Prevalence Of Autism Essay

Autism has become one of the top disabilities in California’s developmental system. Today, the rise of autism is increasing by 10 - 17 percent each year. (Madeleine 3) "The disease was first identified by child psychologist Leo Kanner in 1943 at Johns Hopkins University" (Little 2). Autism is a disorder that is usually detected within the first three years. According to the Autism Society of America, 1 in 166 individuals are diagnosed with autism, making it more common than the pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. Boys are four times more likely to have it than girls. People with autism have a hard time communicating verbally and physically. They have special ways of gathering and reacting to information presented to them.

I do not really know what autism is. I believe autism has something to do with delayed learning. Some people with autism do not talk much. They seem very shy and don’t hang around with others much. I hear about autism on commercials. I also heard that people with autism are good at some things though. People with autism tend to be do things differently. For example, some people function by remembering patterns, pictures, or words. Autistic individuals are good at paying attention to detail.

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.

     Autism is a developmental disability that affects all areas of behavior and perception. Approximately 10 out of every 10,000 children are diagnosed with autism and four out of five are males. Autism is the third most common developmental disability, more common than Down Syndrome. Children with Autism are characterized by impairment in several areas of development such as: Cognitive, Language, Play/Socialization skills and exhibit many challenging behaviors. Behavior Patterns of Autism:

Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated with each chemical. Finally, the role of government agencies such as FDA, EPA and OSHA in preventing excessive amount or zero amounts of toxic chemicals from entering the environment will be discussed. The last paragraphs will enumerate the inferred conclusion from my research on Agent Orange, DDT and Benzene.

According to Scahill and Bearss (2009) the increase has a threefold explanation. First, in 1994, the release of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition broadened the diagnostic criteria for autism. Second, the manual added criterion for Asperger’s Syndrome and clarified the criteria for PDD-NOS. Finally, better assessment methods provided clarification across the PDD diagnoses and improved the demarcation between PDD and non-PDD cases. In 2004, the Department of Health and American Academy of Pediatrics issued an A.L.A.R.M. stating 1 out of 6 children is diagnosed with a developmental disorder and/or behavioral problem and one in 60 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Autism, once a rare disorder is more prevalent than childhood cancer, diabetes and Down syndrome. This prompted psychiatrists and pediatricians to conduct research to find out if exposure to ethylmercury early in childhood could lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Every year one in 68 Americans is diagnosed with autism. There are more than 3.5 million Americans living with an autism spectrum disorder (Autism Society), which makes it the fastest growing developmental disorder in the United States, hence the significant amount of studies being done to explore its characteristics and find solutions. Autism, also known as ASD, is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is categorized by dysfunctions in social situations, communications, constrained interests, and repetitive stereotypic behaviors (Siniscalco et al). These behaviors can range from mild to very severe, and may be accompanied with other disorders. Autism can be diagnosed during early childhood, while symptoms begin to show during the first

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.

Since 2000, the prevalence of autism has increased by nearly 120 percent: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this makes autism the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S. http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/facts-and-statistics/ A March 27, 2014 announcement http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0327-autism-spectrum-disorder.html from the CDC states that autism impacts 1 in 68 children across the nation.

Autism is affecting children of the U.S.at a rate of one out of every 68.Meaning one out of 68 children will be diagnosed with ASD. This disorder occurs more often among boys than girls. ASD affects over 3 million individuals in the U.S. Statistics show that the number of people diagnosed has increased by 17% within a year. There is no explanation, Scientists do not know the cause nor is there a cure for ASD. However it is definitely on the rise. It is unknown whether the growing number shows a real increase or is the sudden increase as a result of improved detection by physicians.

Some of the pollutants released include: toluene, benzene, xylene and ethyl benzene, ground level ozone (also known as smog), nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. Exposure to these pollutants are known to cause short-term illness, organ damage, nervous system disorders, cancer, birth defects and even death in some cases. Some of the cancer causing are this; Dioxin is formed when chlorine breaks down, and can be found in both water and air. Dioxins are known human carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. One dioxin has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a known human carcinogen. Organic solvents are a class of chemicals that includes chlorinated and other solvents, including toluene, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde. Sources of exposure include outdoor and indoor air pollution, waste incineration, cleaning products and some cosmetics. They are also used in the manufacture of computer parts. Many pesticides that are included in the fluid, including herbicides and other pest-killing poisons, have been labeled as human or animal carcinogens. A report demonstrated that lifetime use of residential pesticides may be associated with an increase

The autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has a multitude of risk factors such as: genes, environmental chemical exposure, maternal factors, drug interactions, including potentially unidentified variables. These factors may act independently and/or through complex interactions to produce autism (Dietert et al., 2011). There is a growing concern with ADS due to the increased prevalence. Autism is a lifelong chronic disorder that appears to be connected to a host of comorbidities. This fact can be used to make the case that the public health strategy has not been effective in reducing this epidemic (Dietert et al., 2011). Currently there is no one environmental factor that has been identified that can account for ASD epidemic, and there appears to be more risk factors regularly identified.

There has been great discussion over the recent increase in Autism over the decades with no full explanation as to why. Scientists believe that both genetics and environment may play a role in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Studies suggest that ASD could be a result of disturbances in normal brain growth very early in development. These disruptions

Autism is a mental condition that can occur in children from birth but is diagnosed in early infancy or early childhood. It is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout the lifetime of a person. It can be considered as a spectrum of disorders characterized by severe developmental deficiencies that can affect socialization, communication, emotional development and can cause repetitive or unusual behaviors. The ranges of the symptoms are mild to severe. There is a milder form of the disorder known as Asperger syndrome. Other developmental disorders that fall under the category of autism spectrum disorders are Rett Syndrome, PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) and childhood disintegrative disorder.