The Autism Myths (ASD) - Twelve Reasons for the Autism Epidemic

1. The Cause of Autism is Not Known
It appears far more likely that they have not been able to identify a medical or environmental cause(s) for autism. There is no evidence that research over the past forty years has been directed at identifying the cause for autism or finding a cure. Obviously, what you don't look for you won't find! I believe the cause has been known for many years. To identify the cause would lead to prediction and over time, prevention.
2. Autism is a Medical Problem
Autism is being treated as a medical problem when there is clear evidence that the major risk factor for autism has been shown to be the lack of a proper diet. Nutrition is not considered a medical problem. For this reason the cause for autism has eluded research efforts.
3. Genes are the Cause for Autism
Genetic changes have been found in some children with autism. Fragile X is one example but the literature has not shown what causes these genetic changes. I would argue that these changes are the result of factors that cause autism rather than the genetic changes causing autism. Understanding the difference is critical to defeating autism. Billions of dollars have been invested in research on autism. It appears that more than half the autism budget has been for genetic studies while I have not found a single grant that considered nutritional inadequacy to be a risk factor in autism.
4. Nutrition Has Little or Nothing to Do With Autism
Autism has not been shown to be caused by any virus, bacteria, etc. but rather belongs in the category of chronic disorders. History has clearly shown that most all chronic disorders are caused by any one of several nutritional deficiencies. This would include the vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and cholesterol to name a few. A few examples of disorders prevented or cured by these nutrients include scurvy, spina bifida, pellagra, rickets, goiter, various birth defects, skin disorders, pernicious anemia, etc. Nutrition or the lack thereof has almost everything to do with autism!
5. Vaccines are the Cause for Autism
The basic question that should be answered is what is different about the children that experience autism shortly after being vaccinated compared to those who do not experience the symptoms? There are far too many children vaccinated that do not develop the symptoms and that makes it difficult to blame vaccines as the cause. The level of resistance to factors in vaccines may well depend upon the adequacy of the diet. The small percentage of children that develop symptoms following vaccinations may share common nutritional deficiencies, but to my knowledge this has not been evaluated or studied.
6. Environmental Toxins are Causing Autism
Environmental toxins are without a doubt a risk factor for autism but common sense says that this must be a very low risk since research efforts have not revealed a smoking gun in fifty years. I consider this to be nothing more than a diversion that makes for interesting headlines and is a good concept for seeking research grants, but in the end is like "The Bridge to No Where." In the meantime children are suffering and families are left to live with the problems of autism.
7. Older Parents Increase the Risk of Autism
Recent studies have suggested that older dads pose an increased risk of the child having autism. The problem that I see with this research is that it did not consider the dietary practices being followed by those individuals. Neither were their attitudes on "healthy foods" included which could have a significant impact on the foods their children would be offered. Age for either parent would appear to be a very minor risk factor.
8. Older Siblings With Autism Increase the Risk for Newborn Children
Recent studies have reported an increased risk (25-35%) for newborn children developing autism if they have an older sibling with autism. The variable that will dictate the level of risk is believed to be in their respective diets. If the dietary practices are identical for both, I believe the risk is more than 90% because the one with autism is lacking an adequate diet. If the newborn eats a different diet that is nutritionally adequate, the risk would be less than 2%.
9. Applied Behaviour Analysis is the First and Best Treatment for Autism
There are several types of therapy for children with autism such as physical, speech, occupational, and behavior. The ABA therapists recommend 25-40 hours of therapy per week starting as soon as the child is diagnosed. Medications or the many forms of therapy provide nothing for the nutritional deficiencies present in children with autism. Nutritional therapy to confirm the adequacy of the child's diet, should be the first step taken to ensure the diet provides for proper brain development. When the diet is right, one needs a lot less therapy or medications.
10. Medications Are the Best Way to Treat Autism
Most medications simply treat the symptoms, not what is causing autism. The best way to treat autism is to eliminate that which is causing it. If, as with other chronic disorders, the cause is poor nutrition, then the best treatment is to eliminate the deficiencies. This may or may not cure the problem. There is no known medication that will cure autism.
11. There Is No Way To Predict Autism
To accurately predict if a child will develop the symptoms of autism is a challenge. Recent studies have shown that a poor diet is the greatest risk factor for developing autism. By identifying those risk factors very early in life, before symptoms are present, will afford an opportunity for an early intervention to totally eliminate the risk identified.
12. There is No Way To Prevent Autism
There is no known or proven way to prevent autism at this time. However, it appears that prevention will be possible through early prediction as described above. Proving the prevention of autism with the elimination of known risk factors is not an easy task. This will require thousands of individuals for adequate proof which may not be possible. It is expected that the incidence of autism among newborn children will be significantly reduced as prevention becomes possible. This will require testing for these risk factors in the early months of life and where risks are identified, intervention is used to eliminate the risks. There is always hope.
It appears that these twelve myths block the path to eliminate autism and other neurological disorders. So long as the association of adequate nutrition is overlooked or avoided in autism research, we can expect the results of research to continue to go in a circle with no real progress that benefits children or parents. We will simply continue the escalation in the number of children affected and a significant growth in the professions providing services for these children. Of necessity this will place a greater financial burden on tax payers to provide for these services, the cost of which would bankrupt most families. These costs have been estimated to be $50,000-$250,000 per child per year with many families having multiple children being affected.

