Autism in AmericaIN RECOGNIT ION OF AUT ISM AWARENESS MONTH

An Overview of Autism In recognition of April as Autism Awareness Month, we take a fresh look at Autism in America. As one of the fastest growing disorders in the United States, autism, or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), has been the focus of much concern and awareness. Autism is also surrounded by many questions, such as:

WHO is affected by

autism?

HOW are individuals affected by

autism?

WHAT is the cost of

autism?WHAT causes

autism?

WHO is Affected?

1 68

1 42

children born in the United States develops autism.

boys born in the United States develops autism.

The rates of autism have been increasing over the course of the last two decades. For example, before 1990, 3 out of every 10,000 kids were diagnosed with the disorder. It is still unclear why boys are more likely to develop autism than girls. Symptoms of autism can be present shortly after birth, but most children are diagnosed with autism around the age of 2 or 3. Some children develop a regressive form of autism, in which they demonstrate normal social and emotional behaviors up until a diagnosis.

out of every

out of every

WHAT Causes Autism?This just may be the question of a generation. No specific cause of autism has been determined at present. However, we do know that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the body in social, emotional, and physical ways.

• Researchers have found that some forms of autism are in part the result of genetic mutations, and that children with autism are more likely to have a sibling with autism, which suggests that autism is a genetic disorder.

• However, regressive autism and the rapid rate of autism diagnoses suggest that environmental factors may be at play.

• Researchers like Mark Geier have looked to vaccines as an explanation for autism, as some vaccines contain toxic metal elements known to impede brain development, while others look to environmental factors present in our everyday lives, such as exposure to mercury, aluminum, chemicals, and carcinogens.

• The growing field of epigenetics, which focuses on the interplay of environmental and genetic factors, has been increasingly pursued by autism researchers who believe that a genetic predisposition for autism may be triggered by environmental influences.

HOW are Individuals Affected?Children and adults on the autism spectrum are affected by this disorder in numerous ways, including through impaired social communication, repetitive behaviors, and language disabilities.

Social Communication

Individuals with autism struggle to communicate in normative ways. Autism is often first detected by a lack of social communication, such as a child’s aversion to making eye contact, unresponsiveness to their own name, and a lack of interest in others. Many autistic children also have difficulty interpreting social cues, such as the implied meaning of a smile or frown.

Repetitive Behaviors

Many individuals with autism also demonstrate repetitive behaviors, which can include hand clapping, rocking back and forth, rearranging objects, or producing repetitive words, phrases, or sounds.

HOW are Individuals Affected?

Though autism is generally considered to be a psychological disorder, many experience physical symptoms as well. These include:

Seizures Sleep Disorders Sensory Problems Gastrointestinal Disorders

Language Disabilities

Those on the autism spectrum disorder may also have difficulty using language in a meaningful way; many find it difficult to verbalize ideas in a coherent manner, though some are adept at speaking but have trouble engaging in a back-and-forth style of conversation.

Physical Disorders

WHAT is the Cost of Autism?In a literal sense, caring for an individual with autism throughout their lifetime can amount to a total of

3 million dollars.

As a nation, autism costs our society approximately each year.137 billion dollarsThe cost of autism is more than just dollars and cents. While there are therapy treatments that can help mitigate the severity of autism symptoms, there is no cure for autism. It is a lifelong condition. While ASD individuals will display varying degrees of symptoms, most will need some level of support throughout their lives, which can cause added stress and anxiety among caregivers.

According to WebMD, families of children with autism can be affected in many ways: parents often struggle to settle upon appropriate expectations for their child, siblings can experience duress given their autistic sibling’s needs, and marriages can be strained.

In short, there are many reasons researchers work tirelessly to find a cause and a cure for this disorder.

HOW will You Recognize Autism Awareness Month?Sources: http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/features/autism-and-family-relationships?page=3, http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/03/30/autism-costs-billion/15286/, https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/symptoms#communication