The complexities of autism have always intrigued me. I have wondered if in recent years, like ADHD, autism had become over diagnosed. You used to never hear about children with autism, and now it is one of the more prominent diagnoses in child psychology.
The numbers are staggering. Some states have seen increases up to six fold according to the article by Sara Glazer. States across the US are reporting an annual doubling or tripling of autism cases. And not only are parents having to deal with the special needs of their children, but school districts are having to find ways to provide the very expensive federally mandated education. This education can cost up to $60,000 per child.
Although many of the symptoms of autism are exhibited at birth, many parents do not start to notice abnormalities about their children until much later, when their children fail to speak or interact at normal stages. Most of the time, this realizations occur around the time of vaccinations that children are required to receive. Many parents have drawn the conclusion that the shots are to blame. This has lead to an onslaught of lawsuits against drug companies that manufacture the vaccines.
Approximately half or all children diagnosed with autism have little or no language skills, according to Glazer. Early on, it was assumed that all children with autism were mentally retarded, but that has not proven to be the case. The distinctive feature of autism is the inability to function and relate socially.
Autism is the most heritable of all psychiatric disorders. Once a child has been born with autism, the risk of having another child with autism doubles.
What causes autism? Is it environmental factors that determine the change in genetics? Studies have failed to link vaccines to the onset of autism, but many parents are still skeptical. Congress is stuck in the middle, trying to protect pharmaceutical companies while attempting to compensate families as well.
Glazer, S. (2003, June 13). Increase in autism. CQ Researcher, 13, 545-568. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/
Elizabeth:
ReplyDeleteOne article for each chapter we cover, so three for the first exam.
Also, stick with the brain journals. Look in the back of your text reference section if you have questiosn about what constitutes a journal to review.
Denise