Autism Awareness Tidbit #2

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continually studies increases in incidences of certain conditions.  Recently, the CDC came out with the following statistic based on their recent research: 1 in 88 children  (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls)  has been diagnosed with some form of ASD.  More specifics, along with the study, can be found on this site.

Some meaningful persons have likened this increase to that of ADD/ADHD.  Granted, the ADD/ADHD diagnosis has exploded during the last two decades.  There are critical differences in the procedures for the  diagnosis of each of these.  I have had students go to their pediatrician in one afternoon and come out with an ADHD diagnosis and a prescription.  It took me almost a year for both of my sons to get their diagnoses.  We filled out HOURS of paperwork, and they underwent extensive observation and testing.  Sometimes, ASD diagnoses are missed because pediatricians will jump too quickly to ADHD.  

Unlike ADHD, there is not a drug that one can take to "control" ASD (although, parents of children with ADHD might admit that the medications--and their side effects-- are no miracle cure).  Typically, children undergo a variety of therapies for behavior modification.  

Because early intervention through therapy has shown a great deal of success in children "merging" into society a bit more successfully, it is best to determine the diagnosis as early as possible.  We realized something was wrong with Max when he was not speaking at around 15 months.  As heartbreaking as it was to realize there was something significantly wrong with my toddler, we put aside the sucker punch life handed us and got him the help he needed.  I stand firm that he would not be speaking or interacting as well as he is today as a first grader had we waited on our suspicions.  The pediatrician was looking for medical causes of his symptoms.  We researched and talked with others, and we realized this was much bigger that fluid in his ears.

So why such an increase in children with ASD?  My theories: 

• the definition of autism became wider when it was expanded to be a spectrum of disorders, therefore, some autistic behaviors that existed in children were missed
• a generation of parents went undiagnosed and now are having children on the spectrum
• there is a genetic link to ASD and parents can carry the gene but not have autism themselves