Autism is a developmental disability caused by a neurological disorder which interferes with normal brain functioning. It is the third most common developmental disability, more common than Down's syndrome, and becomes obvious from birth to the age of three. Symptoms include slow or no language development; avoidance of or excessive need for physical contact; repetitive body movements such as rocking and/or head banging; fixation on a single object; extremely passive, aggressive, or often self injurious behavior; temper tantrums for no obvious reason; little or no response to social cues such as smiles or eye contact; oversensitivity to touch; or the inability to feel pain. About 10% of autistic people have savant skills, such as remarkable mathematical ability or special talents in art and music. Autism affects approximately 15 of every 10,000 individuals, three to four times as many males as females, and people of all races. Evidence suggests several causes, including genetics, biochemistry, viruses, toxins, pollutants, and seizures. Autistic people live normal life spans and, while there is no cure, symptoms can be alleviated to varying degrees and may change or disappear over time.
In the 1940s, Dr. Leo Kanner, a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins University, wrote the first paper on autism, describing children who were self-absorbed and had severe social, communication, and behavioral problems. Autistic individuals were often thought to be mentally retarded and 90% were institutionalized. Researchers now know autism is not a mental illness. Through autopsies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of the brain, researchers observed underdeveloped or significantly smaller areas in the limbic system and/or cerebellum of autistic people.
Genetic studies show a higher incidence of autism in both individuals in pairs of identical twins (with a 100% gene overlap) than in fraternal twins or siblings (with a 50% gene overlap). Of the 45 offspring of 11 families whose fathers had autism, 25 were autistic. Biochemically, abnormal levels of serotonin, cerebral spinal fluid, and beta- endorphins have been found in the brain. In some cases, abnormal levels of peptides which break down proteins found in wheat, barley, oats, and human and cow's milk have been detected in the urine of autistic people who, when taken off these foods, often show a dramatic improvement. Women exposed to the rubella virus during the first three months of pregnancy have a higher incidence of autistic children, and viruses associated with vaccinations such as rubella and DPT have also been implicated, as have cytolomegalovirus and candida albicans. In a small town in Massachusetts where a sunglasses factory was once located, an unusually high incidence of autism was noted, with the highest incidence down wind of the factory smoke stacks.
Subgroups of the disorder are varied, symptoms can bear resemblance to other developmental disorders, and there are no medical tests available. For accurate diagnosis, professionals refer to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) and evaluation by a multi-disciplinary team of experts--including a neurologist, psychologist, and pediatric developmental and speech/language specialists--is recommended. While there is no cure, Ritalin is widely prescribed for children and observation suggests that supplements of vitamin B6 with magnesium, and/or dimethylglycine (DMG) has some positive effect. Intervention therapies, behavioral modification, sensory integration, vision and music therapy, and individual training programs can be highly effective in helping many autistic people live relatively independent and productive lives.
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