Disease, Illness and Condition Library
Autism
Johns Hopkins University scientist Leo Kanner identified a condition he referred to as “early infantile autism”. He had studied the behavior of eleven children who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder. Kanner noted that although the cases of these eleven children closely resembled on another, they were markedly different from those of other schizophrenic children. Dr. Kanner noted that unlike the schizophrenic children, the autistic children did not tend to have a family history of mental illness, did not eventually experience hallucinations, and showed signs of the disorder in very early childhood. Dr. Kanner also pointed out three features that distinguished autistic children from schizophrenic children: social isolation, insistence on sameness, and abnormal language. He noted that the primary feature of the disability was that of social withdrawal, so he named it “autism,” which Kanner defined as being immersed within oneself: “There is from the start an extreme autistic aloneness that, whenever possible, disregards, ignores, and shuts out anything that comes to the child from the outside. A Disorder but Not a Disease Now it is over 60 years later and autism experts have yet to find just one set of physical symptoms that defines the condition, meaning that autism cannot be classified as a disease. There is no fever, swelling, or visible sign of the disorder. People with autism look just like those who are not autistic. Doctors can use standard medical tests to diagnose illness and diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, infections, allergies and cancer, but a blood test will not indicate the presence of autism, nor will an X ray, a urinalysis, or a biopsy. So doctors rely exclusively on behavior to determine whether a child is autistic. Although autism is clearly a mental disorder, scientist have determined that it is not the same thing as depression, anxiety, addiction, mental retardation, or other mental conditions – although some who is autistic may also be depressed or anxious, addicted to alcohol or drugs, or mentally retarded. For the time being, medical experts have classified autism under the heading “pervasive development disorder” (PDD). PDD is classified by the American Psychiatric Association in a general category of disorders which are characterized by severe or pervasive impairment in several areas of development. Is Autism a Common Condition? Prior to the 1940’s, there was no autism and even for a time afterwards it was considered to be an unrecognized condition. Things started to change in 1988 with the help of Hollywood. The movie Rain Man brought autism to life in front of millions on the silver screen. Most movie goers interpreted this disorder as a rare but yet fascinating disorder. Now, 20 years later, autism has gained a great deal of notoriety both from the media and Congress. Funding for research has dramatically increased and the number of cases diagnosed has soared. It is now estimated that an amazing one in every 150 American children has some form of autism. There are a number of logic theories as to why the diagnosis rates have shown a large increase. The most obvious reason would be in the interpretation of the disorder itself. Doctors have expanded their criteria for diagnosis adding many new cases. A broader definition means that there are simply more ways to be considered autistic than in the past. At the same time, parents, teachers, and physicians are paying more attention to the symptoms; which tends to lead to a higher number of diagnoses. A recent article quoted Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, director of medical research at the Kennedy Krieger Institute Center for Autism and Related Disorders in Baltimore as pointing out that diagnosis alone “cannot explain the rise”. Other theories place their hopes on maternal, obstetric or environmental factors that perhaps trigger an innate tendency. “Anything form autoimmune disorders to chemicals in the environment may be involved,” adds Zimmerman. He points out that scientists have been pursuing these theories to varying degrees, “but science has not yet pointed us to any concrete answers.” Another recent study suggests that a genetic flaw that presents around conception may dramatically increase the risk that a child will develop autism. Many theories abound leading to passionate disagreement amount parents and medical professionals. Treating the Condition Behavioral Therapy In an unusual but well known case, one autistic woman designed her own method of treatment for sensory overload. Her name was Temple Grandin and she was only eighteen years old when she created what is known as a “squeeze machine” to help her calm down when she felt overwhelmed and agitated by noise or other sensory input. The squeeze machine is lined with foam rubber, and the user has complete control over the duration and the amount of pressure applied. Squeeze machines are now used successfully in clinics to soothe autistic and hyperactive children. Today most of our school based programs rely on behavioral therapy to kindle development. The treatment tends to reinforce appropriate behavior while discouraging the inappropriate. Typically a child is required to perform repetitive tasks that autism makes difficult, such as tying a shoe or buttoning a shirt, with rewards such as candy or stickers for completing the task successfully. This approach is practiced in different variations and sometimes customized to the individual child, helps some autistic children make eye