New Hope for Autism: Learning About the Genetic and Neurological Basis

This summer I have been working at the UCLA Medical Center's children's division. I am very pleased to know that I am working at one of America's finest hospitals, Recently, I read an article that stated that the UCLA Medial Center ranked number three among America's top five hospitals. Because of this high rating, I value any information I can get from this hospital about the various health and emotional problems that exist in today's world.

At UCLA Medical Center, researchers are bringing in better understanding of behavioral, biological, genetic and neurological development of autism. Because of this new knowledge, newer treatments are being introduced. Also scientists are realizing that if these treatments are started early enough, there is a better chance that the autistic child can be helped.

Autism is a condition in which children fail to form relationships with others. The symptoms of autism varies from one individual to another. Basically, their language is impaired and therefore they have trouble communicating. They do not respond to emotions as other children. For example, I had an autistic child in one of my Special Ed. classes. I was told by his father that his brother and sister cried when their mother died, but this child remained emotionless as if it was just another day in his life. This boy was at the age where he should have had some type of emotional response.

The autistic child lacks the ability to understand or copy speech or gestures. Even when the child learns to speak, the speech is a robot-like sound. Sometimes the child echoes what has just been said in a parrot like fashion.

The autistic child avoids eye contact and prefers to play alone. One strong characteristic of autistic children is that they are resistant to changes that may occur in their daily life. For example, let's say a child is used to bathing before breakfast. If the parent leads this child to the breakfast table one day before the bathtub, the child may react with extreme tantrums. Extreme resistance to change of any kind makes it difficult to teach this type of child.

The first sign of autism may be the resistance to being cuddled. The child may scream when picked up. The child remains aloof from parents and others. There may be various behavioral abnormalities, such as walking on tiptoes, rocking for hours or having screaming fits. Some autistic children have unusual fears.

Autistic children may have signs of neurological disorder and epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures can develop as the child reaches adolescence. Doctors believe that this may be a form of brain damage.

It was once believed that the reason autistic children could not relate, was due to a lack of warmth from the parents. This belief is now dismissed. Especially, if one of the symptoms is the fact that these children do not like to be cuddled.

Although the precise causes of autism are unknown, researchers at UCLA are trying to find the genetic basis for this disorder. They believe that they have found the genes that are causing it.

Despite all of these irrational symptoms, these children appear normal physically. They have good muscular coordination. There have been a few who have outstanding ability for rote memory and musical talent. I have witnessed a performance on television where the autistic individual demonstrated tremendous musical ability when he played the piano. He was actually thought to be a musical genius.

Source: An information book on medical conditions: "The American Medical Association ---Encycloedia of Medicine." Medical Editor: Charles B.Claymn, M.D. Published by Random House. Also a few lines from the UCLA Medical Center pamphlet on new medical research on Autism