Causes of Autism

Causes of Autism
Author: Reg Ofori

If you are worried that someone you love with autism will not enjoy life to the full then read on. Autism is an arrested development. It hampers development in a human being and occurs normally in children.
Study show that it is the fastest growing development disability and there is a worldwide autism epidemic. This article will try to identify causes, diagnosis methods and steps to deal with autism.
Did You Know That...
• 1 in every 150 babies born has Autism ( and in some reports it is even greater then that)
• Families with one autistic child have a 2 to 8 percent chance of having another autistic child.
• Boys are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with Autism.
Mental retardation is present in 75-80% of individuals with autism.
• Autism occurs more often than childhood cancer or cystic fibrosis.
• Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. In the U.S. alone, autism increased by 172% during the 1990s.
• When autism is detected and treated early, costs associated with the disorder can be reduced by 66%.
It is believed that one in every 150 children diagnosed is affected by autism. Parents love their children and it is a joy to bring another human being into the world. The Bible says that children are a gift from God.
It is so painful and heartbreaking to discover that your child is affected by autism. Many parents blame themselves for their child’s autism. Some believe it is their genes.
According to National Autism Association autism is no longer considered heritable and a genetic disorder. Environmental conditions are contributory factors to autism. It is believed that it is environmentally triggered and is a preventable and treatable disease. Research in the environment has brought hope to those affected by autism and therefore environmental analysis to causes of autism holds the key to finding the cause and developing effective treatment for autism.
Yet you will hear theories of many causes of autism, but no one has found the exact cause of autism.
Psychologists, Psychiatrists, School psychiatrists and Developmental Paediatricians use methods such as, M-CHAT (Modified checklist for Autism in Toddlers), CARS (Child Autism Rating Scale), Autism Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale) to diagnose autism.
In the 1950’s-1970’s mothers whose children were affected with autism were labelled ‘’Refrigerated Mothers’’. It was believed that mothers were not loving and neglecting their children which cause them to regress into their own world. But environmental analysis has changed this notion and believed that autism has a direct link to the environment.
Diagnostic methods are available to help cure autism and is been used by professionals. Early detection of autism will decrease cost of autism. Parents should be assured that your efforts to cure autism will be rewarded.