Disease, Illness and Condition Library
Autism
- The exact nature of autism continues to be mystery. It wasn’t until 1943 that
Johns Hopkins University scientist Leo Kanner identified a condition he referred
to as “early infantile autism”. He had studied the behavior of eleven children
who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder.
Kanner noted that although the cases of these eleven children closely
resembled on another, they were markedly different from those of other
schizophrenic children.
Dr. Kanner noted that unlike the schizophrenic children, the autistic children did
not tend to have a family history of mental illness, did not eventually experience
hallucinations, and showed signs of the disorder in very early childhood. Dr.
Kanner also pointed out three features that distinguished autistic children from
schizophrenic children: social isolation, insistence on sameness, and abnormal
language. He noted that the primary feature of the disability was that of social
withdrawal, so he named it “autism,” which Kanner defined as being immersed
within oneself: “There is from the start an extreme autistic aloneness that,
whenever possible, disregards, ignores, and shuts out anything that comes
to the child from the outside.
A Disorder but Not a Disease
Now it is over 60 years later and autism experts have yet to find just one set
of physical symptoms that defines the condition, meaning that autism cannot
be classified as a disease. There is no fever, swelling, or visible sign of the
disorder. People with autism look just like those who are not autistic. Doctors
can use standard medical tests to diagnose illness and diseases such as
diabetes, heart disease, infections, allergies and cancer, but a blood test will
not indicate the presence of autism, nor will an X ray, a urinalysis, or a biopsy.
So doctors rely exclusively on behavior to determine whether a child is autistic.
Although autism is clearly a mental disorder, scientist have determined that it is
not the same thing as depression, anxiety, addiction, mental retardation, or other
mental conditions – although some who is autistic may also be depressed or
anxious, addicted to alcohol or drugs, or mentally retarded. For the time being,
medical experts have classified autism under the heading “pervasive
development disorder” (PDD). PDD is classified by the American Psychiatric
Association in a general category of disorders which are characterized by
severe or pervasive impairment in several areas of development.
Is Autism a Common Condition?
Prior to the 1940’s, there was no autism and even for a time afterwards it was
considered to be an unrecognized condition. Things started to change in 1988
with the help of Hollywood. The movie Rain Man brought autism to life in front
of millions on the silver screen. Most movie goers interpreted this disorder as
a rare but yet fascinating disorder.
Now, 20 years later, autism has gained a great deal of notoriety both from the
media and Congress. Funding for research has dramatically increased and the
number of cases diagnosed has soared. It is now estimated that an amazing
one in every 150 American children has some form of autism.
There are a number of logic theories as to why the diagnosis rates have shown
a large increase. The most obvious reason would be in the interpretation of the
disorder itself. Doctors have expanded their criteria for diagnosis adding many
new cases. A broader definition means that there are simply more ways to be
considered autistic than in the past. At the same time, parents, teachers, and
physicians are paying more attention to the symptoms; which tends to lead to a
higher number of diagnoses. A recent article quoted Dr. Andrew Zimmerman,
director of medical research at the Kennedy Krieger Institute Center for Autism
and Related Disorders in Baltimore as pointing out that diagnosis alone “cannot
explain the rise”. Other theories place their hopes on maternal, obstetric or
environmental factors that perhaps trigger an innate tendency. “Anything form
autoimmune disorders to chemicals in the environment may be involved,” adds
Zimmerman. He points out that scientists have been pursuing these theories to
varying degrees, “but science has not yet pointed us to any concrete answers.”
Another recent study suggests that a genetic flaw that presents around
conception may dramatically increase the risk that a child will develop autism.
Many theories abound leading to passionate disagreement amount parents
and medical professionals.
Treating the Condition
Behavioral Therapy
In an unusual but well known case, one autistic woman designed her own
method of treatment for sensory overload. Her name was Temple Grandin
and she was only eighteen years old when she created what is known as a
“squeeze machine” to help her calm down when she felt overwhelmed and
agitated by noise or other sensory input. The squeeze machine is lined with
foam rubber, and the user has complete control over the duration and the
amount of pressure applied. Squeeze machines are now used successfully
in clinics to soothe autistic and hyperactive children.
Today most of our school based programs rely on behavioral therapy to kindle
development. The treatment tends to reinforce appropriate behavior while
discouraging the inappropriate. Typically a child is required to perform repetitive
tasks that autism makes difficult, such as tying a shoe or buttoning a shirt, with
rewards such as candy or stickers for completing the task successfully. This
approach is practiced in different variations and sometimes customized to the
individual child, helps some autistic children make eye contact, increase spoken
vocabulary and master basic life skills.
