No two autistic children are exactly alike, and as such, no two children will display exactly the same behaviors and deficits in exactly the same way. That broad range of behaviors and deficits can make an early diagnosis difficult.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 88 U.S. children are affected by autism, a neurological condition that is characterized by social interaction difficulties, communication impairments, and repetitive behaviors. While no one knows exactly what causes it, or when it occurs, there have been many speculations over the years.
No one really knows exactly causes autism – a neuropsychological disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and deficits in social interactions, communication and language. However, science continues to learn more about this perplexing condition, how it works and how to improve the outcome for those affected. But what if children could grow out of it? A new study says it’s possible, but those of us who are parents to autistic children may not be so convinced.
Several months ago, an expert panel appointed by the American Psychiatric Association proposed updating the definition for autism in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – the bible of psychiatric disorders. Since that time, there have been many heated debates and many concerned parents, particularly those that have children on the higher end of the spectrum.
Former studies have already determined that there is a defective gene in children with autism, but at the time, researchers had been unable to determine its effects on the neurons in the brain. A new study believes that it may have found the answer.
Right around the age of 4 or 5, children start to think and reason what others may be feeling or thinking. This skill is referred to by scientists as “theory of mind.” Researchers have now determined that a specific region in the brain actually changes its pattern of activity when “theory of mind” reasoning starts to take place.
With the autism diagnosis rates at 1 in 88 children in the United States alone, more and more researchers are working to find methods that may help diagnose autism sooner. The hope is that by detecting autism earlier, intervention can take place sooner, giving autistic children a better chance at self-care and a higher level of functioning. Researchers in Texas are paving their path in the world of autism with a toy robot.
As researchers work to learn more about Autism and what causes it they are also learning more about ways to detect the disorder earlier, which could improve a child’s outcome dramatically. Originally believed to be a disorder that couldn’t be fully diagnosed until around the age of three, some doctors are finding that parents are able to identify significant markers in children as young as a year old.
Studies have found that early intervention for children with autism can help improve the overall quality of life by helping them achieve their highest potential level of functioning and habilitation. And now, with 1 in 88 children being diagnosed with the condition, it is clear that earlier diagnosis needs to be made.
If you thought the number of children diagnosed with autism was high, wait until you hear the new figures. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the numbers have increased from 1 in 110 children on the autism spectrum to 1 in 88. For boys, the figure is even higher – 1 in 54 eight-year-old males are said to fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. These new figures indicate an increase of 23% over the last 4 years.
Currently, it is estimated that one in 110 children fall within the autism spectrum, but some potential changes to the diagnosis criteria of autism may change all of that.
