A few feet away from him sat Micai, another of my younger brothers. Like Elijah, Micai also engaged in a repetitive behavior: tapping on hard surfaces with straight objects. Although they were both in their own worlds, intensely focused on the tasks ahead of them, each would sometimes get the overwhelming urge to squeeze someone or something. And so, they turned to eachother to satisfy their need for stimulation.
This is known as Autistic Spectrum, a major epidemic. It discriminates not between race, ethnicity, nor creed. In fact, it affects tens of millions worldwide, joining us all by the hand. Ten years ago, Autism only affected 1 in every 1000 individuals in the U.S. Now, it affects 1 in every 88. This evokes a host of questions that need not go unanswered:
- What is the Autistic Spectrum?
- What causes people to be on the Autistic Spectrum?
- Why is it growing so rapidly?
- Is there a cure?
WHAT IS THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM?
Autism is a very general term used to describe a group of complex developmental brain disorders known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). Some of the disorders are Asperger's Syndrome, Rett's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified). Because of the vast array of disorders, we collectively refer to this group as the Autism Spectrum.According to the Autism Society Of America, individuals on this spectrum may:
- Not understand what you say
- Appear deaf
- Be unable to speak or speak with difficulty
- Engage in repetitive behaviors (i.e. stacking or tapping objects)
- Appear insensitive to pain
- Appear anxious or nervous
- Dart away from you unexpectedly
- Engage in self-stimulating behavior (i.e. hand flapping, squeezing, or rocking)
Not only does Autism have influence over an individual's ability to communicate and socialize, it can also bring with it a host of physical maladies. Some physical symptoms that could possibly accompany Autistic Spectrum are:
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Sleep Dysfunction
- Sensory Integration Dysfunction ( Some Autistic children are very sensitive to stimuli such as being touched or being in a room with normal lighting).
WHAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO BE ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM?
Autism is believed to be caused by mutated genes that interact with certain environmental factors. Researchers are currently trying to identify just how genetic and environmental factors contribute to Autism. Though not much is known about the exact environmental factors, it is definitely known that exposure to infectious agents (maternal rubella or cytomegalovirus) or chemical agents (thalidomide or valproate) during pregnancy can cause Autism, according to the Autism Speaks Association.
However, some propose the theory that vaccines and the cherished epidural could be the cause. Dr. Eric Hollander of New York's Mount Sinai School Of Medicine, a physician who specializes in treating Autistic children, reported noticing that 60% of his Autistic patients had been exposed to Pitocin (an artificial hormone used alongside epidural to speed up labor) as a fetus. "In some individuals whose oxytocin system could be genetically vulnerable, a strong environmental hit while the brain is still developing could down regulate the oxytocin system, leading to developmental problems," he said in an interview with Newsweek reporter, Geoffrey Crawley. "But this is only a hypothesis that has been observed by association."
WHY IS IT GROWING SO RAPIDLY?
Whatever the cause, we cannot help but wonder why it is growing at such an exponential rate. Are people simply becoming more aware? Are doctors better able to diagnose the condition? We cannot rightly say, but we can support organizations that are striving for answers everyday. Organizations such as the aforementioned Autism Speaks Association hold walks for Autism research every April ( World Autism Awareness Month).
IS THERE A CURE?
Because Autism is not a disease, you cannot cure it per se. However, with the many therapies out there (Behavioral Therapy, Occupational Therapy, etc.), it is possible for a child to potentially recover from some of the symptoms of Autism. So it's better said that Autism can be treated rather than cured.
Parents can also assist in the process of potentially "curing" their children. Many families attest to the fact that they have seen significant progress in their child's mental and physical behavior by removing gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and oats through cross contamination) and casein (a protein found in dairy) from the diet. This may be a challenge to some families, so it is suggested that they consult their pediatrician to make sure the child woud benefit from this treatment before going through such extremes.
My family has been dealing with the puzzle of Autism for 9 years. Coming from a homeschool background, my 14 year old brother and I (who are both neurotypical) help my two youngest brothers with therapy at home. They both have received ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), Speech, and Occupational Therapy in the past. In January of 2013, Elijah aged out of Early Intervention. My brother Bryce and I continue therapy for him while my mother educates and treats Micai.
With the many misconceptions of Autistic individuals being geniuses/savants (such as Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man) or Autism being closely-related to mental retardation, it is only obvious why understanding Autism is crucial in today's society.
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