Autism awareness month, celebrated every April and sponsored by the Autism Society, provides a good learning opportunity for families, friends and our Bunt community to raise public awareness about this complex disorder. Autism is a neurological condition that profoundly impacts how the individual interacts with the world. In 2009, the Center for Disease Control estimated that Autism Spectrum Disorder affects one out of 110 births, making it the most prevalent childhood developmental disorder
Individuals with autism have impairments in social skills and verbal and nonverbal communication. They often have repetitive behaviors or unusual interest. Autism is part of the broader category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders and each of the behaviors associated with Autism may range from mild to severe.
Some individuals may have relatively good verbal skills and only a minimal language delay but have significantly impaired social skills. Others may be nonverbal or have very little ability or interest in communication or interacting with others. Individuals with Autism often do not take part in pretend play, have a hard time initiating social interactions, and engage in self-stimulatory behaviors (e.g. flapping hands, making unusual noises, rocking from side to side, or toe-walking).
Autism Facts and Statistics:
- 1 percent of the population of children in the U.S. ages 3-17 have Autism
- Prevalence is estimated at 1 in 110 births
- 1 to 1.5 million Americans live with Autism
- Fastest-growing developmental disability
- $60 billion annual cost
- Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention
- n 10 years, the annual cost will be $200—400 billion
A child or adult with Autism might:
- Not play “pretend” games
- Not point at objects to show interest
- Have trouble relating to others or not have an interest in other people
- Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
- Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
- Prefer not to be held or cuddled
- Appear to be unaware when other people talk to them but respond to other sounds
- Repeat or echo words or phrases said to them
- Have trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions
- Repeat actions over and over again
- Have trouble adapting when a routine changes
- Have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel or sound
- Lose skills they once had (for instance, stop saying words they were once using)
Q & A - Autism
What causes autism?
There is no single known cause for autism. Current research is focusing on factors such as genetics, brain imaging and environmental triggers.
Can autism be cured with the proper treatment?
There is no cure for autism. Autism is a lifelong disability that impacts how the individual interacts with the world around him/her. With the right supports, individuals with autism can lead lives as full as possible.
How is autism diagnosed?
Typically a diagnosis is made after a thorough evaluation. Such an evaluation might include clinical observations, parent interviews, developmental histories and speech and language assessments.
Why is the prevalence of autism on the rise?
There are a number of factors that may explain the increased prevalence of autism. Previously, many children were diagnosed with mental retardation, schizophrenia or some other psychiatric disorder. Today, many of these kids are diagnosed with autism. In 1991, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) required that children with developmental disabilities receive school services and be integrated into a mainstream classroom setting as much as possible. Lastly, the definition of autism has changed over the years. The expansion of the definition resulted in more kids receiving the diagnosis of autism.
Do vaccines cause autism?
Because signs of autism may appear around the same time children receive the MMR vaccine, some parents may worry that the vaccine causes autism. Vaccine safety experts, including experts at the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agree that the MMR vaccine is not responsible for recent increases of children with autism. In 2004, a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) stated that there is no link between autism and vaccines.
Shweta Adyanthaya
BANA Vice-President, Washington, D. C.