Solutions About Autism Spectrum Disorder

Maybe your child was just diagnosed with it or maybe your sister had a child who has it. Autism Spectrum Disorder is occurring in children more now than ever. What is the reason for it? Where does it start? Is it preventable? Is it contagious? These are just some of the questions parents ask themselves when confronted with this disorder. It's time to get more information on this disorder and the time is now.


What is it?


Autism is a word that is used to describe a series of developmental brain disorders that are known as Pervasion Developmental Disorders, or PDD. There are more pervasive developmental disorders called PDD-NOS or not otherwise specified. Others include Rett Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. This complete group of Pervasion Developmental Disorders is often referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorders because it covers a wide spectrum of disorders.


It is estimated that for every 110 children, one will be diagnosed with autism. These statistics are more common that juvenile diabetes, pediatric AIDS, or childhood cancer. The numbers have increased over time and the reason for that increase is not positively known right now. These estimates are for children in the United States alone.


What is the cause of Autism?


There is no real answer for this question. Most cases for autism is unknown because it simply hasn't been discovered yet. It's not as simple as saying either your child has autism or they don't. There are varying degrees of this disorder from mild to severe. This leads professionals to believe that there may be multiple reasons why a child has autism. It could be genetic or it could be due to exposure of something but there is no simple answer or solution known today. Timing includes before the child was born, during childbirth, and after birth. Some scientists wonder Autism Spectrum Disorder is due to genetics. Could it be due to an infection or an environmental agent?


Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder


Again, since there are so many varieties of this type of disorder symptoms can vary as well. The main united symptom is that Autism can affect the way that the child sees and understands the world and it can make communicating with that child difficult and it can make the social skills of the child difficult as well. Because the child has difficulties communicating and doesn't see the world in the same way, not every case of autism is going to be the same.


The symptoms of this disorder can last throughout the entire life of that person. Individuals who have mild cases may have a certain symptom that can be seen from time to time but they can lead a normal typical life. A person with severe symptoms may not be able to speak or even take care of themselves.


What can you do?


The best way to handle Autism Spectrum Disorder is to learn all you can about it and become an advocate. You can't change the disorder but you can learn how you can live with it. Acceptance takes time so be patient. Meantime, join a support group and if there are none around you, form one. You would be amazed at how many people are affected by this disorder in some way; a child, neighbor, babysitter, co-worker, niece, nephew, cousin or other family member.