Genetic And Environmental Causes Of Autism Essay

These components can cause autism on their own or possibly when combined with exposure to environmental factors that have not yet been classified. A small number of cases can be linked to genetic disorders such as Fragile X, Tuberous Sclerosis, and Angelman’s Syndrome. In an article on Health &Wellness- Tree.com many families link vaccines with autism and this has been an intense debate for almost a decade. On one side are the families of autistic children, many of whom are convinced that the link between autism and vaccines is real. On the other side researchers who have conducted numerous medical studies, some involving thousands of children, have found NO evidence linked to autism and vaccines. There are suggestions that the reason several parents blame immunizations is that it is the one common factor among children corresponds with the age in which the children receive their immunization for Measles Mumps and Rubella. (Health &Wellness 1) “The autism linked to vaccine side of the argument does have a smoking gun to point to: thimerosal. Thimerosal was an ingredient in childhood vaccines until 1999, when pharmaceutical companies bowed to public pressure

Research suggests that children as young as 1 year old can show signs of autism. Some of these signs are, no speaking or limited speech, difficulty in expressing wants and needs, crying, laughing, becoming angry, or screaming for no apparent reason, no babbling by the age of one, having random tantrums, and little or no eye contact. During the time I have spent with David since he was born, I have noticed many of these signs, especially the tantrums and the screaming or crying. He screams and cries when there is something he wants, but because of the lack of speech we do not understand him. There are also some symptoms that accompany autism. Some children may have a sensitivity to light and loud sounds. Others may experience insomnia, or, like my nephew, may take a very long time to fall asleep at night.

Several environmental factors have also been suspected of attributing to the cause of autism such as: exposure to infectious disease, heavy metals, phthalates and phenols, pesticides, alcohol, illicit drugs, advanced maternal age, maternal bleeding during pregnancy, maternal medications used during pregnancy and maternal stress (Glasson et al., 2004). The research conducted by Glasson et al., (2004) shows that individuals who were later diagnosed with autism were more likely to have experienced obstetric difficulties during pregnancy, labor, delivery and neonatal period. Advanced maternal age was the strongest finding in that study.

These four key characteristics can also tie into other symptoms like failure to hold conversations, and even involved in unusual play patterns. Autism in its rarest form is known as a “spectrum disorder” because the range of symptoms can be from autism in its mildest form with few symptoms to autism in its worst form with several different symptoms in different areas of the child’s motor skills. Looking at the early signs of autism some key characteristics in young children is they tend to stray away and a great example in the Dallas news is a 5 year old autistic child was found unconscious in a hot car. The story was a young child strayed away from his family and locked himself in his mother’s car which later ended up with the child passing away. One key sign of autism is the inability to acknowledge that they are doing wrong and/or warning people of their actions which in this story sadly ended badly. Another sign of early detection is when a child becomes limp or stiff when being held or needing help which is the popular sign in many children with early stages of Autism. The reason why early detection is so hard is become in infancy; most symptoms go unnoticed with parents and doctors until the age of two or three where it is very clear, something

“Independent of the genome screens, evidence suggests that the region on chromosome 15q11-13 contains a gene or genes relevant to Autism.” (Dr. David Pauls 2003). Basically, there are suggestions that the chromosome 15q11-13 is somehow mutated, deleted, or duplicated, causing this disorder to transpire. In addition to genetics, environmental factors can influence Autism; though they are not greatly supported ideas, they can’t be entirely ruled out. In the UK there have been reports of the measles vaccine having a part in causing this disorder. (Dr. David Pauls 2003). Newer studies have even shown that prenatal care before a woman even conceives reduces the risk extensively. “Woman who did not take a daily multivitamin in the three months before conception and during the first month of pregnancy were almost twice as likely to give birth to a child with ASD as a woman who had taken a daily multivitamin.” (The Harvard Mental Health Letter 2011). Multivitamins contain a lot of helpful vitamins to maintain a healthy pregnancy, but researchers suggest that the folic acid is the most significant influence that reduces the risk of a child born with ASD. (The Harvard Mental Health Letter

