Autism - Signs, Symptoms, Treatments, Resources, Support for Autism

Autism is a baffling disease that affects 500,000 children in the United States alone. Strangely enough, the incidence of autism has skyrocketed since the 1980s when only 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with the disorder, compared to 1 in 175 today. Scientists have yet to discover for certain what causes the disease, although there are several theories being discussed. The most controversial theory contends that mercury present in childhood vaccines may be one of the leading factors contributing to the development of the condition. It is known that people exposed to methyl mercury, which is found in thermometers and polluted environments, have incurred damage due to contact. A mercury spill in Japan, for example, tainted fish in the area and caused those who ate the poisoned fish to develop Minimata disease. Another clue pointing to the dangerous effects of mercury exposure comes from an incident that occurred 100 years ago in the United States. Pink Disease (Acrodynia) was a myste...

Autism is a developmental disability that affects both children and adults. The symptoms of autism are usually diagnosed within the first three years of the child’s life. These symptoms may be more pronounced in some than others and will often affect both the social and communication abilities of the individual. When diagnosed with autism, the individual can benefit from many of the different treatment programs and educational programs available. Biomedical While there is no special drug to cure the symptoms, professionals, as well as parents, have found that some drugs that are often used for other disorders will help to alleviate some of the behavioral symptoms of autism. For example, Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors have been used to help treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety. Through research it is found that there are elevated levels of serotonin in as many as one-third of those diagnosed with autism. Drugs such as Anafranil, Lenox, and Prozac may be able to r...

Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. That's three an hour and 67 a day. This complex neurobiological condition, which can inhibit a person's ability to communicate, respond to surroundings or form relationships with others, is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States and presents lifelong consequences for individuals, family and society. The statistics are alarming: Thirteen years ago only one in 10,000 children was diagnosed with autism; today it's one in 166, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Despite these epidemic proportions, research shows that many parents of young children are generally unaware of autism. While there is currently no cure, nor an effective means of prevention, early detection and intervention can result in critical improvements for many young children. The most important thing parents and caregivers can do is to learn the early signs of autism and understand the typica...

The brain is an infinite labyrinth. No one-despite the surmountable efforts of history and modern day's great men-can truly decipher or describe how it ticks and how it works. Although it is considered as a powerful tool of any man who can utilize it to its maximum potential, the brain-or the mind-is not always designed for greatness. Due to its inexplicable ticking, sometimes, the brain itself can be destructive to a person's life. One of the cases in which the brain causes intolerable pain to the person affected and to the individuals that surround him is the Asperger's Disorder or the Asperger's Syndrome. Together with Autism, Rett's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger's Syndrome is considered as one of the five Pervasive Development Disorders or PDDs. PDDs or the set of neurologically based disorders has been identified to show a distinctive range of delays in different developmental stages of an in...

Affecting three crucial areas of development: communication, social interaction, and creative or imaginative play, Autism is a brain disorder that begins in early childhood and persists throughout adulthood. The specific cause or origin of autism is not known, however, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers. Some professionals estimate that 1 out of every 166 children in America are affected by autism on one level or another. The national health institute has a more conservative number of 1 in every 1000; either way autism is prevalent! A family that has born one autistic child has odds of 1 in 20 of another, which leads to heridatary assumptions. There is a set list of psychiatric criteria and a series of standardized clinical tests that are used to diagnose autism. Although not always physiologically obvious, a complete physical and neurological evaluation will typically be ableo to determine whether an individ...

Have you ever felt difficulty in expressing yourself? Have you ever come across a point in your life when words are not enough to give justice to what you feel? Education They say that knowledge is power. This is one power that cannot be divested or taken away from you. It is also only through proper education and training that a person can get hold of knowledge. A person equipped with the knowledge and enough drive to pursue a field or goal can easily fulfill his or her potential. You can climb the corporate ladder. You can influence people. You can gain enough respect and reputation. If knowledge is really the key, what about the others whose conditions would not allow it? Take autism for example. Its cause up to now is still not definite but it has been perceived by many people as disabling. Autism Autism is actually a condition that involves nerve development. The discrepancy of the development manifests in the behavior of the kid: communication, social skills and repetitive manner...

Autism is a complex neurological disorder that dramatically affects people’s behaviors and social interactions. The disorder can be revealed in early childhood, by the age of 3. Although the first signs of autism can sometimes be identified in infants, the disorder is usually discovered at a later stage of life. Autistic children present a wide range of behavioral abnormalities, and they can be easily identified among normal children. While normal young children long for the presence of their parents and love to play in the company of other kids, autistic children are very indifferent, showing no interest to the people around them. Egocentrism is a major behavioral characteristic of children with autism, who may even ignore the presence of their mothers or caretakers, avoiding any form of interaction with them. In early childhood, autistics develop repetitive, stereotype behaviors and become very upset if their routine is perturbed. In many cases, autistic children may also engage in s...