ASD is not a new disorder

Autism is not a new disorder.  First given a name in 1943, autism has likely been around for centuries.  The criteria for diagnosing ASD have changed significantly since the middle of the last century, becoming more precise and focused.  The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 17 percent of children under age 18 are affected by a behavioral, developmental, or learning disability, and that the incidence rate for ASDs is as high as 1 in 150 children.

While these figures make ASDs the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States, there is not a consensus as to whether ASD is an “epidemic.”  ASDs may seem more common now than previously thought because there are broader diagnosis criteria, an increased public and professional awareness of symptoms of ASD, and perhaps a  “true rise in prevalence,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.   Nevertheless, autism is not the sweeping epidemic that the media attention on it may have parents believe.  This is not to downplay the need for parents to be highly aware of developmental delays that may indicate autism, but rather to let parents know that the increase in diagnoses should not be a cause for great alarm.

Vaccines not to blame

While there has been a great deal of speculation as to a possible connection between routine childhood vaccinations and an increase in ASD diagnoses, parents can rest assured that no scientific evidence exists to link the two.  The American Academy of Pediatrics states that “sufficient evidence now suggests that vaccines and thimerosal are not likely responsible for the apparent rise in prevalence” of ASDs.  Research suggests there may be a link between autism and environmental exposure, but parents should not be concerned that routine vaccinations are a cause of autism.

Treatment and Intervention proving successful

No medical tests can diagnose autism, and there is no cure for this complex disorder.  However, research into interventions and treatments for autism is proving very successful.  With an early diagnosis, followed by early treatment and intervention, the outcome for those affected by autism is positive.

Autism research is a growing field, and research on treatments and interventions is at the forefront.  Applied behavioral analysis, communication interventions and speech therapy, sensory integration, and other treatments such as diet and medications, are all being investigated as ways to help those affected with ASD.

Although a diagnosis of autism would be understandably very troubling for parents, parents should bear in mind that an incurable disorder is not the same as one that is untreatable. ASD is a treatable disorder, and research in the areas of treatment and intervention yields is proving quite fruitful.

With increased media focus on ASD, parents are frequently exposed to information about the incidence and prevalence of autism, evaluations, diagnosis, treatments, and interventions.  The increased media attention on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can, quite understandably, make parents anxious about whether their child may have ASD.

There is no consensus in the medical community regarding whether the increased number of autism diagnoses represents a true rise in prevalence of the disorder.  The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 17 percent of children under age 18 are affected by a behavioral, developmental, or learning disability, and that the incidence rate for ASDs is as high as 1 in 150 children.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) argues that the reason ASDs seem more common now than once thought is related to a number of factors:  broader diagnosis criteria, increased public and professional awareness of symptoms, and, perhaps, a “true rise in prevalence.”

For parents, this information means that there may or may not be a true increase in the number of children affected by ASD, but still may leave parents worrying if their child is at risk for ASD.  As with nearly any other aspect of parenting, knowledge is power:  the more parents learn about ASD, the more they can accurately assess whether they need to be worried that their child is affected.

Since parents and caregivers are usually the first to notice that something seems “off” with a child’s development, and are the ones who best know a child, trusting one’s instincts is a key first step to knowing how much to be concerned about ASD.

Children who are not meeting standard developmental milestones in cognitive, emotional, and physical development may be exhibiting delays related to ASD.  While development occurs on a continuum, if parents are concerned that their child seems, for instance, unwilling to engage in physical contact, avoids eye contact, has delayed speech, or is disinterested in social interaction (such as playing “peek a boo” or smiling and waving), they may have cause to worry about their child’s development.

Rather than assuming the worst, parents who are concerned about their child’s development should seek the advice of their pediatrician, who can refer the child for further testing, if necessary.  Autism is not caused by parenting styles or strategies; there may be, however, a genetic and / or environmental component related to the development of autism.  Early treatment of and interventions for autism have been proven to be very successful.  Your child’s pediatrician should be able to provide answers, advice, guidance, and referrals if his or her assessment indicates that further evaluation and treatment is necessary.