Medications
While cognitive therapies help some autistics, other benefit from taking
prescription medications. Researchers studying the brain have discovered
that some people with autism do not have enough serotonin, a chemical that
plays an important role in normal brain function. Doctors have found that when
autistic patients take medications that affect the level of serotonin in the brain,
certain behaviors may improve.
Tranquilizers are a controversial issue in the treatment of autism. Some doctors
consider them a useful tool in treating autistic children who are very aggressive,
tend to fight, or are prone to severe tantrums. Many autistics have trouble
falling asleep or sleeping through the night, and are given sedatives to help
them sleep. Anticonvulsant medications help autistics who have seizures, which
are brief episodes of blackouts accompanied by involuntary movements of the
legs and arms.
Another treatment that appears to be effective is a substance called secretin,
which is a chemical produced in the intestine to aid in digestion. In 1996 the
mother of an autistic body named Parker reported that shortly after taking a
drug containing secretin, her son showed remarkable signs of recovery.
Parker was totally nonresponsive child who was able to concentrate on
specific tasks…He was able to sleep nights and became potty trained.
Since then, parents of many other autistic children who have taken secretin
have reported excellent results. Researchers have been slow to test the effects
of secretin on autistic children and believe more work must be done before they
know exactly how much secretin will help and whether it is entirely safe. One
researcher concluded that although some doctors have experimented with the
drug and are please with the result, secretin has not worked for all the children
it has been tried on. He adds, “It is not a miracle cure, but it makes sense and
we are hopeful.”
Vitamins
Another part of the autistic’s treatment plan might involve adding vitamin
supplements to the diet. Scientists do not know exactly how vitamins work,
but they know that they protect people’s health and ensure that children grow
properly. Without vitamins, many important chemical reactions in the body
would slow down or even stop. A well balanced diet contains all the vitamins
a healthy person needs, but people suffering from certain disorders often
need to take additional vitamins, usually in the form of pills.
Numerous studies have shown that taking extra vitamins can help some people
with autism. According to autism expert Dr. Bernard Rimland, at least eighteen
different studies have tested the effects of adding vitamins to the diet of autistic
children, and all “showed a remarkably wide range of benefits from the vitamin
B6. There was better eye contact, more interest in their surroundings, fewer
tantrums, more speech, and in general the children became more normal,
although they were not completely cured. Still, despite vitamin B6’s positive
effects on some autistics, it does not help everyone.
Changes in Diet
A large and growing number of doctors recommend diet alterations to treat
some of the symptoms of autism. In general, people with autism have more
allergies than the average person, and they are especially sensitive to certain
types of foods. The most common foods they are allergic to are grains,
especially wheat, rye, and oats; dairy products; and foods that are often
consumed in the spring and summer, particularly strawberries and citrus fruit.
In autistics, these food sensitivities seem to be responsible for physical and
behavioral problems like stomachaches, headaches, stuttering, excessive
whining and crying, sleep problems, temper tantrums, and intestinal problems
such as constipation or diarrhea. These foods have been known to alter the
allergic persons appearance, including black circles or bags under the eyes
or rosy checks and ears. Other physical signs may become present such as
a rapid heat beat, shallow breathing, and excessive perspiration.
Vaccines and Autism
Only recently have vaccines come on the radar. Most doctors and
researcher will give you a definitive no when asked if vaccines cause
autism. While this may be the cause, a great deal of ongoing research
is currently being conducted to attempt to arrive at a definitive conclusion.
Parents have reported a sudden and dramatic social disconnect; including
loss of language, in children who previously seemed to be developing normally.
The change occurred soon after the children were given the first dose of
MMR vaccine (to protect against measles, mumps and rubella), typically
around 12 to 15 months. These parents are totally committed to the fact
that their children’s autism was caused by something in the MMR vaccine
or in combination with other vaccines containing the mercury based
preservative thimerosal. They insist that the timing of the onset of autistic
symptoms is not a coincidence.
While a handful of physicians and scientists support the autism-vaccine link,
the overwhelming majority of medical professionals and mainstream medical
organizations maintain that vaccines do not cause autism. This is the position
of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Scientists, CDC, American
Academy of Pediatrics and NIH. After reviewing the research the Institute of
Medicine concluded that the evidence did not support an association between
autism and the MMR vaccine.
Helpful Natural Supplements for Autism
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