|
|||
|
A
Look InsideMany people answer NO to those questions. So, let’s get a definition. According to the Autism Society of America, this condition is described as a "complex developmental disability" which is usually detectable in the first two to three years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain. Autism impacts the brain’s normal development in areas of social interaction and communication skills and is one of five disorders classified as Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD). PDD is a category of neurological disorders characterized by "severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development, including communication skills and social interaction."
A certain set of behaviors are commonly associated with autistic individuals including resistance to change, tantrums, use of gestures to express needs, responsive language, aloof in manner, expressing feelings for reasons not apparent to others, little or no eye contact, unresponsiveness to normal teaching methods, inappropriate attachments to objects, over or under sensitivity to pain, and non-responsiveness to verbal cues. Since any or all of these can happen in an individual with autism at varying degrees, each and every autistic person is unique.
Seen as an illness, a disease, or “a thing a person has," these generally become the labels people place on those with autism. You cannot catch autism like you catch a cold, and scientists have laid many concerns and speculations about how someone becomes autistic to rest.
One recent concern that parents and researchers are watching involves childhood immunizations. Vaccinations are seen as one of the world's best tools for protecting the public's health, but lately the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine has created quite a stir. It is believed the MMR might cause ASD (autistic spectrum disorders).
ASD is described as "incurable, permanent diseases that result in serious developmental problems in children." Scientists believe that most cases of ASD result from problems in the development of the brain and central nervous system during the prenatal period or shortly after birth. There are some scientists that are worried about the MMR vaccination, however. Symptoms of autism are typically present during a child’s second or third year of life and the first dose of MMR is typically given at a child's 24-month check up.
Racial, ethnic, and social boundaries; as well as family income, lifestyle, and education levels, have no affect on the chance of autism's occurrence in a family. Observation of an individual's communication, behavior, and developmental levels seems to be the most accurate way to diagnosis autism. There are no medical tests available to help determine autism specifically.
Several screening instruments have been developed to aid doctors when trying to diagnose autism in children, and one such screening test is the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-year Olds (STAT), which was developed by Dr. Wendy L. Stone at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Stone's areas of research specifically deal with the early identification and intervention for children with autism. Her work on the developmental aspects has included the examination of the behavioral features of children under three years old, the stability of diagnostic characteristics in early childhood, and the contributions of early imitation, play, and paralinguistic communication to later language acquisition.
Dr. Stone's work on early identification has led to the development of the STAT and has recently received funding from the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR). This funding will enable Dr. Stone to develop a downward extension of the STAT for use with children younger than two years-old.
During an interview with Dr. Stone, ACED Magazine learned a little more about many aspects of Autism. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Stone for taking the time to help us learn more.
ACED Magazine: Can you tell us a little about
the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-year Olds (STAT) that you have
developed and how it works?
Dr. Stone: The STAT is a play-based screening tool
in which the examiner presents 12 activities to the child. The activities
assess the child's play, communication, and imitation skills, as
these are common difficulties for young children with autism. There
is a scoring cutoff that indicates whether a child is at risk or
not at risk for an autism diagnosis. An "at risk" score
indicates that need for further evaluation.
AM: Why is it important that autism be detected
as early as possible?
DS: Young children with autism who participate
in specialized early intervention programs can have very good outcomes
- they can make significant gains in their social, communication,
and behavioral functioning. There is evidence that the brain is
more malleable at young ages, so environmental factors (such as
intervention) may have a greater influence on brain development
in children who are young (i.e., under three years old). The diagnostic
label of autism can also be very helpful to the family for understanding
the child's behaviors and acquiring strategies for working and playing
with him/her.
AM: What types of treatments are there to help
children cope with autism?
DS: There are lots of different types of treatments,
but some common elements of effective interventions are:
- Starting at young ages
- Encouraging family involvement
- Providing at least 25 hours per week of intervention in which the child is actively engaged in productive activities
- Providing intervention in the areas of imitation, language and communication, play, and social interaction
- Conducting regular monitoring of progress and reassessment of goals
- Providing a structured and supportive teaching environment
- Programming for generalization of kills to different settings
- Employing a functional, proactive, positive approach to problematic behaviors
- Providing regular opportunities for interactions with typically developing peers
AM: Is there a common trait that helps to identify
individuals with the disorder?
DS: The core deficit seems to be in the area of
social understanding and interaction. When young, many children
with autism don't have the same kind of social "drive"
as their peers. They may not try to get their parents' attention,
may not smile to share enjoyment, etc. When older, they have difficulty
with empathy, understanding the perspective of others, understanding
common social rules or conventions (such as who is a friend, how
far away to stand from others, how to choose a conversational topic
this is of interest to the social partner).
AM: How would the day of a child with autism differ
from the day of an adult with autism?
DS: The same way that the day of any child differs
from the day of any adult - for instance, they are in different
environments (e.g., school vs. work) that have different expectations
in terms of level of independence.
AM: Many parents and researchers are concerned
that the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine might cause ASD (autistic
spectrum disorders). What is your input on these speculations?
DS: Despite the numerous studies that have been
conducted, there is no scientific evidence that this is the case.
There are lots of other environmental factors that may interact
with a genetic liability to cause autism - we need to do more research
on this issue.
AM: On that note, is there anything that a set
of parents does during pregnancy or the first years of life that
can lead to autism?
DS: Parents do not cause their child's autism.
There is a strong genetic component to autism, which means that
it sometimes runs in families and that later-born children in families
who already have a child with autism have an increased risk of also
having autism. The risk is still low - between 3% - 8% -- but parents
as well as community service providers need to be aware of this
important fact. Scientists are working hard to figure out the genes
that increase an individual's susceptibility to autism.
AM: Many teens, and even some adults, have a misinformed
impression of autism, believing many of the myths. How important
do you think it is that people really understand the disorder?
DS: The media tend to show the more severe side
of autism - kids who spend their time spinning in circles or rocking
back and forth in corners. This is not an accurate picture. Autism
can range from mild to severe. Individuals with autism have PhDs
or careers giving lectures about their autism, while others require
supervised care. Autism occurs along a spectrum of severity, and
each child is an individual - with strengths and weaknesses, likes
and dislikes - just like you and me.
Many people believe that individuals with the disorder cannot make eye contact, show affection, smile, laugh, or demonstrate a variety of other emotions. This has to be one of the saddest misconceptions. Autistic individuals can indeed do all of those but on varied levels since their sensory stimulation is processed differently. Lastly, no one can "outgrow" autism, but symptoms may lessen as the child develops and receives treatment.
Hopefully the world of autism will take on a different light to many of you after reading a bit about it. Autism has gained such a mistreatment by our society because so many people do not know about its true causes and characteristics. To learn more about autism, how to deal with it, and other information, please visit the website www.autism-society.org.
© 2003 All Rights Reserved, ACED Magazine