Behavioural characteristics associated with autistic spectrum conditions are inappropriate eye contact, repetitive movement, stiffened motor control and literal interpretation. Individuals may exhibit such behaviours because they feel ‘safe’ when carrying out the repetitive movement and have a lack of social awareness so make inappropriate eye contact and may be very stiff in themselves because they lack a means of expressing themselves comfortably. They may also become highly stressed if routine is disrupted or sense are overloaded. If

      Autism is a disability that can create a barrier between the individual and his or her friends, family, and community. This disability often interferes with an individual’s ability to communicate, interact with others, engage in play or leisure skills, and to relate to the world around them. People with autism may exhibit repetitive movements, have unusual responses to people, be resistant to change and demonstrate aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a name that is used for a group of developmental disorders. Children with Autism have great difficulty with bonding emotionally with others, they find it hard to make eye contact with others, communicate their feelings and express themselves to the people who are closet to them. Autism effects the brain which inhibits these children to interact, communicate, and concentrate. A child with Autism will display behavior such as, repetitive behavior, rocking, flapping hands, repetition of words, and will want to always arrange objects.

Autism is a mental condition, which becomes apparent in the early stages of childhood. Autism is often characterized by the difficulty in connecting and establishing relationships with other people and in the use of language and intangible ideas. Autism is fast becoming a very familiar disorder. Many people across the nation have been trying endlessly to find a treatment for it. There have been limitless establishments which have been continuously trying diverse ideas and ways to bring funding for further research for Autism as well as bringing more awareness towards it. To become more familiar with Autism one should first understand what symptoms can be linked with autism. Some of those symptoms more common to Autism is difficulty with social interactions and relationships, verbal and nonverbal communication skills, and limited interests in activities or play. Although most of these symptoms can seem similar, Autism is continuously changing through the different stages of life; the childhood years, teen years, and adulthood.

Autism causes atypical social behaviors such as social interaction and social skills. people with autism have a lack of reciprocity and they do not share enjoyments, achievements, and interests with others. Sometimes they can have difficulty making friends. People with autism are often confused about the appropriate social behaviors.

Autism according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is defined as “a variable developmental disorder that appears by age three and is characterized by impairment of the ability to form normal social relationships, to commutate with others, and by stereotyped behavior patterns.” Autism was believed to be a psychiatric or emotional illness, and doctors told mothers that they were the cause. They were wrong. The cause for autism is still a mystery, however, the facts remain that autism in children is on the rise. Erin Allday of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, “Environmental factors play a more important role in causing autism than previously assumed and, surprisingly, an even larger role than genetic.” There are theories based on that

Focusing on the role of environmental factors in the development of autism after birth is a popular study amongst the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) community. It is known that genetics strongly influence the risk for developing ASD, but genetics are not responsible alone. The increasing cases of autism have generated great interest in the potential involvement of toxins in our environment and how that impacts children prone to autism spectrum disorder. For example, exposure to the chemicals thalidomide and valproic acid prior to birth has been linked to increased risk of autism.

Autistic infants often show little or no interest in other people and lack typical social behaviors. For example, they may not smile at their mother's voice or make eye contact with caregivers. Autistic children fail to develop normal relationships with their parents, brothers or sisters, and other children. Often they seem unaware of the needs and feelings of other people, and may not respond if another person is hurt or in distress. They also fail to make friends.

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.

Autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts (“Autism” Def). It’s a disability that affects a person’s communication skills and/or changes in behavior. Autism is usually diagnosed before three years of age and has a lifelong persistence. The causes of this disorder is unclear and there is currently no cure for it. There are two core characteristics of autism. The first being a deficiency in social communication and social interaction. The second is a restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities. Clinical features of autism include walking on tiptoes, lack of eye contact, extreme dislike of certain foods or sounds, poor communication skills, repetitive behaviors, and