Dr. Rongey is a Food Scientist & Nutritionist. His niche is in identifying the cause of chronic disorders. Parents of children between 0-5 months of age, with or without an older sibling diagnosed with autism are asked to contact Dr. Rongey if interested in his free screening test for risk factors. The cause of chronic disorders has been researched for the past sixteen years and autism for almost five years. Several books concerning the cause of autism or other chronic disorders are available in ebook or paperback format. For more information on his research or the availability of the books on autism or healthy living, you can contact him as follows:
Harold Rongey, Ph.D. email: hrongey@gmail.com Phone: 858-740-7272 or his web site at http://www.whostolemyfood.com

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Understanding Autism: The World of Autistic Children

What is Autism?

Autism surfaces when a child is not psychologically developed enough to interpret situations around

them, converse or relate feelings. The ability to groom relationships is absent. Autism originates as a

brain malady that is recognized in the first three years of life.

2. What are some early symptoms of autism?

When a child is very young and just beginning to learn basic tasks such as forming simple words,

crawling and sitting up, parents of autistic children soon get an uneasy feeling that something is not going

as planned. Generally, autistic children cannot speak. If a child has a very mild form of autism, they will

probably be able to learn speech and attend a regular school system without too much trouble, but an

autistic child will not make eye contact and they tend to bounce their body forward and backward.

Because of this, parents often have difficulty trying to interpret what it is that the child is trying to convey.

Most times, parents may feel that their child is deaf, because the child does not acknowledge them.

Keep in mind that this must be difficult for the child too, because they cannot tell anyone what it is that

is upsetting them or making them unhappy or joyous. This inability to convey themselves often leads to

behavioral problems. Researchers do not know why autism occurs and are looking at all possibilities.

3. What are researchers finding in the way of treatment?

Teachers of special needs children are trying to capture the autistic child's attention through traditional

means and it is not working. Autistic children find this boring. Luckily, research has found that the iPad

is starting to play a significant part in the many autistic children’s lives. The iPad is somehow drawing

these children into its ability to help them communicate, because Apple has come up with a program that

speaks for the child. All child have to do is press a few buttons that are attached to pictures, and they are

on their way to communicating words and feelings. Researchers are finding that some of these children

have brilliant minds - they just do not know how to relate this to anyone.

4. What is expected long-term?

There is no cure for autism, but these days, there are many treatment options available to children. Since

every child is different (with varying degrees of autism), not every treatment is going to work for every

child. While some autistic adults can be independent, others may be independent in a semi-independent

living arrangement. Others may never be able to live outside of an institution. Thanks to advancements in

special education and a huge increase in awareness about autism, the sky is the limit. Expect big things

in the coming years – I will!

Bonnie Carter writes about education, personal finance & saving money at www.termlifeinsurance.org

What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Autism in Children?

It would seem that the numbers of children diagnosed with autism is going up all the time. This might be because the higher functioning types of autism are just now being diagnosed and understood. Many children who were once labeled as shy and awkward are now being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The lower functioning types of autism are easier to spot, and they are often not hard to diagnose. A parent that knows more about the symtoms of autism in children will have an easier time deciding if their child needs evaluation or not.

Social Issues: One thing that seems to plague all children with autism is social awkwardness and problems interacting with peers. They don't seem to be able to relate to anyone, have problems with eye contact, and tend to show signs of agitation rather easily. They also seem to prefer to play alone rather than rise to the challenge of making friends. They tend to show no emotional reaction to anything or anyone, and shy away from group activities.

