When having children, new parents should be aware of common disorders
that may affect their child's development, and to know how to recognize
certain symptoms. Autism is a common disorder, being the most common
amongst the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or a category of
disorders that are recognized by delays in the development of such
functions as socialization and communication. In 2003, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention found that about 1 in 250 births were
affected, meaning that about 1.5 Americans today may have some form of
autism.
Since autism is generally diagnosed within the first three years of
life, parents can learn quickly whether their child is affected. As
characterized by the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, autism is a
neurological disorder which affects the social interaction and
communication areas during brain development. Common symptoms involve
the child's lack of ability to interact or communicate with others, as
well as the child's ability to reason. For example, some autistic
people, in having different world views from others, are able to solve
certain kinds of puzzles more quickly, since they are able to view
problems in different ways.
However, parents should be aware that autism may be difficult to detect
in certain individuals, since it is a spectral disorder, meaning that
there is no single way in which a person is affected. Some experience
symptoms more strongly than others, and there are a range of other
disabilities that are often found in conjunction with autism.
Additionally, researchers have not pinpointed a single cause for autism,
but have instead generally accepted that abnormalities in brain
structure of function are at fault, especially since brain scans show
physical differences between autistic and non-autistic brains.
Researchers are currently investigating possible causes, though, such as
heredity, genetics, and medical problems. They are also looking into
pregnancy or delivery defects, as well as environmental factors,
including viral infections, exposure to environmental chemicals, and
metabolic imbalances.
Researchers have also determined that individuals who have medical
conditions such as tuberous sclerosis, Fragile X syndrome, congenital
rubella syndrome, or untreated phenylketonuria (PKU) are at higher risk
for autism. Additionally, while autism is found equally in all
populations, boys are affected four times more than girls.
Since autism occurs alongside abnormal brain development, there is no
cure for it. But parents may employ educational approaches and treatment
that could help to reduce some of the symptoms. Education to teach
self-help skills can train autistic individuals to become more
independent, and intervention can help to reduce disruptive behaviors.
But just as there is no single cause for autism, and since autism comes
with varying degrees of symptoms and severity, no single method of
treatment is suitable for all affected individuals. Once parents
determine the severity of their child's symptoms, they can then learn
about their treatment options, and can determine proper training and
educational methods that will best benefit their child.
PregnancyRx cover topics from Signs of Pregnancy to Pregnancy and Eating Disorders
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