Autism Today By Brenda Layman

Despite the increasing frequency with which children are being diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorders, no cause or cure for the condition has been found. Numerous studies have demonstrated correlation of a variety of factors with the occurrence of autism and currently, researchers indicate that autism spectrum disorder does not result from any one cause, but rather may develop in each individual case from experiences that affect the child’s nervous system during early stages of development.

Despite the increasing frequency with which children are being diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorders, no cause or cure for the condition has been found. Numerous studies have demonstrated correlation of a variety of factors with the occurrence of autism and currently, researchers indicate that autism spectrum disorder does not result from any one cause, but rather may develop in each individual case from experiences that affect the child’s nervous system during early stages of development. In the absence of a single explanation for the rise in autism, physicians and educators focus on treatments, therapies, and teaching strategies that help improve autistic individuals’ abilities to succeed in reaching their goals.

With the increase in research and the development of new therapies, the outlook for children with autism spectrum disorder is much better than in years past. Greater understanding of the nature of the disorder has relieved parents of much of the associated fear and anxiety, giving them effective strategies that provide real hope of success.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, USA,

“There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling.”

Onset of autistic behaviors varies from person to person. Some parents notice signs of these distinctive behaviors in their infants, reporting that the babies did not make eye contact with them and did not seem to enjoy being cuddled. Others notice obsessive, repetitive behaviors in their children. Still other parents have a sense that their child is a bit unusual, but only when the child starts school and a teacher suggests that testing is in order do they discover the source of their children’s difficulties. A significant number of parents report that their children seem to be developing normally, then suddenly withdraw and stop talking. Autism spectrum disorders can range from severe to mild. Asperger’s Syndrome is the designation for people who demonstrate behaviors on the autism spectrum, but whose functions are not severely impaired.

A common symptom of autism is a blank stare and the seeming refusal to make eye contact with other people. Although it may seem to teachers and others who are unaware of the nature of autism that the child is being stubborn, it is now known that people with autism find eye contact uncomfortably intrusive. Only after a strong degree of trust is established can the autistic individual tolerate eye contact, and even then it may be fleeting rather than sustained.

Another characteristic of autism is ‘stimming’, the term for repetitive physical behaviors such as arm flapping, spinning, head banging, and smearing substances. Recent theories suggest that children with autism do not experience physical sensations in the same way as unaffected individuals. Instead, they may be unable to process some sensations at all and experience others, such as a light stroke on the arm or the scratchy tag in a garment, as agonizingly intense. Repetitive behaviors may be an effort to provide the self with sensory impressions that provide a sense of sensory relief. Autistic individuals often display obsessive interest in a single topic or in lining up objects in a certain order. Rigidity may be so extreme that the child cannot tolerate any changes in the pattern of his surroundings or his schedule. For example, a child must have exactly one cup of his favorite cereal in the blue bowl precisely at 9:00, or he is reduced to tearful rage.

Language delay and echolalia, the seemingly meaningless repetition of words and phrases, are common in autistic children. Some children simply do not begin talking at the expected time, while others develop language normally at first and then stop, and sometimes even regress. Autistic children may repeat words or phrases in a mechanical way, or use them inappropriately. Researchers have discovered that autistic individuals store memories in mental pictures rather than in words. Accordingly, the child who says “dog” when he is hungry may be recalling a mental picture of the family dog enjoying its feeding time. In this context, the word makes sense. However, the autistic child does not realize that other people do not have access to the visualizations in his mind. Intense frustration often results when the child’s interactions with other people are unsuccessful. Add to that frustration the discomfort of physical sensations that grate upon the child’s sensitive nervous-system, and the result may be increasing anger and tantrums.

Even though parents struggle to cope and are often at their wits’ end to explain the difficult behaviors autistic children display, a diagnosis of Autism or Asperger’s Syndrome can feel like a devastating blow. Until recent years, there was little encouragement for the parents of autistic children. Bruno Bettelheim wrote The Empty Fortress, a book about therapy sessions with autistic children, in 1940. In the book he attributes the disorder to inadequacies in the mothers, coining the term, “refrigerator mothers.” It was not until the 1980’s that Bettelheim’s theory was officially debunked when accelerated research found physiological reasons for autism.

Autism, edited by Carrie Fredericks and published by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, 2008, is a collection of informative articles on the topic. In their contributing article, The Causes of Autism, Stephen M. Shore and Linda G. Rastelli state:

“Researchers believe that a genetic component or predisposition is present in the majority of people who develop autism spectrum disorders. They point to irregular segments of genetic code as the culprits for some autism cases.”

Shore and Rastelli go on to explain that a predisposition does not guarantee that the disorder will develop. Medical tests have revealed that there are “differences in the shape and structure of the brains – particularly in the frontal lobes – of autistic people, including those with Asperger Syndrome.” However, researchers explain that such differences may have genetic causes or have been caused by exposure to harmful conditions during pregnancy, or by subsequent trauma.

Numerous possible causes of autism have been suggested and researched, often resulting in strong correlation between the suspected cause and autism. However, none of the studies has shown direct causality. One such possible cause is the use of vaccines containing ethylmercury/thimorosal as a preservative. Advocates of this theory point out that the rise in incidences of autism corresponds to the increase in use of childhood vaccines in the latter half of the 20th century. In addition, there is a preponderance of anecdotal evidence in reports from parents that their normally developing children suddenly stopped advancing after receiving such vaccinations. Symptoms of autism resemble known symptoms of mercury poisoning, making a strong case for this theory. To date, research has failed to establish enough evidence to support a definitive statement that the vaccines cause autism.

