Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined as a neurodevelopmental condition that is classified by a triad of impairments. These impairments are in communication, socialization, and repetitive patterns of behavior (Wolf, 2004). Autism affects about 1% of the current population (Shishido, Branko, & Norio, 2013). This disorder seems like a common diagnosis in the current day in age but the disorder was only discovered around sixty years ago. The two founding researchers that discovered the disorder are Kanner and Asperger. Since then there has been a significant amount of research on the disorder and they have narrowed down the criteria associated with Autism. Since the discovery of Autism Spectrum Disorder, there has been many debates on what causes this condition. When it was, a recent discovery scientist thought it could have been caused by many factors including psychological conditions and poor parenting. Now research has shifted in another direction (Wolf, 2004). In recent years, there has been a debate if childhood vaccinations or genetic mutations cause the disorder. This debate has led many parents to stop vaccinating their children in case it does cause the disorder. In 2010 (de los Reyes) the immunization rates fell to 80%. These parents’ decisions greatly effects the nation’s public health so it has fueled even more research to find the cause. A very common vaccine that has been said to cause the disorder is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine or the MMR vaccine. This

According to the 2014 estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 68 children have been identified as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD); a rate that has been steadily growing over the past 20 years (National Autism Association, 2015). Increases in reported frequencies for ASD are most likely due to a combination of factors including broader diagnostic criteria and increased awareness as well as a true increase in the number of people with ASD (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Autism it self does not effect life expectancy and, in general, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can expect to live as long as the non-cognitively impaired population (National Autism Association,

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder, which is characterized and diagnosed by social interaction and communication impairment and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and language.1 It is a debilitating and life-long disorder that affects health, relationships, and learning of affected children.2 It describes a continuum of mixed characteristics on main impairments in social and communicative abilities together with the presence of repetitive behaviors.3 It affects an estimated 1 in 110 children with an increasing incidence.1 Treatments vary in their effectiveness for treating children with ASD. Studies on the gluten-free and/or casein-free (GFCF) dietary intervention, which eliminates all

It is thought that autism has been prevalent throughout history and due to a relaxing of the diagnostic criteria an opportunity has risen for milder cases to be recognized, meaning more individuals are diagnosed with ASD. Because of the accessibility of media in the 21st century individuals are being bombarded with ideas and claims about autism which lack of evidence and research into the topic. Much of the evidence that is commonly used to create hype about the ‘autism epidemic’ is unjustified and ironically supports the idea that a broader criterion results in a higher diagnosis rate. Many people claim that autism is caused my the MMR vaccine and that is why there is an ‘epidemic’ occurring. However, substantiated research contradicts that

Autism is a word that every modern parent is aware, and even afraid of. This word autism, however, has become common quite recently. It first appeared in 1943-1944 when Leo Kanner in Baltimore and Hans Asperger in Vienna, published articles describing a childhood disorder named “autism”. They actually borrowed this term from Kraepelin and Bleuler, who used it to “describe the escape from reality and withdrawal seen in schizophrenia” (Catherine and Frédérique 2431-2443). Now the term “autism spectrum disorder”(ASD) refers to a “condition of early childhood characterized by multiple impairments in socialization and communication, as well as unusual interests and repetitive behavior”(Lawrence and Karen 51-53). According to Dr.Jose Cordero, director of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, autism has become an “urgent public health issue”(Caroline). It is a global phenomenon occurring in industrialized countries. Statistics shows a huge increase of autism in children: in 2000 every one in 150 children was autistic compared to one in 68 now(Alice). The most well known causes of autism are the use of vaccines, the increasing age of parents, and genetically modified foods. In addition, most researchers now believe that autism is caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental triggers and possibly the use of

ASD is difficult to diagnose because there is no one medical test to diagnose the disorder. Some people have been misdiagnosed with other conditions such as mental retardation, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, nonverbal learning disability and other various types of emotional disorders. These traits that have been closely associated with ASD. Diagnosis [of Asperger’s Syndrome] tends to center primarily on difficulties with social interactions (Autism Speaks, 2014).