Communicating: Those with autism might start out talking fine, but then regress later. Others have good communication skills. Some do not communicate with spoken words at all. Those with classic autism often use gestures rather than saying words, will repeat words and phrases that they do know, and often use odd phrases that rhyme over and over again.

Stimulus Response: One of the symptoms of autism is a lack of response to many things that others respond to right away. This is something that is often very obvious. They either respond in an inappropriate manner or not at all. Some will not respond to noises or stimulus in any way, which scares parents. Others might be overly sensitive to touch, sound, and even the feeling of clothing on their skin. They may also get lost in patterns and explore with rubbing and licking.

Atypical Behavior: Another of the common symptoms of autism in children is problematic behavior. This might include being completely passive, or being extremely and sometimes violently aggressive. These children often have tantrums. These tantrums might come with the slightest upset in normal routine. These children may be first diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder because they lack any type of attention span. They also demonstrate many repetitive movements, and seem to focus on one thing for a very long time.

Playtime: Though children with autism do play some, they often play on their own. The want to play with other children in many cases, but lack the social skills to maintain or even form friendships. This brings anxiety, and pushes them to play on their own where they feel safe. They may show repetition in play, and might be so focused on something that there seems to be nothing that will drag their attention away from what they are doing.

Though these symptoms of autism in children are often quite obvious, there are some children who hide these well, or function so well in most cases that one symptom might be mistakenly thought to be a different problem at first. If a parent suspects that there are any problems, and that they may have a child with autism, they want to get a diagnosis as quickly as possible. There are many great programs for children with autism. It is much easier on the parent, child, and entire family once a proper diagnosis can be reached.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on autistic.In the newsletter you'll find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.

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Facts About Symptoms of Autism

The neural development disorder that are characterized by impaired communication, repetitive and restrictive behavior, and social interaction is known as Autism. Normally the symptoms of Autism or the disorder's warning signs begin before the child has reached three years of age. The disorder affects the processing of information in the brain because it changes how a person's nerve cells and their synapses connect with one another and then organize themselves. Unfortunately, the way in which this occurs is not understood.

In the Autism Spectrum, Autism is one of the three disorders that it covers. Asperger's Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) are the other two that are components of the spectrum. PDD-NOS is typically diagnosed when the characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome or Autism are not present. Although the genetics involved in Autism are extremely complex in nature, it isn't clear as to whether or not Autism Spectrum Disorders are rare mutations or rare combinations of genetic variations.

In rare occurrences, the symptoms of Autism are strongly related to genetic agents that are responsible for birth defects. Additionally, there are numerous controversies that surround environmental issues including childhood vaccines, heavy metals, and pesticides. Interestingly enough, the hypothesis regarding the vaccine issue is biologically implausible and lacks any psychological or scientific evidence. In recent reports published by the CDC, they estimate that roughly 1 out of every 100 children have the symptoms of Autism.

Since the 1980's when Autism became a common concern of the medical and psychological communities, the increase in the number of diagnoses of the disorder have increased exponentially. Naturally, this is due in part to changes and updates where current diagnostic practices are concerned. However, whether or not it can be considered prevalent in US society is the source of numerous debates. What is known for sure is that parents typically notice the symptoms of Autism within the first two years of the child's life.

The symptoms of Autism will vary greatly from one individual to the next. However, there are specific core symptoms that every individual who is suffering with autism have in common. These include:

Limited interests in normal activities or the way in which they play - a need for an established routine, an unusual focus on certain objects or toys, and the preoccupation of specific topics or subject matter

Non-verbal and verbal communication - delay in or a lack of learning how to talk, difficulty understanding the perspective of those listening to them, problems engaging in meaningful conversation, and a repetitive or stereotyped use of language

Social interaction and relationships - failure to establish friendships or relationships with their peers; lack of empathy; lack of interest where sharing achievements, enjoyment, or interests with others is concerned

As a parent, you need to be compiling a list of any unusual behavior while observing your child on a regular basis if you are concerned that they are showing the symptoms of Autism mentioned above. In so doing, when you discuss these issues with your child's pediatrician, family physician, or are referred by either to a specialist to determine if Autism is present, this will help considerably.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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Recognizing the Milder Symptoms of Autism

Most individuals tend to focus on Autism as the most severe disorder of all the Autism Spectrum disorders. It is typically triggered by dysfunctional neurological issues that oftentimes lead to dramatic and highly irreversible damage in behaviors, communication skills, physical development, and social interaction. The average age at which the disorder becomes detectable is three years old.

