Facts About Autism: 5 Different Diagnoses

Autism is quickly becoming one of the most common developmental disorders. Autism is a condition that falls into what is called the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) group. Autism is sometimes referred to as Kanner Syndrome or Infantile Autism Syndrome. It is a neurological developmental disorder that affects how the brain responds to sensory information. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism)

It has been found that some medical conditions may play a heightened role in increasing the risk of autism. Fragile X Syndrome is one of those conditions. Fragile X is a genetic disorder that manifests quite similarly to autism. Fragile X Syndrome is most commonly found in males and is often associated with mental retardation.
Tuberous Sclerosis Syndrome which causes mental disorders, seizures and/or tumors. It was discovered about 20 years ago that individuals who were diagnosed with Tuberous sclerosis frequently developed behaviors and symptoms commonly associated with the Autism Spectrum Disorder. There is not a definitive explanation for why this happens as of yet but, but there is some evidence that the abnormalities, that develop in the brains of individuals with Tuberous sclerosis, may be interfering with the parts of the brain that control social interaction and communication. (http://tsalliance.easycgi.com/Fact%20Sheets/TS%20and%20autism%20spectrum%20disorders.pdf)

Phenylketonuria, more frequently referred to as PKU, is an inherited disorder which results in the body's failure to process the amino acid called phenylananine. If an individual goes untreated for PKU, the condition has a high likelihood of resulting in mental retardation. Treatment is a diet low in phenylalanine. Research has indicated that PKU and autism are relates in many instances. (http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/jadd/2003/00000033/00000002/00461031)

Although there is no known cause of autism, in the past it was thought that emotional trauma was at the root of it. After many years of research, many believe that autism may be caused by genetics, something toxic in the environment, a metabolic disorder, some kind of viral infection, and/or complications during pregnancy.

There are approximately one million cases of autism reported every year in the United States. Autism has no boundaries for those that are affected by this disorder. Gender, race, or social economic class has no impact on this disorder. Studies have shown there are four times as many males affected by autism than females. Some research has shown that older parents are at higher risk of having a child with autistic than younger parents.

The Autism Society of America has categorized the different diagnoses of autism into five groups:

1. Autistic Disorder which is a decreased level of social interaction, communication and stereotypical behaviors and may be associated with below average intellect or mental retardation.

2. Asperger's Disorder which is a decreased level of social interaction, fixation on specific activities or interests and most commonly associated with average to above average intelligence.

3. Pervasive Developmental Disorder, which is also known as atypical autism, is a diagnosis given to a child with a severe impairment in social interaction, communication and behaviors but the impairment does not meet all of the criteria for autism.

4. Rett's Syndrome is more commonly found in females between the ages of one to four Young girls with Rhett's syndrome begin life developing appropriately but around 6 to 18 months they begin to regress and will experience a loss in all developmental areas. The disorder is associated with the signature behavior of hand wringing.

5. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is similar to autism in that many children develop at a normal pace for a period of time and then loose functioning. In Childhood Disintegrative Disorder young children develop normally until age 3 or 4 as opposed to autism where children may develop normally up to 2 - 3 years. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder also affects children more severely that autism and most children are mentally retarded.

Early detection of autism is very important in order to decrease the severity of the disorder. Parents and child care providers should be aware of autism and be prepared to recognize appearance of developmental delays so that intervention can be initiated at once.

There is a wide misconception that if your child has a tendency not to cry out, is content to sit quietly by themselves, or doesn't show any interest to their surroundings (i.e. loud noises) that they are "a good baby". This could possibly be an early sign of an underlying problem such as autism. Keeping a journal of your child's developmental growth level can prove to be beneficial in order to inform your pediatrician of any concerns.

Signs and symptoms of autism usually arise during the first 36 months of age. A child with autism will experience difficulties in social interaction, such as not wanting to interact with others and preferring to keep to themselves and be in their "own little world". They may also display difficulty in expressing their feelings and avoid cuddling. Appropriate functional communication skills are lacking. The child's verbal skills may be minimal and they may have a limited vocabulary. Nonverbal skills are affected as well.

A child with tends to focus on doing repetitive activities; such as placing items in a specific arrangement or doing things in a specific order. Their senses may be unusually heightened or diminished, for example having on clothing can cause excruciating pain or certain smells can irritate them.

One third, or 30%, of individuals who have autism have an IQ (intelligence quotient) level that is normal. Other early signs of autism consist of inappropriate or lack of eye contact, no response to their name when called, not waving hello or goodbye and/or no response to sounds.

Some children with autism appear to be deaf because of their inability to respond to their surroundings. Some children with autism have frequent outburst or tantrums and may be unresponsiveness to normal teaching methods. They may also exhibit uneven motor skills development as well.
A high functioning child with autism may have minor language and developmental delays and with intensive training and assistance and be capable of living a meaningful and productive life.

Autism is a very complex disorder in many respects. Experts feel that with the number of cases increasing autism awareness is improving. While there is a continuous realm of research and studies being done in this area there is still much to be learned about this disorder. It is important to ask questions and be informed as much as possible if you suspect ANY developmental delays in your child. Early intervention is a must to increase your child's chances of having a healthy lifestyle. Be very persistent in communicating with your pediatrician, if there is a risk of autism in your child request a screening test from the pediatrician and follow up with the information provided.