There are more theories involving the effects of heavy metals in the body. Shore and Rastelli describe the work of Dr. Jill James, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas, and Dr. Richard Deth, a Northeastern University neuropharmacologist. James and Deth found that some children are impaired in the methylation process, the body’s ability to eliminate heavy metals such as aluminum, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Other theories include harm from sources of metals such as dental fillings, fish, power-plant emissions, lead-based paint, contaminated water, and cigarette smoke.

In response to metals theories, children have undergone a treatment called chelation. Although some patients have demonstrated improvement following this treatment, it carries risks. Some of the compounds used in the treatment can cause liver damage or increase gastrointestinal problems. It is still considered to be an experimental treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Some scientists suggest that the increase in autism spectrum disorders corresponds to the concurrent increase in the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics can disrupt the body’s bacterial balance, creating an overabundance of yeast in the stomach and intestines. Exposure to molds can cause similar problems, since molds can affect the body’s bacterial balance in a similar way.

“Researchers now believe that there may be a link between autism and yeast infections which occurs when the Candida multiplies and changes the workings of the digestive tract, releasing a multitude of toxins into the body. The brain and the rest of the body’s systems – such as the digestive system – are strongly linked. Therefore, disturbances within the digestive tract may have a direct impact on the brains functioning leading to a worsening of autism symptoms.” – Is There an Autism Yeast Infection Link?, Health Sense, January 18, 2008.

Autistic individuals are often allergic to foods containing dairy products or wheat products. Such food allergies prevent the digestion of key proteins, which build up in the bloodstream and migrate to the brain. This condition may also be responsible for the diarrhea or constipation that is common in autistic children. Treatments controlling the diets of autistic children have provided improvement in digestion, mood, sleep patterns, and increased ability for social interaction for many.

Genetic factors also seem to influence the likelihood of autism in children. Shankar Vedantam, in ‘Older Fathers Risk Having Autistic Children’, reports that fathers under the age of 30 have a 1 in 1,667 chance of having children with autism, while fathers older than 50 have a 1 in 192 chance. In addition, autism spectrum disorders occur more frequently in male children than in females.

Vitamin D deficiency may also result in autism spectrum disorder. Swedish researchers, seeking a reason for the sudden, frequent appearance of autism in the children of Somali immigrants, have suggested that a lack of sufficient vitamin D may be to blame. Light-skinned people produce vitamin D more quickly than those with dark skin. In addition, the dark-skinned immigrants had less exposure to sunlight when living in Sweden. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency are similar to those of autism spectrum disorder.

The results of all this research, taken together, create a complex picture. It seems that a variety of risk factors exist that can result in developmental disruption that produces symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. With physical stressors ranging from genetic predisposition to metal contamination, severe allergic reaction, vitamin deficiency, digestive system compromise, or a combination of such factors, the result is damage to the child’s nervous system.

Although it is difficult to ascertain the cause of autism spectrum disorder symptoms, many treatments are available that are providing good results in diminishing these symptoms. Some parents report the near disappearance of symptoms, or even complete recovery. Nancy D. Wiseman, in her article, Treating Autism, included in Frederick’s collection, describes a number of these.

Biomedical treatments include prescription drugs, chelation, diet, vitamins and supplements, immunological treatments, and use of secretin, a hormone. Developmental approaches such as DIR/Floortime and Relationship Development Intervention, (RDI) enlist the parents as the providers of intensive, one-on-one therapy that builds social awareness and competence. Applied Behavioral Sciences (ABA) has proven to be quite effective in helping children acquire specific skills and behavioral tools to enable them to learn and interact successfully. One drawback of ABA is the expense, but parents can learn to provide much of the training, reducing the need to rely completely on paid professionals. Additional therapies include Augmentative Communication, which uses picture cards, sign language, and computerized devices, Rapid-Prompting Method, Facilitated Communication, in which a facilitator supports the child’s arm while they type, Music Therapy, Animal Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Social Stories, Social Skills Groups, and Play Therapy.

Any of these treatments and therapies may prove to be successful with some individuals, but provide no improvement for others. Just as the cause of autism spectrum disorder appears to vary from individual to individual, the effectiveness of the different approaches cannot be predicted for any given child. Through persistent observation and experimentation, parents, teachers, physicians, and therapists, working together, will discover the approach that works for their individual child. This is the key to successful intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders. A community of caregivers must combine efforts to provide the best environment for the child they love. When the right treatment is found and faithfully applied, children with autism spectrum disorders can make remarkable progress. Gone are the days when a diagnosis of Autism meant hopelessness.

With ever greater understanding of the causes of the condition and the constant development of new, more successful therapies, the outlook for children with autism spectrum disorder grows continually brighter.

Brenda Layman is a freelance writer who lives in Pickerington, Ohio, with her husband of 29 years, Mark. She is a fishing enthusiast (fanatic?) who firmly believes in the healing power of the human spirit. When she is not on the water or in the woods, Brenda spends her time writing for Greenmaple Wellness Inc. and Ohio Valley Outdoors magazine. Brenda is also the author of Song of Joy, a Guide to Recovery from Sorrow.

Brenda is also a regular contributor to the Fitness Town Health & Wellness On-line E-zine.  For more great articles like this one, please visit here and sign-up to receive our free newsletter once per month.

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