Despite the seriousness of the disorder, there are milder symptoms of Autism which are referred to as Asperger's Syndrome. Additionally, children suffering with Asperger's Syndrome usually have average to above-average IQ's. The following is information on the six most common yet milder symptoms of Autism:

Emotional concerns - individuals who suffer with milder Autism may oftentimes exhibit mood swings, even at an early stage in their lives. This is displayed when they get easily agitated because someone disrupts their "normal" routine.

Motor skill impairment - poor motor skills are usually a sign of mild Autism as well as the more severe cases. For instance, it may be difficult for them to catch a ball or there may be delays in learning handwriting skills.

Social skill impairment - another one of the skills that is usually impaired when a person exhibits the milder symptoms of Autism involves conversational difficulties, specifically starting and continuing a conversation with another individual. Additionally, the person finds it difficult to maintain eye contact with that person they are conversing with.

Obsessiveness - it is not uncommon for any child to focus on a single hobby or toy. However, when they are suffering with milder symptoms of Autism, they will not want to have anything to do with objects or toys that do not center around that favorite hobby or toy. They may talk incessantly about their obsession with that hobby or toy as well.

Repetition in speech - children with milder symptoms of Autism oftentimes repeat what they have heard from a book or on TV as well as what another person may have said to them. In many cases, this is due to the fact that the child's memorization skills are above-average compared to normal children.

Sensory issues - some children may also be suffering with sensory issue impairment. Certain things may aggravate or bother them such as bright lights, noises that are louder than normal, and the textures of certain foods.

As was mentioned above, the symptoms of Autism are usually spotted in the earlier years of a child's life. Although individuals suffering with the disorder do not always appear to be different from other individuals, their abnormalities are usually revealed in the way that they communicate, interact socially, and learn.

Finally, another aspect is that individuals who are suffering with Autism will share some common characteristics of the disorder. However, it is wrong to generalize these symptoms of Autism because of the fact that no two individuals, even those with Autism, are ever alike. Just like normal individuals, people with autism will develop distinctly unique personalities and will have different ways in which they relate to and understand the ways of the world.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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Symptoms of ADHD and Autism - Know the Signs

The Symptoms of ADHD:

Difficulties staying on task - People who have attention deficit disorder are easily distracted by what is going on around them. This can make for problems in a traditional classroom setting.

Inattentiveness - A tendency to get lost in their own world. Time may pass before they become aware again. Chunks of time can be "lost" when this occurs.

Excessive Talking

Excessive interruptions and intrusions on other's conversations and personal space.

Aggression - Some people with ADHD are aggressive with other people and may seem "pushy".

Difficulty finishing projects - Someone with attention deficit hyperactivitiy disorder may have multiple projects that are only partially done. Many children with ADHD do not complete their homework or do not turn it in when done.

Type "A" personality - May go so far as to take risks without thinking of the consequences.

Forgetfulness - This can affect doing projects that take steps to complete, missing appointments, forgetting names and places...

Hyperactivity - It may seem that a person with ADHD cannot sit still. In fact, many can't be completely still. If forced to sit or stand in one place, a child or adult may tap their fingers, chew on a pencil, bounce a ball... or do anything to keep themselves in action.

Note: Many with ADHD defy the typical signs and instead exhibit a tendency to daydream or appear to be "lazy".

The Symptoms of Autism:

Inability to empathize with other people - A lack of an understanding of the emotions and reactions of the people around them.

Inability to communicate with others - this varies in degree from having trouble staying on the subject of conversation to an inability to communicate at all. This may not only impact social interaction, but education as well.

Repetitive Behaviors - This may involve actively repeating the same actions or saying the same sound, word or phrase over and over again.

Obsession with putting things in a straight line - A tendency to line things up and be wildly upset if the line is disrupted is a sign of autism.

Isolation - Someone who is autistic may seem to be in their own world. In fact, many who have autism will panic or over-react to stimulation.

Hyperfocusing - A child or adult might stare at one object for lengthy amounts of time.

Here's something you probably don't know about autism symptoms. Explore the symptoms of ADHD and Autism at http://www.autism-symptoms-checklist.com/ before you get late.

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How To Identify The Signs Of Autism

Autism is a condition that occurs in early childhood. If the parents are well-informed and perceptive enough, they can easily be able to catch the signs of autism while they are only starting to show up in their child.

