatly by size or colour and exhibit extreme frustration if this order is disturbed. Many insist on sameness and may actively resisting change such as the rearranging of furniture. Many have great difficulty with being interrupted when they are engaged in an activity. This is closely liked to ritualistic behaviour which involves the performance of daily activities the same way each time, such as an unvarying menu or dressing ritual. Restricted behaviours may also be observed, indicated by a limited focus in interests or activities, or even a preoccupation.
The cause, or causes, of autism is not understood, yet there are many possible explanations and associated traits. There is certainly a strong genetic basis of autism, however, it does not appear that one gene holds the answer. More likely, there is an interaction of many genes. It is also strongly suspected that there are environmental causes that may include chemicals, heavy metals (especially mercury) or antibiotics. Researchers have frequently found vitamin and mineral deficiencies or excesses in those with autism. Many have treated autistic children with enzymes and found that to be helpful. A gluten and casein free diet has also appeared to prove beneficial for many with autism. Many people strongly suspect that there is a link between the MMR vaccines that children receive and autism.
In short, there are many researchers actively seeking the defining cause of autism. One of the reasons for this effort is the staggering increase in the number of reported cases of autism. This may be partially due to better medical care and educational practices, an increase in awareness, improvements in diagnosis and the handling of such disorders. However, these alone can hardly account for the increases that have been observed. In the US in the 1970s the incidence of autism was two to three per 10,000 while in 2007 the incidence rate was one per 150 in the US and one per 58 in the UK. Rates are even higher in Asian countries, and it is four times more common in boys than girls. In California, which keeps some of the best records, autism now accounts for 45 per cent of all new diagnoses of developmental disabilities.
Clearly there is a great need for more research into the cause and treatment of autism, especially since the prognosis for untreated autism is rather dismal. Fortunately, the treatments of autism have advanced greatly in the last decades and many in the field now speak of individuals having achieved a "recovery from autism".
The writer is a private psychologist at Brunei's Riverview Medical Clinic.
The Brunei Times
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