Autisim is a rather rare, but well known disorder occuring in about .25%-.5% of United States population. Autisim is usually diagnosed in the first three years of life when parents begin to notice their child has not begun to speak or appears to be deaf. Children with autism avoid contact with any other person regardless of relationship with the child. They are often listless and engage in repetitive behaviors like rocking or banging their head against the crib. Two common behaviors of autistic children are arching their back away from their caregiver to avoid physical contact and going limp before being picked up. Some children with autism reach milestones at a normal rate, while others are a great deal slower or perhaps don't even reach them. Many autistic children are insistent upon repetitiveness and routine. One interesting fact about autisim is that in about 75% of the reported cases, autistic children have some form of mental retardation while, on the other hand, as much as 10% of autistic children are considered "Autisitc Savants." According to Stephen M. Edelson, an autistic savant "refers to individuals with autism who have extraordinary skills not exhibited by most persons." Historically these types of people were called by a french term, idiot (unlearned) savant (skill). The most common forms of abilities involve mathematics (think Rain Man), memory, and artisitc and musical activities. It is unclear exactly why some people with autisim have these abilities but it is suggested that it is perhaps because they are able to focus all their attention on one thing. Many autistic children experience sensory impairments and are uncomfortable touching different textures or have a constant ringing or buzzing in their ears among other things.
The cause of autisim is also extremely unclear but there are at least three main theories. The first and most likely is genetics and it is likely that three to five genes will be considered "autism genes." Another probable cause is a virus called Cytolomegalo and rubella exposure during the first trimester. There is also some speculation that certain vaccinations may cause autisim. Toxins and pollutants are also a growing concern especially in a town in Massachusetts where a high porportion of autism cases occured in families living downwind from a factory.
Treatment of autism includes a variety of methods. The most successful treatments include a combination of vitamin B6 and magnesium along with behavior modification (and Applied Behavior Analysis). Edelson says vitamin B6 + magnesium has been shown to "increase general well-being, awareness, and attention in approximately 45% of autistic children." An uncomon theory about the cause deals with a type of yeast in the intestinal tract and can be controlled with a drug called Nystatin. Ritalin is the most common drug prescribed to autistic children and has many of the same affects as it does in children with ADHD/ADD. |
