Parents, families and caregivers of a child with autism may wish to work against the devastating impact this disorder has on quality of life. We may dream of an autistic child achieving goals like gratifying employment, meaningful relationships, marriage, independence and good physical and mental health.
The article A Child With Autism gives a general overview of what autism is, how the disorder is diagnosed, evaluations and other tests, how children are affected, treatment options, services and supports, prognosis, coping strategies, cause, incidence rate, costs to society, along with some useful resources.
A Child With Autism
by Wanda Brown
What is autism?
Autism is a complex lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder usually identified by age three. A child with autism will show different behaviors than typical developing children.
Parents become concerned that their child may lack eye contact, be deaf, is not yet talking, resists cuddling, appears aloof and avoids interacting with others.
These behaviors may begin shortly after birth or develop as a child grows older.
Symptoms will range from mild to severe. Mental retardation is commonly associated in autism. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and others report black children have significantly higher rates of mild mental retardation than white children do and socioeconomic factors cannot explain the differences. Yeargin-Allsopp M, Drews CD, Decoufle P, Murphy CC Mild mental retardation in black and white children in metropolitan Atlanta: a case-control study. Am J Public Health. 1995 Mar;85(3):3248. Drews CD, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Decoufle P, Murphy CC Variation in the influence of selected sociodemographic risk factors for mental retardation. Am J Public Health. 1995 Mar;85(3):32934.
Epilepsy may also develop in some cases. Boys with autism outnumber girls 4 to 1. Eighty percent of persons with autism are under the age of 19.
Early diagnosis and treatment is essential in order to achieve further growth, development and learning which leads to a better prognosis.
Children need to be diagnosed earlier because the risk to parents of having another child with autism is increased. The probability of having a second child with autism is reported to be 1 in 20. Excerpts from Race Differences in the Age at Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism, David S. Mandell, Sc.D., John Listerud, M.D., Ph.D.
Autism is one of the most heritable neurodevelopmental disorders. If one identical twin has it, so will the other in nearly 9 out of 10 cases. If one sibling has the disorder, the other siblings run a 35-fold greater-than-normal risk of having it. Source: National Institutes of Health
African American children with autism
must be diagnosed earlier and receive early intervention, as they were found to be diagnosed later than any other ethnic group, received more misdiagnoses, and were more likely to be misdiagnosed as having organic psychoses, mental retardation, or selective mutism. Excerpts from Race Differences in the Age at Diagnosis Among Medicaid-Eligible Children with Autism, David S. Mandell, Sc.D., John Listerud, M.D., Ph.D.
Certain symptoms associated with autism, such as delayed language development and problems handling daily life tasks, are more severe in African American individuals with autism. Source: Investigation of autism and GABA receptor subunit genes in multiple ethnic groups.
Minority families and families with lower incomes or limited education were also found to have difficulty entering the early intervention system. Source: National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study
A child with autism is first a child. They have the same feelings and emotions, i.e. illness, discomfort, loneliness, sadness, happiness, and boredom, etc. as any person. A common misconception is that a child with autism does not show love and affection or have a sense of humor.
An autistic child seems to exist in her own world, and displays unusual behaviors, i.e. lack of eye contact, acts as if deaf, have repetitive interests, i.e. hand flapping, rocking, spins objects, an inappropriate attachment to objects, resists change in routines, difficulty sleeping, hyperactivity, lack or delayed speech, have problems in communication, resists learning, lack social and play skills, no fear of real danger, and may be destructive and aggressive at times.
Many children with autism have some degree of sensory dysfunction. Children with autism may have gastrointestinal symptoms, food intolerances or allergies, and biochemical deficiencies.
Some children with autism do not speak at all. Those who do may speak in rhyme, echolalia (repeat words), speak in a flat tone and use peculiar language.
Occasionally, a child with autism displays a special talent in math, art, music, or other specific skills. Persons with these types of splinter skills are known as autistic savants.
With early diagnosis and early intervention a child with autism has a better outcome - a brighter future.
Children with autism need a complete evaluation with specialized behavioral and educational programs. Learning disabilities are common in autism. Some autistic students are smart and learn easily.
Today there is real hope for children with autism.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Autism Research Institute, autism is treatable with no known cure yet. Autism may cause behavioral or psychological symptoms. Early and intensive education can help a child with autism develop and learn new skills.
The goal is to reduce the difficult symptoms and improve their skills that help a child talk, relate to others, play, learn and care for their own needs.
Some children with autism may benefit from treatment with medication to relieve symptoms. Structured teaching methods known as behavioral intervention or Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is currently the most effective treatment.