contact, increase spoken vocabulary and master basic life skills. Medications While cognitive therapies help some autistics, other benefit from taking prescription medications. Researchers studying the brain have discovered that some people with autism do not have enough serotonin, a chemical that plays an important role in normal brain function. Doctors have found that when autistic patients take medications that affect the level of serotonin in the brain, certain behaviors may improve. Tranquilizers are a controversial issue in the treatment of autism. Some doctors consider them a useful tool in treating autistic children who are very aggressive, tend to fight, or are prone to severe tantrums. Many autistics have trouble falling asleep or sleeping through the night, and are given sedatives to help them sleep. Anticonvulsant medications help autistics who have seizures, which are brief episodes of blackouts accompanied by involuntary movements of the legs and arms. Another treatment that appears to be effective is a substance called secretin, which is a chemical produced in the intestine to aid in digestion. In 1996 the mother of an autistic body named Parker reported that shortly after taking a drug containing secretin, her son showed remarkable signs of recovery. Parker was totally nonresponsive child who was able to concentrate on specific tasks…He was able to sleep nights and became potty trained. Since then, parents of many other autistic children who have taken secretin have reported excellent results. Researchers have been slow to test the effects of secretin on autistic children and believe more work must be done before they know exactly how much secretin will help and whether it is entirely safe. One researcher concluded that although some doctors have experimented with the drug and are please with the result, secretin has not worked for all the children it has been tried on. He adds, “It is not a miracle cure, but it makes sense and we are hopeful.” Vitamins Another part of the autistic’s treatment plan might involve adding vitamin supplements to the diet. Scientists do not know exactly how vitamins work, but they know that they protect people’s health and ensure that children grow properly. Without vitamins, many important chemical reactions in the body would slow down or even stop. A well balanced diet contains all the vitamins a healthy person needs, but people suffering from certain disorders often need to take additional vitamins, usually in the form of pills. Numerous studies have shown that taking extra vitamins can help some people with autism. According to autism expert Dr. Bernard Rimland, at least eighteen different studies have tested the effects of adding vitamins to the diet of autistic children, and all “showed a remarkably wide range of benefits from the vitamin B6. There was better eye contact, more interest in their surroundings, fewer tantrums, more speech, and in general the children became more normal, although they were not completely cured. Still, despite vitamin B6’s positive effects on some autistics, it does not help everyone. Changes in Diet A large and growing number of doctors recommend diet alterations to treat some of the symptoms of autism. In general, people with autism have more allergies than the average person, and they are especially sensitive to certain types of foods. The most common foods they are allergic to are grains, especially wheat, rye, and oats; dairy products; and foods that are often consumed in the spring and summer, particularly strawberries and citrus fruit. In autistics, these food sensitivities seem to be responsible for physical and behavioral problems like stomachaches, headaches, stuttering, excessive whining and crying, sleep problems, temper tantrums, and intestinal problems such as constipation or diarrhea. These foods have been known to alter the allergic persons appearance, including black circles or bags under the eyes or rosy checks and ears. Other physical signs may become present such as a rapid heat beat, shallow breathing, and excessive perspiration. Vaccines and Autism Only recently have vaccines come on the radar. Most doctors and researcher will give you a definitive no when asked if vaccines cause autism. While this may be the cause, a great deal of ongoing research is currently being conducted to attempt to arrive at a definitive conclusion. Parents have reported a sudden and dramatic social disconnect; including loss of language, in children who previously seemed to be developing normally. The change occurred soon after the children were given the first dose of MMR vaccine (to protect against measles, mumps and rubella), typically around 12 to 15 months. These parents are totally committed to the fact that their children’s autism was caused by something in the MMR vaccine or in combination with other vaccines containing the mercury based preservative thimerosal. They insist that the timing of the onset of autistic symptoms is not a coincidence. While a handful of physicians and scientists support the autism-vaccine link, the overwhelming majority of medical professionals and mainstream medical organizations maintain that vaccines do not cause autism. This is the position of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Scientists, CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics and NIH. After reviewing the research the Institute of Medicine concluded that the evidence did not support an association between autism and the MMR vaccine. Helpful Natural Supplements for Autism |
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