Difference between revisions of "Autism"

Revision as of 11:57, May 30, 2008

Autism is a neurological disorder, characterized by inability to interact socially; linguistic disability; intense, narrow interests; and repetitive behaviors. These are called stims or stimming. They include walking on tiptoes, flapping of hands, staring at objects for a prolonged period of time, oral fixation, spinning in circles, and other repetitive activities. Other signs include lack of eye contact, playing alone, lack of words, or in the case of Asperger's syndrome, big vocabulary but lack of social skills or inappropriate behavior. It is usually detected by the time a child is four years old but some people's autism go unnoticed into adulthood. There are many intelligent and talented autistic individuals.^[1]

Diagnoses of autism has increased from 1:10,000 in 1988 to 1:166 people today. Some estimates are as high as 1 in 150 people ^[2], and it has been rising. Among boys, 1 in 94 has the disorder. In New Jersey, which has the highest rate in the nation, 1 in every 60 boys has autism and 1 in every 94 children is affected.

Some parents, politicians and a few fringe researchers cite a mercury preservative used in vaccines, thimerosal, as the cause of injury in many recipients, including a cause of increase in autism rates. Thimerosal is a inorganic form of mercury that was widely used as a preservative, but since FDA and CDC action in 1999 and 2000 thimerosal usage in vaccines has been either removed or lessened to around 0.01% in vaccines that still use it, including influenza and DT vaccines. This translates to around 25 micrograms per a 0.5mL dose. Humans in the US generally absorb between 3.9 and 21 micrograms of mecury per day. It has been generally accepted that there is no connection between vaccines and autism. ^[3][4][5]

Autism is a spectrum disorder which means there is a range in how it affects different people. There is the fragile x syndrome, Asperger's syndrome, pdd nos, mild autism, moderate autism, severe autism, and some idiot savants. Autistic children will not all act like the character portrayed in the movie Rain Man. Nor are all autistic children uncaring or unable to show emotion, in fact many are very caring.

There is a rare form of low functioning autism called idiot savants in which the people who suffer from it cannot brush their teeth or take a bath or dress themselves or do any other basic activities but are extremely good at one thing, usually mathematics but sometimes also involving music, memory feats, or hyperlexia.

Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner. Dr. Hans Asperger also did some research into autism at about the same time and discovered Asperger's syndrome. In the past it was blamed on frigid mothers. As early as the 90's many psychotherapies were used to treat it. One very effective treatment, though not a cure, is Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA therapy).

External Links

1. http://www.autismspeaks.org/ Also has a charity that gives money to people who can't afford ABA therapy. Sadly, a good many parents are in financial difficulties, due to insurance companies and Medicaid bureaucracy. ABA therapy demands about 40 hours to treat autism by "retraining the brain."

Warning: Autism Speaks is a multi-billion dollar scam that only uses autistics for the purpose of making money. It is the largest organization for autism and is highly controlled. Autism Speaks many lies and does not allow adults on the autism spectrum to speak at their conventions. The only adults on the autism spectrum who they permit visibility are those who will not challenge their agenda (profits).

The ABA therapy of "retraining the brain" is merely a fancy way of saying "brainwashing." Autism is not a disease that gets "cured" by "treatments." Because this is so highly complex and time-consuming to grasp an understanding of, most people eagerly go for what looks good. Admittedly it does appear on the surface to seem very good, but the long-term consequences provide a lot of risk.

Here are a couple of better links:

1. http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/
2. http://ani.autistics.org/

Autism Society of America Clubs is another huge organization to beware of. The best advice for doing research to get information is to go straight to the source and skip the organizations (at least until you've become properly educated). Either go to autism blog lists like those found at Autism-hub and Blognetnews.com/autism or search online to read about what bloggers on the autism spectrum have to say. A lot of mothers of ASD children blog and have become quite knowledgeable also.

Also, be discerning when reading books published on this subject (especially ones written for parents of ASD (Autism Spectrum Different) children by 'professionals' (who are neurotypical and do not have any children on the autism spectrum).

One of the best books to own is by Tony Attwood called, "The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome." A couple of other good ones are: "Theory of Mind and the Triad of Perspectives on Autism and Asperger Syndrome" by Olga Bogdashina and "Asperger Syndrome: Natural Steps toward a Better Life" by Suzanne C. Lawton.

1. http://www.autismdigest.com/
2. http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/
3. http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer
4. http://www.autismlink.com/

There are several Yahoo! groups relating to autism. Each state has its own group, and one may enter "ASD" as a search query to find a relevant group.

References

1. ↑ Temple Grandin, "Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism" amazon link http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307275655/ref=wl_it_dp/103-3432247-4184629?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1CWNFSEUCIXQL&colid=49VN3HJC5OQK
2. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/faq_prevalence.htm
3. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#t3
4. ↑ http://enhs.umn.edu/hazards/hazardssite/mercury/mercdose.html
5. ↑ http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/vaccines.htm