Biomedical interventions may include nutritional supplements, special diets, treatment of bacterial and yeast overgrowth in the gut, and detoxification of heavy metals.
Appropriate treatment can improve a child's development and help to reduce disruptive behaviors and symptoms.
Every child with autism is required by federal law to receive a "free appropriate public education" or FAPE.
A child with autism having limitations in one or more daily life activities and/or displaying difficult or harmful behaviors are entitled to certain supports and services. These services are generally obtained from a state Developmental Disability Services Office or Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities where you reside. A local Department of Mental Health or Mental Health Association may also help you apply for specialized supports and services.
Although the outcome for adults with autism has improved over recent years, many remain highly dependent on their families and other adult support services.
According to a survey conducted by the National Autistic Society of over 450 children and adults with autism, an astonishing 70% of adults with autism are unable to live independently. Of these persons, 49% live with family members, creating a huge financial burden on aging parents, and 32% live in residential care facilities, which offer little or no privacy, functional independence, or stimulation. Only 3% of adults with autism live fully independently.
In terms of employment, only 6% of adults hold paid, full-time jobs. Regarding mental health, over half of adults with autism have been diagnosed with depression some time in their adult life while 11% say they have suffered a "nervous breakdown."
Although the majority of adults surveyed had participated in at least two autism interventions in childhood, 65% continue having difficulty making friends. Of teens surveyed, 74% said that they had difficulty making friends. Of children under 13-years-old, 31% participated in no social activities at all.
"...it is not the childs disability that handicaps and disintegrates families; it is the way they react to it and to each other."
(Dickman & Gordon, 1985, p. 109)
The Autism Society of America offers parents and their families some coping strategies:
First acknowledge and admit that caring for an autistic child can be overwhelming -- you'll only make yourself feel more stressed if you try to convince yourself that it's not.
Each member of the family needs some time, doing what he or she enjoys and not focusing on the autistic family member. Everyone needs a break.
Reward yourself with a special meal, movie night, or other treat every so often while family or friends care for the autistic child.
Consider joining a support group or counseling session for families and parents of autistic children. Sharing your experiences with others can be a big help.
Try breathing and relaxation techniques.
Keep a journal of what you're experiencing and feeling. Getting your thoughts down on paper may help relieve stress.
Click here for more help and strategies on how to deal with stress on families.
The cause of autism remains unknown. We do know that parents do not cause autism. Current theories indicate a problem with the function or structure of the brain and central nervous system.
Although the dramatic increase in autism and present theories on the cause of autism is controversial, most scientists agree that a genetic predisposition and one or more environmental factors must be in place for autism symptoms to be apparent, is possible.
As many as one out of every 150 babies born will have autism.*
A child is diagnosed about every 20 minutes.
Every day 60 American families are told they have a child with autism.
More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than AIDS, diabetes and cancer combined.
Autism receives less than 5% of the public funding contributed each year to fight all major childhood diseases.
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability at an alarming rate of 10 to 17 percent each and every year in the U.S.
*Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported data in its 2002 study, a new diagnosis rate of one in 150. The study of about 10 percent of U.S. eight-year-old children born in 1994 from 14 states - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey**, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. A total of 2,685 eight-year-olds were identified as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Three out of four recent U.S. studies found a higher incidence of autism in black children, sometimes appreciably higher. Source: Bhasin TK, Schendel D Sociodemographic Risk Factors for Autism in a US Metropolitan Area. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Apr;37(4):66777. Croen LA, et al.The changing prevalence of autism in California. J Autism Dev Disord. 2002 Jun;32(3):20715. Hillman RE, et al. Prevalence of autism in Missouri: changing trends and the effect of a comprehensive state autism project. Mo Med. 2000 May;97(5):15963. Yeargin-Allsopp M, et al. Prevalence of autism in a US metropolitan area.JAMA. 2003 Jan 1;289(1):4955.
The first study to comprehensively survey and document the costs of autism to U.S. society, was conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health. The study showed that it costs about $3.2 million to take care of a person with autism over his or her lifetime.
Learn more about autism-related issues and take political action with the parent-led organization A-CHAMP.
About this author
W.R. Brown is wife, mother, grandmother, volunteer, presenter at parent support groups, member autism support groups, national autism organizations, former legal assistant, service coordinator, and served as Board member to non-profit organizations, autism Advisory Groups, and appeared on Cable 6 TV, XM Radio One, Tavis Smiley Radio, CNN Radio and WDIG Radio.
Autism is a complex lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder usually identified by age three. A child with autism will show different behaviors than typical developing children.