Unfortunately, most parents tend to miss out on some common symptoms of autism developing in their child, resulting in the problem getting worse, finally blowing out of all proportion. Aiming to help you to the extent possible, we bring you some points to note about this condition.

Here are some of the most common signs of autism:

Overly quiet

Some children with autism seem to be deceptively quiet and undemanding. Of course, there are also many normal children and those with above-average intelligence, who do not seem to demand much attention and generally take care of their own needs from a very early age. But if your child is over-quiet and simply withdraws into a corner at social events, you should know there is trouble brewing somewhere.

Disturbed social behavior

Most children get upset by huge crowds and parties teeming with noise and a high degree of activity. It is but common for children to feel stifled in that kind of an atmosphere. But if your child gets disturbed even among a small gathering of known people and starts acting cranky, like he cannot withstand the goings-on, you must identify this as a possible sign of troubled social behavior, that might lead to any one of the autism spectrum disorders.

Speech delay

One of the most common signs of autism setting in is when the child displays extreme speech delay or disorder. Autistic children are very slow at developing speech and in many cases, what they speak might not be too clear at all. Of course, there are many children who start speaking only after they are two, but if you feel there is a marked delay in your child's speech development, visit your pediatrician immediately.

Child's mental growth

The level of mental development varies from child to child. But if your child seems to be over-indulging in repetitive behavior or some other abnormal type of behavior for a child of his age, you should probably consider showing him to an expert.

Conclusion

Doctors are usually very reticent to quickly diagnose a slow child as one who suffers from autism. Some children are naturally slow developers. This happens especially if they have an elder sibling, who they know will 'take care of them'. Labeling children as autistic will merely restrict their natural growth in their formative years. In such cases, doctors prefer to observe the child and do nothing else.

This notwithstanding, it is always advisable for you, as a parent, to watch your child closely if you find him behaving in a strange, abnormal way. If you are sharp enough and manage to catch autism or its related disorders early enough, the treatment for the same can commence at the earliest.

Remember, the earlier the signs of autism are noticed and treated, the more the child will benefit from it.

Melissa Fox is a health professional very interested in Autism Symptoms. She enjoys writing inspirational articles for Real Living. To learn more about Signs of Autism please visit www.CausesOfAutism.org

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Obvious and Not So Obvious Symptoms of Autism

Autism affects many children today and there are many different degrees of severity as well. Today nearly 1 in every 110 children will be diagnosed with autism. This figure makes it more common than juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined. The rate of children diagnosed with autism is increasing by up to 17% each year. There are many possibilities of the cause of autism such as environmental, time of exposure, and genetics however nothing is completely determined to be the culprit.

Obvious symptoms of autism

A child who has been diagnosed with autism may have demonstrated symptoms in socialization, behavior, and language. The extent of the symptoms can be mild to severe, depending on how it affects your child.

Social skills that are affected by autism include poor eye contact, failure to respond to their name, appears to ignore you, doesn't want to be cuddled or held, prefers to play alone. Your child may also be sensitive to lights and sounds that are louder than normal. They may also find it difficult to communicate with others and withdraw when a lot of family or friends are around them.

Behavior skills that are affected by autism includes performing repetitive movements such as rocking, may yell out or get loud, may demonstrate signs of frustration when their schedule is not kept, moves around constantly, and is fascinated by parts of a moving object.

Language skills that are affected by autism includes no talking after the age of two years old even though the child may have already speaking some words, loses what language they have developed over the years. When an autistic child speaks they have one tone with their voice, almost like a robot.

Not so Obvious Symptoms of Autism

If your child has obvious signs of autism then you know that you need to go and talk to his doctor but what about signs that you are not sure of? Autism can affect a child at any age. As your child grows there are certain milestones that your child needs to reach in order to know if they are developing correctly. Your child should begin to roll over at a certain age, hold their head up, and even crawling is all performed by a certain age. However, if your child seems as though they are not developing these skills then you need to talk to your child's doctor to see if your child should undergo testing to see if autism is a problem.

Sometimes children learn at their own paces and because of that they may need to be encouraged to do something. It doesn't always mean that your child has autism if they do not move like the other children in a play group. If you are ever in doubt, ask your doctor for help and guidance. There are many degrees of autism and no two children have the exact same signs so if your child displays even one symptom of autism it is important to see what their doctor thinks about autism.

For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula please visit www.childdevelopmentmedia.com.

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