Autism

Autism, a neurological disorder that affects 1 in 150 children in the United States alone. This rapidly growing and diverse disease is not prejudice, targeting both male and female children and nearly unnoticeable if one doesn’t know what to look for. There are several types of autism, and children, and no two cases are exactly alike, but most can possess many of the same characteristics and can be diagnosed as early as age two.

Autistic children look like other children but are seemingly unable to interact socially with other people, tending to encase themselves in a world of their own, their comfort zone with solitary and familiar surroundings. Rarely do they allow hugging or touching, even from their mothers. Most will not make eye contact, and many are extremely impatient. Some may even inflict injury to themselves, banging their heads, biting themselves, or hitting themselves, as it is believed by some physicians that an autistic child’s pain tolerance is much stronger than a child without autism. Rather than playing with toys, an autistic child is more likely entertained in a repetitious manner, such as spinning plates on the floor or opening and shutting doors, even for hours at a time.

Though this disorder appears to disconnect the child from the world, many can understand communication and commands through keywords. For example, using a keyword of “eat” rather than asking “Are you hungry?” may produce better results. In fact, individuals with autism tend to be extremely intelligent, especially musically.

Experts have long debated the cause of autism. Some believe that it is a gene in one or both parents that carries through to the child while others feel that the mercury in childhood immunizations may be the cause. Even with the uncertainty, it has been shown that the brain of an autistic individual is different in both shape and size than the brain of someone without autism. Further research is ongoing in the quest for answers.

Through the eyes of an autistic child, even the most minuscule details are taken notice of. A non-autistic individual usually looks at something and sees the big picture, so to speak, not necessarily taking notice of the details. For example, if you walk into a room, you will likely see only what stands out, things such as furniture or the television sounding in the background. If an autistic child walks into the same room, he would probably notice the details, such as the television sounds, people talking in the room, room decorations, curtain colors, even the second hand on a clock. People with autism tend to process their surroundings differently, seeing things in detail and even hearing noises differently, where loud noises may be soft to them and soft noises may sound deafening. Things like the vacuum cleaner or telephone ringing may annoy or frighten an autistic child. Still, many individuals diagnosed with autism are very intelligent, able to understand what you communicate to them, and even without speech, many can communicate back with you if they need something.

Years have passed with the assumption that autism has no cure, and though there is currently no medication available, research has shown that there are other treatment methods that can assist in overcoming the symptoms. A common one is a gluten/casein free diet, removing dairy and grains from meals, as well as adding a B12 vitamin supplement. Speech therapy is usually implemented, and some have suggested a process of removing the mercury from the child’s body. Many autistic children have made tremendous improvements through these therapies, even to a point where they are nearly autism-free.

Coping with autism is never easy, and curing it is even more difficult, but contrary to popular belief, it is possible with the right treatments, and most importantly, the right attitude. Autism is a disease affecting millions of children and adults, but it is reversible, and the rewards are always worth fighting for.