Fall edition 2008, State Newsletter

AUTISM

Do you know what Autism is? What are some common signs of autism? How is autism diagnosed? What causes autism? How is autism treated? The Webster Dictionary defines Autism as, “A variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, by impairment of the ability to communicate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns.”

           There are 4 main common signs of autism that children can be diagnosed with. These are: children having difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people.  For an infant it is a little different.  A baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item for long periods of time. Doctors will often use a questionnaire or other screening instrument to gather information about a child’s development and behavior. Also by asking the parent to do the same and that’s how they diagnosed a child with Autism.

           What causes Autism? At this point of time scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role. Other studies suggest that people with autism have abnormal levels of serotonin and neurotransmitters in the brain.  These abnormalities suggest that autism could result from the disruption of normal brain development.  There is not cure for Autism, but through medication, education/behavior intervention and therapy, there can be substantial improvement to a child over time.

           Here some quick facts as many as 1 in 500 people have autism, and it's four times more common in guys than in girls. This year about 300,000 U.S. children have been diagnosed with autism. This clearly means that Autism is on the rise and that people need to be more aware of this disease.  For more information visit the Autism Speaks web site at www.AustismSpeaks.org.