Autism Spectrum Disorder ( Asd )

Autism is a form of neurodevelopment disorder in the autism spectrum disorders. It is characterized by impaired development in social interactions and communication, both verbal and non-verbal. There is an observed lack of spontaneous acts of communication; both receptive and expressed, as well as speech impairments. A person diagnosed with Autism will also show a limited range of activities and interests, as well as forming and maintain peer relationships. The individuals will display limited interests, which are often very focused and repetitive. He or she is likely to be very routine oriented and may show behavioral symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and self-injurious behaviors.

Many of us have heard about Autism, also knows as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Some have a family member, a friend, or know someone who has ASD. Increasingly it is becoming a more common disability. “Autism is one of the fastest-growing developmental disorders in the U.S” (Autism Speaks). Autism has no respect for gender, race, social class and or ethnicity. “Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that involves abnormal development and function of the brain.” (Autism Center of Excellence) People who have autism have a lot of difficulties with social skills, communication and also will develop behavior issues. These behavior problems of an individual with autism can vary at times and can go from mild to severe. According to the Autism Science Foundation it says,” Many people with the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, and reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASD can vary—from gifted to severely challenged.” The causes and symptoms, as well as the diagnosis, and the treatments of autism vary.

In the article Autism Society, Studies shown that autism caused by having a surplus of synapses, connections between brain cells. The surplus slowdown in the normal pruning process that occurs during childhood and adolescence brain development. In many families, there are patterns of autism or related disabilities that have a genetic basis. Children who have autism may have inherited, although researchers don’t know the direct cause of autism, they’re still investigating many numbers of theories, including the links among heredity, genetics and medical problems.

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,

While there are many theories there is no single cause of autism. One theory assumes multiple factors interacting in complex ways (i.e. genes, environment and brain) can cause autism. Genetics play a role but do not explain the full picture or the recent increase in reported cases. According to Volkmar and Weisner (2009), "Identical twins have identical genes, while fraternal twins share only some genes. The implication of this finding was that there was potentially a very strong genetic contribution in autism. A number of studies have shown that this is the case. " (p. 26). There are medical conditions associated with autism which include, phenylketonuria, congenital rubella, tuberous sclerosis, and Fragile X. The strongest associations are with Fragile X, a genetic condition causing intellectual disability and tuberous sclerosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in many different organs, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart. There is no strong evidence that environmental etologies cause autism. Some researchers assume that environmental toxins can increase the rate of autism, but evidence proposed for environmental factors is based on a case by case report which is difficult to interpret (Volkmar & Weisner,

Secondary causes of autism include pre-natal care, environmental factors, chromosomal abnormalities and genetic disorders. Environmental factors most notably, are the role of vaccinations, specifically those with the preservative thimerosal (Caronna, Milunsky, & Tager-Flusberg, 2008). The most common genetic disorder associated with autism is fragile X syndrome. Scientists continue to investigate the etiology of ASD. Current research seems to support two etiologies of autism: Early Onset of Autism vs. Regressive Autism (Bristol-Power, 2006). There is optimism that specific causes and risk factors will be identified. The results of future investigations will facilitate enhanced screening, prevention, and therapy for "at risk" and autistic patients (CMN, 2010).

According to the CDC, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an umbrella term that includes a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. It affects a significant number of individuals in the United States, with the prevalence continuing to grow (Frye, 2014). A significant proportion of individuals with ASD also experience medical conditions such as epilepsy. In fact, treatment resistant epilepsy appears to have a higher prevalence in children with ASD than in children without ASD (Frye 2014). Many children with ASD also appear to have underlying metabolic conditions, including disorders of vitamin metabolism. Biotin, a vitamin of the B complex, is composed of ureido ring fused with a tetrahydrothiophene ring and is involved in the regulation of metabolism amongst many other vital life functions. Biotinidase deficiency is caused by mutations in BTD gene (located on the short p arm of chromosome 3 at position 25), which results in a deficiency of the biotinidase enzyme, an enzyme that is needed to recycle biotin, an essential cofactor for several carboxylase enzymes (Frye, 2014). Symptoms include seizures, developmental delays, skin rash, alopecia, seborrheic dermatitis, feeding difficulties, vomiting, diarrhea, brain atrophy and ataxia. (Frye, 2014). The identification and treatment of biotin disorders could improve the underlying metabolic derangements and potentially improve behavior and seizure frequency

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is found to be affecting more people every day. Autism spectrum disorder is a term used to hold many levels of autism under it from high functioning to non-verbal. To fall in the spectrum there is certain criterion that must be met part of which is a common set of behavioral and cognitive impairments. These behavior impairments, much of which are restrictive and repetitive along with being too focused or channeled on one thought, idea or activity. Acting out with meltdowns because of the lack of social skills and ability to know what is or isn’t acceptable. The lack of eye contact or staying connected as communicating. One of the medical disorders that has been noted with in some of the most

