Autism

1. Autism Betsy Guillen Ms.Brown Child Development 6th prd

2. Cause Of Autism Many causes of autism have been proposed, but understanding of the theory of causation of autism and the other autism spectrum disorders is incomplete. It was once thought that heritability contributes about 90% of the risk of a child developing autism, but environmental factors have been underestimated, and genetics overestimated, for their roles in autism-spectrum disorders. In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Many other causes have been proposed, such as childhood immunizations, but numerous clinical studies have shown no scientific evidence supporting any link between vaccinations and autism.

3. IS Autism Dominant or Recessive ? • Autism is not entirely genetic. If it was, there would be no cases of identical twins where one is autistic & one is not.But genetics is a major factor in autism. I usually tell people "a person does not inherit autism as much as they inherit the vulnerability to develop autism. • They could be dominant, but autism will only result if all the required genes are present. Only if a child inherits all 6 genes, will he be autistic. • hen speaking of dominant and recessive traits, it is simply a way of saying that one characteristic more than likely will be dominant over another one. I think the genetics involved are much more complicated than just dominant and recessive genes are for say, eye color. I don't think it's all in the genes either. I think our genes can make some more predisposed to respond different ways to environmental influences. This would explain why so many seem unaffected by vaccines, or exposures to mercury.

4. WHAT EFFECTS OF THE BIRTH DEFECT ON INFANTS AND CHILDREN • The autistic child is deprived of most of the learning processes that occur through sensory experiences that are normally shared between him and his mother or caregiver. • He is not able to understand the social and emotional cues that are happening around him. Unable to learn from watching the behavior of others, he will he not model what he cannot understand.

5. How is it diagnosed? • Presently, there is no medical test that can diagnose autism. Instead, specially trained physicians and psychologists administer autism-specific behavioral evaluations. • From birth to at least 36 months of age, every child should be screened for developmental milestones during routine well visits. • A typical diagnostic evaluation involves a multi-disciplinary team of doctors including a pediatrician, psychologist, speech and language pathologist and occupational therapist.

6. List the symptoms • Children with autism generally have problems in three crucial areas of development social interaction, language and behavior. But because autism symptoms and severity vary greatly, two children with the same diagnosis may act quite differently and have strikingly different skills. In most cases, though, children with severe autism have marked impairments or a complete inability to communicate or interact with other people.

7. What are screening tests are conducted for the disorder? • Diagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can be difficult, since there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorders. Doctors look at the child’s behavior and development to make a diagnosis. • ASDs can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered very reliable. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until much older. This delay means that children with an ASD might not get the help they need.

8. WHAT ARE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS That ARE DONE TO DETERMINE IF THE BABY HAS THE DISORDER? • Genetic tests are done by analyzing small samples of blood or body tissues. They determine whether you, your partner, or your baby carry genes for certain inherited disorders. • Genetic testing has developed enough so that doctors can often pinpoint missing or defective genes. The type of genetic test needed to make a specific diagnosis depends on the particular illness that a doctor suspects.

9. Are there any treatments for this disorder? How is it treated? • Discovering that your child has an autism spectrum disorder can be an overwhelming experience. For some, the diagnosis may come as a complete surprise; others may have had suspicions and tried for months or years to get an accurate diagnosis. • In either case, a diagnosis brings a multitude of questions about how to proceed. A generation ago, many people with autism were placed in institutions.

10. How can genetic counseling be helpful to potential parents • Genetic counseling can be provided by any professional who offers genetic testing to a family, diagnoses a child with a condition that has a genetic component, or thinks a child may be at risk for a genetic condition. There are, however, actual genetic counselors who are specially trained not only as communicators who can help translate complicated scientific information for families, but also as counselors who can help families cope with their emotional response to that information, and integrate it into their lives, decision-making, and way of thinking. • When a genetic counselor works with a family, their main goal is to help the family understand the genetic situation so they can make informed decisions and cope better with whatever set of circumstances they face.

11. Is there a specific group of people this disorder affects the most? • Autistic spectrum disorders affect the way a person communicates with, and relates to, other people. Many (but not all) people with an autistic spectrum disorder also have a learning disability. People with autistic spectrum disorders usually need specialist care and education. • Autism is a group of similar disorders with varying degrees of severity. So the term autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) is often used rather than autism.