Autism Causes Controversy

Although the definition of autism is basically clear, the reasons are not. Autism is a developmental disorder that begins at birth or early childhood. Treatment of autism is important, so that the child develops the ability to interact normally with other people. Autism is about 20 times more common than experts initially thought it was. However, there is no clear consensus on them, the real reason (s) of autism. That said, there are a variety of (questionable) theories about what causes the disorder. Here are some of them:

1. Genes

It is undeniable that genetics is an important factor for autism. But the composition of genes that lead to autism is quite complicated, and medical researchers are not 100% sure the genes that cause disease. Recently, scientists discovered the first important link between autism and the DNA of a person. The study included about 1,000 people with autism, and 1,200 non-autistic. He revealed that autistic children usually have about 20% more copy number variations (CNV) in their DNA make-up children without autism do. The discovery could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of autism. For example, understanding how the nervous system in children with autism develop differently than the usual hope is that new and better treatments will be available to them. Although this new development in promising, the researchers admit they need several years to fully understand the relationship between CNVs and autism.

2. Joint Attention

This involves a person's actions or pointing with his eyes observing an object or event. It is important to note that the various joint attention behaviors are observed in every child with autism. One theory is that autistic children use joint attention as often as children without autism, although by different methods.

3. Mental retardation

Another controversy that causes mental retardation associated with autism. It 'widely believed that most autistic people are also meeting the clinical definition of mental retardation. However, that perception is a bit 'questionable. Studies show that some people with autism are mentally retarded may vary from about a quarter or three quarters. The reason for this variation is due to a major challenge in the evaluation of autistic intelligence. Some experts estimate the standard intelligence tests are heavily based on language, and that such tests to assess their ability to abstract reasoning, are better to measure the intelligence of autistic people.

4. Vaccines

There are some solid evidence that vaccines clinics could be one of the main factors that caused autism rates to increase by 1000% in the U.S. since 1990. For example, a study in the U.S. that children who received a special type of vaccine (with a preservative called thimerosal, which is extremely high in mercury) was about 200% more likely to develop autism than children who did not receive the vaccine. Thimerosal has also been associated with learning difficulties that resulted in autism. Many researchers also point out that the number of vaccines for children has risen sharply in recent decades. They note that certain substances in them might be to have a negative impact on the immune system of a child, resulting in more problems such as autism.

Symptoms Of Autism In Infants And Children

According to health officials and medical professionals, the exact causes of autism are still unclear, although there is considerable consensus that there is some kind of genetic link between disease and genes of the person. There are other variables that could be the possible causes, such as environmental factors and immune system abnormalities. However, most health professionals and doctors agree that early intervention and diagnosis is always the best course of action to follow.

Identify early warning signs of the disease

Past clinical research has shown that the earlier a child is properly diagnosed and prescribed treatment will result in the long run be much better. Some of the National Institute of Mental Health early warning signs:

o In many cases, the child does not respond with an expression of joy on the face (ie, smile)

o The child has not said a word when you are older than 16 months

o They do not seem to understand how to play with her toys

Or I'm not talking in a meaningful way, and / or observable, or to indicate when they reached 12 months of age

Or not maintain eye contact for a long time, if they do not

o They have not begun to combine two words together by the time they reach 2 years

Or rarely interact with others, sometimes not at all

o They rarely respond to their names,

o They sometimes focus exclusively on a single object or a toy

o They begin to lose acquired language and social skills

o They will be less focus on issues critical or important, but they will focus on specific queue objects or toys

The warning signs listed above are the main indicators of autism spectrum disorder may be present in the individual, although there are others to be aware of this. What you need to remember is that there will be many explanations for most of the signs, as mentioned in the above points.

Early signs or symptoms of autism in infants

A number of different clinical studies have revealed the first signs and symptoms of autism in children present at certain ages are as follows:

o 6 months - no smile

or 9 months - the lack of exchange of smiles and / or other sounds

or 1 year - the inability to babble, point or reach different objects, or waves around the

OR 1 year, 4 months - a lack of vocabulary or in whole without the development of

o 2 years - the inability to create simple sentences (two words)

Or any age - Regression of communication, social and / or ability to speak

During childhood, there may be serious sensory problems to deal with this period in the life of a child, including the abnormal reaction to certain sounds, tastes, and touching. Although mild autism can be treated with appropriate counseling and therapy, but severe autism is difficult.

The Most Encountered Symptoms and Signs of Autism

The only thing we can do for autistic people is to try to help them integrate and fit in as much as possible, and to make them feel good about themselves.

The first thing that can be done in order to help an autistic person is need to discover if he/she is suffering from autism or not by checking the symptoms, because it's up to the ones around those with autism disorders to discover them due to the fact that they are not aware of their own condition and will never visit a doctor on their own. In the children's case it's up to the parents or the family to see if their son or daughter have the autism condition.

Autism is a term that covers a wide-range of disabilities, from mild to severe ones, so there aren't some specific symptoms of this so-called illness, but it is known that it affects behavior, interaction with others and communication skills, so those with problems of this kind and that present some other signs that seem to be common in autism cases are diagnosed with the autism disorder.

Here follows a list of the most encountered symptoms and signs of autism, but as mentioned before this affection does not follow a certain pattern, so don't jump to any conclusions on your own. Only a certified doctor can put an accurate diagnosis.

The first autism symptoms can be detected during the childhood, and until the child reaches the age of 3 or 4 years old the disorder is usually very visible. Adults and children that suffer from autism disorders are completely ignoring other people, they are indifferent to whatever is happening around them, they like to be alone, they reject contact and communication with others and they stare for hours at a single thing sometimes. They are living in a world of their own and they are very sensitive to sensations such as strong smells or loud noises.

Austists cannot speak right, they have problems with the language skills, so they express their needs through gestures rather than through words. Young children with autism don't like to be cuddled, tickled, or touched at all. The way they play is very different from other children's play.

The world is a strange place that they don't understand, so autistic persons need special treatment and special care, they need to be loved and protected because they are in danger all the time. For them it does not seem dangerous to cross the street when the traffic lights are red for example.

Therefore, discovering and properly diagnosing and treating autism is the first and most important step in helping those that suffer from it. So seek advice from a specialized doctor if you suspect your child or anyone else to be an autistic.