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is considered one of the most challenging symptoms to deal with. Per the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke, ASD showed high percentage among children of age eight year old. One of every eighty-eight child has ASD while boys are four times higher than girls at the same age group [1]. It is important to mention that ASD is highly researched in North America, Europe, and Asia [2]. Yet, the Middle East does not have as much research in the ASD area. Being from the Middles East, one was surprised the importance of ASD and the challenges that parents, caregivers, and teachers have to face when dealing with students who are diagnosed with ASD.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex set of neurological developmental disorders which are ultimately defined by it diagnosis. ASD is usually characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors (Bailey, Phillips, & Rutter, 1996). The challenges autistic people face start very early on, sometimes barriers are put by people who are supposed to help them the most: their parents or guardians and the health professionals (Ford, Hamilton, Meltzer, & Goodman, 2008), studies had found parents are hesitant to label or even treat their children accordingly to their diagnosis, because they fear it would lead to the stigmatization, rejection and devaluation of their child,

According to Shangraw (2012), there is no concrete etiology of autism because it is not diagnosed by its cause but on observed behaviors. The Autism-Society (n.d.) stated that a possibility for the cause of autism is the abnormalities in the brain structure or function. In an MRI research study by Piven et al. (1995), they found that an individual with autism spectrum disorder had a higher total brain volume and tissue compared to a person who is not on the autism spectrum disorder. Genetic problems and environmental factors can be a cause of autism spectrum disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic (2014). In genetic problems such as fragile X syndrome or Rett Syndrome, it can be associated with autism spectrum disorder. There is ongoing research regarding environmental factors and exploring ideas such as viral infections, pregnancy complications, and / or air pollutants to determine if they are active factors of autism spectrum disorder.

There has been research in the genetic factors that cause autism. One of these research methods is “family-based and case-control evaluations of candidate genes. These studies have identified numerous candidate loci, most consistently on chromosomes 7q, 15q and 2q.” ( Muhle et al. 2004; and Santangelo and Tsatsanis, 2005, as cited in Landrigan, 2010, pg. 220). Another form of genetic research that has occurred in studying autism is “cytogenetic studies…cytogenetic studies have identified abnormalities on chromosome 15q.” (Muhle et al. 2004, as cited in Landrigan, 2010, pg. 220). While, these genetic research opportunities have found relevant data, only about 8 percent of all autism cases are genetic (Landrigan, 2010). Another cause that has been researched is how environmental factors cause autism. One study found “an increased incidence of autism is reported among children exposed prenatally to thalidomide.” (Rodier, 2002, as cited in Landrigan, 2010, pg. 221). Another chemical that has been found to have a connection with autism is misoprostol. In the U.S. it is used to treat gastric ulcers and, in an instance in Brazil, four out of seven infants that were exposed to misoprostol had autism (Bandim et al. 2003, as cited in Landrigan, 2010, pg. 221). These are only a few examples of research projects and data that has been collected regarding childhood

Research on the autism spectrum disorder has shown that genetics, metabolic, neurological and environment play a hugely important role factor. Research studies are showing that some people are genetically susceptible to develop the condition that may be passed on from the parents to the child. Researchers are starting to look at particular genes that may be the increased risk for autism spectrum disorder. Scans have revealed that children on the autism spectrum have certain abnormalities in several areas of the brain's structure and chemical function. Researchers also show that the autism spectrum disorder results from the disruption of early brain development while still the child is still developing during pregnancy. Also, there are many prenatal factors that may contribute to a child’s development. Researchers are currently researching multiple environmental factors that are thought to play a high role in the autism spectrum disorder. In 2010, there were many studies conducted to try to determine if vaccines cause the autism spectrum disorder. With very strong evidence has been shown that vaccines do not cause or there no link in receiving vaccines and developing autism spectrum disorder (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development,

Autism is characterized by social relatedness impairments, difficulties in communication both verbal and physical, repetitive behaviours, sensory dysfunction, and a need for sameness in daily life. It is still unknown what exactly causes autism. In the last few decades the incidence of autism has seen a dramatic increase, and there are many theories surrounding this phenomenon. The three main theories are: advances in detection in addition to broadening of diagnostic criteria leading to increase in rates (namely in developed countries), genetic factors (due to high concordance in siblings and twins, and the increased likelihood of autism developing with advanced parental age), and the effects of environmental exposure (toxins, teratogens, etc).

If it was not caused by different mutations then the cause of the disorder would be easier to pinpoint and would have already been diagnosed by now. It is genetic because when a pair of twins come from the same egg they are more likely to both be diagnosed with autism as opposed to only one having it. In twins that are not from the same egg the chances of both children having autism is significantly less meaning there would have to be some kind of mutation in their genes. Autism is caused by genetics because there are different brain abnormalities that could only occur before the child is born. This would rule out the theories of vaccines, poor nutrition, food allergies, and traumatic experiences being the cause of autism. None of these things would change the structure of the brain so it would have to be something that happened before the child was born. Individuals would also develop autism later in life. None of these things happen so autism would have to be caused by