photo credit: lepiaf.geo
I read in the news last week that April 2, was designated as “World Autism Day”. I check the statistics and it shows that if affects about 4 children out of every 100,000 and normally on boys. So, what is actually autism and what are the causes?
The main causes of autism have been identified as genetics, neurobiological and psychological. Childhood vaccinations like MMR (against mumps, measles and rubella) do not show conclusive proofs that there is an increased risk of getting autism through the vaccinations.
Autism is normally detected when the child is around 2 years of age. He may display very slow development in skills like talking or speech and comprehension. He may even lose the skills or abilities that he had previously mastered. The diagnosis is generally done through observation using various techniques that identifies the traits link with autism.
Below are some characteristics of an autistic child:
• He does repeating movements like rocking to and fro
• He is very particular about routine, order and ritual
• He does not react or respond to voice or sounds
• He does not speak
• He avoids physical and visual contact with others
No cure has been found for autism yet. However, treatments are available to address problems related to autism. For example, pharmacological therapy can be used to treat insomnia, convulsions, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, etc. Behavioral modification techniques can be used to stimulate the autistic child, improving his ability to concentrate and response, teaching him to speak, etc. Hence, special education is necessary in dealing with autism.
To learn more about autism, below are several useful websites:
• www.autism-society.org
• www.autismweb.com
• www.autism.com
• www.autism.org