Is Autism on the rise?

Soon-to-be-parents have many things to mull over as they wait for their child to be born. What will the baby look like? Will it be a he or a she? Will the delivery go smoothly? Undoubtedly, thoughts of “Will the baby be healthy?” also come to mind. That’s why many pregnant women submit to a barrage of tests to check if the baby is developing correctly. Even after receiving a green light, parents often worry about a medical problem that seems to be increasing: autism. Autism is still a mystery to many. Perhaps the manifestation of the disease is most clearly identified with Dustin Hoffman’s character in the movie “Rain Man.” However, the degrees and symptoms of autism vary among those afflicted, making autism a difficult condition to pin down. What is Autism? According to the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT), autism is a developmental disorder that affects approximately two out of 1,000 children. Autistic disorder has an effect on the person’s ability to communicate, form relationships with others and respond appropriately to the environment. There are three main characteristics of autism: impairment in social skills and interaction, impairment in speech and communication, and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities - those most memorable from “Rain Man.” Onset of autism occurs typically before the age of three, which makes early and accurate diagnosis very important. Autism is broken down into different clinical distinctions, each depending upon the severity and class of symptoms: autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or Asperger’s syndrome (AS). However, regardless of the distinction, to a parent, the disorder equates to something being wrong and what can be done to fix it. Lurking epidemic? Lately, the media and medical professionals have stated that autism is more prevalent than ever before. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism is 10 times more common today than it was in the 1980s. Yet, in many cases, these inflated numbers are not due to increased occurrences of autism, but rather to doctors’ abilities to diagnose the condition more readily. Behavioral clues in toddlers, such as a lack of babbling, lack of pointing, and other behavioral introversion is being recognized at an earlier age - in some before the child’s first birthday. And while doctors may not put the autistic label on a child that young, many are able to stand by their conclusions by the time a child is 24 months old. Additionally, the “autism diagnosis” has been expanded to include those who exhibit marginal signs of impairment, further inflating the prevalence numbers. Key things to know · Public awareness of autism has grown tremendously since it was first identified in 1943. Public health industries are spending millions to study it and come up with treatment options. · Autism was once thought to be a result of improper parenting. But now experts know that genes, rather than psychological factors, are involved. The genes cause a baby’s brain to develop improperly in utero. Because up to 20 different genes are involved, symptoms may vary from case to case. · Autism is more prevalent in boys, and even more so in monozygotic (identical) twins. If a couple has an autistic child, there is a 5- to 10-percent chance their next child will be autistic as well, according to most research. · Head size could be a signal of autism. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that most infants who were later diagnosed with autism had small head circumferences at birth but had heads and brains much larger than normal by 6 to 14 months. Make sure your child’s pediatrician measures head circumference at each well-baby visit to help rule out autism at an early age. Don’t panic if your child’s head is large. Just watch that he meets recommended milestones for speech and behavior. · Because measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines are given at the time autism is typically diagnosed, many parents believe there is a correlation between the inoculations and autism. This is not the case. By postponing these vaccinations, you could put your child at risk for serious diseases. If you suspect your child is autistic, consult with your child’s pediatrician. While there is no cure, prompt therapy that is developed in accordance with your child’s symptoms and the severity of the disorder can make symptoms and behaviors associated with autism tolerable.