Few development disabilities are undergoing as much research right now as autism. Although most experts agree that it’s a result of a neurological disorder, the type and severity of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person, making autism a wide spectrum. In fact, new guidelines put things like autism, Asperger’s, Pervasive Development Disorder—Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and childhood disintegrative disorder under the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) umbrella.
SYMPTOMS
The common denominator of autism spectrum disorder is difficulty communicating nonverbally, including in social situations and at play.
There’s also a tendency for people with ASD to avoid contact, react poorly to change, have difficulty empathizing with others, and engage in repetitious behaviors.
Physical manifestations of autism can include tics (often expressed in private for comfort), speech anomalies (lack of intonation, formal, repeated phrases or completely nonverbal) and sensitivity to smells, bright lights, loud noises (like trains or trumpets) and “extreme” temperatures.
Many parents report that their children suffer from digestive problems, allergies, asthma and ADHD. More evidence continues to pour in to support the link between ASD and illness/attention deficits. These include:
- A new study found that people with autism spectrum disorders have a lower ability to metabolize L-tryptophan (an amino acid). In addition, people with ASD express some of the genes involved in metabolizing L-tryptophan at lower levels.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130606102037.htm
- About two-thirds of kids with ADHD have another condition, with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) being the most common. And likewise, about half of kids with ASD also have ADHD.
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/10236.html
- Although children with autism often have attention disorders, it’s not the case in all autistic children. Two attention abilities specifically—moving attention fluidly and orienting to social information—do not account for the characteristics of autism.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130731093720.htm
DIAGNOSIS
There is currently no specific medical test that can diagnose ASD. Each person needs to be evaluated by a doctor, psychologist and/or speech and language pathologist. Parents’ input and observations often play a major role in recognizing the symptoms and diagnosing ASD.
There are a few recent discoveries that may change the way ASD is diagnosed in the future.
- Compared to children with autism, children with Asperger’s have different brain patterns (as seen on EEGs), making some wonder if they should be classified separately in the DSM-5, rather than lumped together.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130730235642.htm
• Girls with anorexia have a lot of autistic traits. They include things like: focusing on oneself, a fascination for detail, inflexible behaviors, and rigid attitudes. Both also share similar changes in structure and function of brain regions. It’s being suggested that perhaps girls with autism are being overlooked because they present with anorexia. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264666.php
- As technology advances, we are able to better distinguish between similar brain-related disorders. For example, neurologists have discovered that brains of children with nonverbal learning disability differ from those with high-functioning autism (HFA). Researchers have discovered evidence that the brains of children with NVLD actually develop differently than other children, even those with HFA.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/269167.php
CAUSES & PREVENTION
You’ve no doubt heard the many theories on what causes autism; childhood vaccinations, pesticides, air pollution, genetics, and advanced parental age. Here’s what we know for sure.
FACT #1: There is no one cause of autism.
FACT #2: There are more than 100 autism risk genes. (In about 15 percent of cases, autism can be traced to genetics.)
FACT #3: The most widely accepted environmental risk factors include: maternal and paternal age at conception; oxygen deprivation during pregnancy and birth; extreme prematurity and very low birth weight; maternal illness or infection during pregnancy.
In addition, here are some recent discoveries on risk and prevention.
- Bigger babies are at greater risk for autism. A recent study found that a baby who was large at birth (more than 9lb 14 oz) would have a 60 percent greater risk of development autism than normal size babies.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130502081741.htm
- Folic acid supplements taken four weeks BEFORE conception and during the first weeks of pregnancy appears to decrease the risk of giving birth to a baby who eventually is diagnosed with ASD.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/256301.php
- A 2013 Duke University Medical Center study found a connection between induced labor and a greater autism risk.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264714.php
TREATMENTS
Since there’s no cure for ASD, the focus is on treatment of symptoms. This often includes medicines (for seizures, gastrointestinal distress, allergies and sleep disturbances), behavioral approaches (e.g., the Lovaas Model, Early Start Model, Pivotal Response Therapy, Verbal Behavior Therapy, and Floortime), nutritional and holistic treatments (e.g., vitamins, supplements, yoga, meditation) and brain training (i.e., one-on-one cognitive skills training to improve attention, short-term memory, processing speed, and logic and reasoning).
- Researchers have created a psychological technique based on cognitive behavioral therapy that helps the mental well-being of autistic children by having them recruit imaginary helpers.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270849.php
- Personal brain training has been shown to produce multi-year gains in critical skills needed to bridge the gap to a significantly more enjoyable and productive life for people with autism. A 2011-2012 study of 300 autistic students (average age of 12) who completed personal brain training found a gain of 12.3 IQ points, as measured using the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities, and an average gain of 3.1 years in reading ability.
http://www.learningrx.com/downloads/Autism-and-Cognitive-Remediation.pdf
- A recent study found that adults with autism can reduce their symptoms by working in environments that provide greater vocational independence and engagement.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271299.php
- A Yale University study found that autistic children who were given a dose of the hormone oxytocin via nasal spray experienced a temporary normalization of the brain regions responsible for social deficits.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/269630.php
There is plenty of good news on the horizon for those with autism spectrum disorder. With advances in noninvasive brain imaging, genetic research and other medical technology, answers to our questions about ASD are being discovered at exponential rates. Until there’s a cure for autism, scientists will continue to look for more effective treatments to alleviate the symptoms for the individual and their caregivers, and ASD advocates will celebrate the brilliance and creativity that often comes with such a complex brain disorder.
To find out more about autism spectrum disorders, visit www.AutismSpeaks.org.