Autism has been a hotbed of debate on many fronts. Whether it is a discussion on vaccine safety or environmental pollutants, autism generates more emotional response than almost any other condition. Furthermore, as the incidence of autism is clearly rising, the most disconcerting thing is that no one knows what is causing the increase or why.

What Is Autism?

Children with autism find it difficult to interpret social and emotional cues from everyday social interactions. In addition, the majority of autistic children have various degree of communication deficit. Compared to their other intellectual skills, their language skills are usually significantly underdeveloped, which means that they may be smarter than they appear. Most autistic children score below average in IQ tests, but their true intellect is difficult to ascertain due to their linguistic limitations. In addition to problems with communication, many autistic children also have trouble adapting to changes in routine. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies are common in people with autism.

Diagnosing Autism

Most autistic children are diagnosed before the age of three, although many of them demonstrate some behavioral abnormalities at significantly younger ages. Most experts agree that the majority of autistic children have early signs of social and communicative difficulties before the age of one. You should consult your pediatrician about conducting additional evaluations of your child if you observe the following behavior:

• Lack of verbal communication (no vocabulary by the age of sixteen months)

• Infrequent eye contact

• Absence of hand gesture, such as pointing, by age one

• Lack of imaginative (or pretend) play

• Repeating certain jingles, such as those from television commercials or songs, in the wrong context

• Failure to respond to name when being directly addressed

There are standardized scoring charts that specifically aid the clinician in diagnosing autism. Your doctor may use one of these questionnaires to screen for autistic traits if your child is suspected of having autistic tendencies.

Asperger's Syndrome

Asperger's syndrome is a variant of autism. Children with Asperger's syndrome also face significant challenges in reading emotional cues or acting appropriately in social situations, but they have normal or near-normal language skills. Frequently, they come across as being rude or angry. Children with Asperger's syndrome frequently have specific obsessions within a narrow interest, and they object to deviation from routine.

What Causes Autism?

It is most frustrating that the medical community has not yet elucidated the cause of a condition as devastating as autism. What makes the matter even more urgent is that the incidence of autism appears to have increased within the past few decades. Genetics certainly plays an important role, but there are obviously other environmental and developmental factors that contribute to the onset of the condition. Siblings of autistic children are at a much higher risk of developing autism themselves. Relatives of autistic children are also more likely to have language problems or other minor communicative disorders.

As discussed in depth in Chapter 9, childhood immunizations are not the cause of autism. Several well-conducted studies have refuted any possible connection between vaccines and the triggering of autism or other related disorders. Though in the past it was believed that certain parenting styles could produce autistic tendencies in children, this hypothesis has also been disproved.

Treatment

Even though there is no cure for autism, behavioral and linguistic training have been extremely helpful in improving the functioning of autistic children. Many learn to interact appropriately in social situations and to live independently. Since autistic children frequently have other physical or psychiatric conditions that are associated with autism, including seizures, ADHD, and anxiety disorder, medications have a useful role in helping them adapt to the environment.

There are many unscrupulous individuals in the world who take advantage of parents' desperate search for a cure or treatment for autism. They often recommend expensive and unorthodox treatments with the promise of a dramatic improvement in behavior. It's truly unfortunate that there are so many who lack moral integrity and prey on the parents' desperation. Before you seek any alternative treatment, consult your child's doctor. You may save yourself a lot of money and false hope.