The cause of autism is still not known and there is no cure. Health care professionals refer to autism as a “spectrum” disorder because of the many “subgroups” associated with the disease. Children who are diagnosed as autistic have problems communicating; they may be unable to look at the person they are talking to or the person talking to them. They may repeat the same sentence or phrase over and over to try and calm themselves down. Some may never learn to speak at all.

Today, 1 in 150 American children are diagnosed with a form of autism – making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Autism isn’t picky – it reaches across all social, racial, ethnic and economic groups, but it is four times more likely to affect boys than girls.

It’s true that the statistics have worsened. Autism was diagnosed in a little less than 5 out of every 10,000 American children in 1990. Those numbers jumped to 60 out of every 10,000 American children by the end of 2006. But is the sign of an autism epidemic or simply an increase of awareness of this developmental disability? Or could it be that there have been changes in policies and clinical definitions among medical professionals who study diseases among children?

Autism is typically characterized by difficulties in communication skills, social interaction and even play or leisure activities. But since the original discovery of the disability, doctors have developed broader definitions.

Schools have been required for many years to report the number of students needing special education. Autism wasn’t added to the list until the 1991-1992 school year. In 1995, more than 22,000 American students were receiving autism-related services and by 2004, more than 140,000 were receiving those same services, likely because of the broader definitions passed down my medical professionals.

In addition to the broader definitions, some states are offering financial incentives for diagnosing autism. These incentives can include Medicaid eligibility and affordable health programs for developmental disabilities.

Given this recent information, it is difficult to determine if there is truly an autism epidemic. One thing is not so difficult to understand, however, and that’s the fact there is definitely an increased awareness of the disability, as it should be if we ever hope to discover a cure.

Autism is complex and there is no known cause, prevention, or cure.  While there has been much speculation about the causal connection between vaccinations and autism, there remains no scientific proof linking the two.

There are, however, ways to identify, diagnose, and treat ASDs.  No medical tests can rule out autism, so it is behavioral markers – often first noticed by parents – that identify children with ASDs.

Most autism is diagnosed before age 3 and can be diagnosed as early as age 18 months.  Parents and caregivers are in a unique position to notice what behaviors may point to a diagnosis of autism.  Because ASD is a spectrum disorder, the severity of symptoms will differ from child to child in correlation to the severity of the particular child’s autism.

Although the symptoms and manifestations of ASDs vary, there are commonalities among those affected.  Difficulty communicating, a lack of change in tone of voice or pitch, lack of showing gestures, lack of response to one’s name, lack of joyful expressions, and lack of appropriate eye gaze are all symptoms of autism.  Repetitive gestures or repetitive manipulation of objects can also be signs of autism. Children affected by autism may seem to lose skills they had previously mastered.  These symptoms are not absolutes, but if your child has one or more of these symptoms, then consulting with your child’s healthcare provider is important so that your child can be evaluated.

Regular well-baby visits during which children are evaluated for developmental milestones are crucial to determining any developmental delays.  While parents may be hesitant to voice concerns about their child’s development, thinking a child may “grow out of” a phase, voicing concern is imperative to getting timely assistance.  When diagnosing ASDs, time is of the essence.  The sooner a child can be evaluated and diagnosed, if appropriate, then the sooner treatment and intervention can begin.

As with any other aspect of parenting, knowledge is power.  Knowing what milestones that normally developing babies and toddlers should reach and when allows parents to evaluate whether their child is reaching those milestones appropriately.  Regular visits to the pediatrician during which parents discuss these milestones and voice their concerns are equally crucial to obtaining an early diagnosis of ASD if such a diagnosis is indicated.

While not curable, ASDs are certainly treatable.  Once a diagnosis has been obtained, pediatricians will refer patients to specialists for further assessment and for treatments and interventions as indicated.  With early detection and treatment, children with ASDs can improve significantly.