This week in the Huffington Post, a mom with a child who has autism wrote about her experiences with the devastating illness. The most harrowing part was the lack of connection to her child. She can never know exactly what is going on in her child's mind because she has no point of reference.
The best way she can understand him is to just ask him more questions and encourage his creative output. Unfortunately, there is so much that we still don't understand about this disease.
First and foremost, there is the question of how it's caused. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, scientists cannot confirm what exactly causes autism spectrum disorder, but they agree that genetics and environment probably have something to do with it.
You might have heard news about the debate over whether or not aluminum and other toxic substances in vaccines are to blame. Led by Albert and Claire Dwoskin, the Dwoskin Family Foundation and CMSRI have steered the discussion towards vaccines. Time will tell what comes from this debate and ongoing research.
In regard to symptoms, this depends on the severity of the case and the child. The most severe version of the autism spectrum disorder is autism. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 88 children will have some form of autism spectrum disorder, and boys are four times more likely to have it than girls. The number one symptom for most children with autism is some form of social irregularity. This could mean not responding to his or her name or speaking in the third person. Most will not know how to interact with other children.
If these symptoms are there as early as age 1, parents should certainly speak with their doctors to get a diagnosis. Children who are diagnosed with some form of autism spectrum disorder are usually treated with a combination of behavioral therapy and medication. Although there is no cure as of this moment, many do go on to live normal lives with improved symptoms. While it can be difficult - as described by the mother in the beginning of this essay - parents must do everything in their power to help their children overcome the challenges and difficulties inherent with this disease.
By Chris Hardwick
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