Autism disorder is one of a group of disorders that arise due to an abnormality in the development of the brain of a child. The growth of the brain of a child with autism is abnormal while still in the mother’s womb. That is why early in childhood, their brains grow abnormally faster and larger as compared with brains of normal children. However, the reverse happens later in life. At this time, the brains of normal children grow bigger and better organized whereas the growth of the brains of children with autism slows down. The group name is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The word “spectrum” is included because each child affected suffers from the disorder in a different manner. Research has shown that the different types of autism include: autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. Autism can be recognised from the difficulty the child experiences in developing social skills like forming relationships, in talking skills and in non verbal communications skills as well as in doing things in a repetitive manner. Autism can also be linked with intellectual disability as well as difficulties in motor coordination or reflexes. It is also possible to link autism disorder with attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances, such as stomach pain, heartburn, diarrhea, constipation. Some people with a specific type of ASD called

There is a little boy that gets up every morning and goes to school. He goes home to his parents after school each day. He eats, sleeps, and plays just like any other child. There is one difference. He sees the world in a unique way than most other children not affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. The boy’s life and actions are a bit different and can be challenging for him. He needs understanding parents, family members, and teachers. Autism Spectrum Disorder can be a challenge for the little boy as well as those he interacts with in everyday life.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental that includes disordersocial impairments, difficulty in communicating verbally and nonverbally, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Autism was first diagnosed in the early 1940’s. Signs of Autism and diagnosis usually occur before the child becomes 3 years of age. Autism occurs in children about 1–2 per 1,000 people worldwide. It is diagnosed more in children that are boys rather than girls. The number of children diagnosed with Autism has drastically increased since the 1980’s with still, no known cause. Although, some scientists have come up with the theory that Autism may be hereditary or environmental causes.

Autism, otherwise known as autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) has developed significantly over the past few years. There has been much research carried out since its discovery over sixty years ago (Wolff, Narayan & Moyes, 1988), it is now described as a complex syndrome affecting the central nervous system and a developmental disorder that stems from a neurological disorder affecting normal brain function (Volkmar, 2007). This essay will examine both the biological and environmental factors believed to cause ASD, while considering some of the major theories surrounding the condition.

Every one in one-hundred and fifty children in the United States are affected by a disorder which has no known etiology and no cure (Ryan, Hughes, Katsiyannis, McDaniel & Sprinkle, 2014). This disorder is known as Autism Spectrum Disorder and it has become the “fastest growing disability in the United States” (Ryan et al., 2014, p.94). Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by “sensory processing problems and social and language difficulties” (Steurnagel, 2005, p. 138). Autism Spectrum Disorder has a significant impact on many areas of functioning and the degree of impairment differs from person-to-person, which is why the diagnosis is considered to be on a spectrum (Bradford, 2010). Current

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is categorized as a neurodevelopmental disorder which impacts many areas of cognition and language (Haebig, McDuffie, & Weismer, 2013). Deficits include; impairments in development of social communication skills and language learning. Specific to the domain of language learning, children with ASD have increased difficulties due to repetitive and restricted play behaviors and lack of joint attention and linguistic mapping (Venker, McDuffie, Weismer, & Abbeduto, 2012). Language learning is a complex developmental stage which the transactional model claims can be “facilitated by parents who are verbally responsive to their children” (McDuffie & Yoder, 2010). Parental verbal responsiveness refers to parents who have

The number of kids being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has increased exponentially in the last 40 years. The increase of autism from 1 in 5000 in 1975 to 1 in 68 in 2012 can only be seen as an meteoric rise on an epidemic scale(cite). The source of this spike in diagnoses is fiercely debated among clinicians, scientists and the general public. The scientific community is split on whether the cause of the increase is a result of a new diagnostic system or new unfounded environmental influences. They believe more environmental stimuli like pollutants, vaccines, drugs and genetically modified foods play a larger role in the increase of autism spectrum disorder. Most researchers still attribute the rise to a better understanding of the

Yiting Zhang et al 2016 finds that vitamin B 12 is low in those with Autism. This along with other studies that suggest a Casein and Gluten free diet and pilot study can help alleviate symptoms of ASD. Which backs up the idea that ASD is, in fact, a biological issue that affects the mind and body. These studies seem to indicate that those with ASD have an issue or perhaps several issues that make the absorption or transfer of vital nutrients difficult. Resulting in ASD symptoms. More research is needed to identify the precise areas of deficit and any potential remedies or treatments.

Children with autism almost universally are deficient in certain vitamins and minerals such as zinc, selenium, magnesium, vitamin C, B6, B12, A, E, folate, niacin,, manganese, which act as antioxidants and cofactors for development of GIT, immunological and neurological system (Jepson, 2003).