In order to start learning about anything, you, as a learning entity, want to know what that something is.
Over the next four months, this blog will be offering up information on autism.
In a definition taken directly from the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (a service provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health) states that autism is:
Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills.So what does this mean to you?
Perhaps you may have heard of the debate on whether autism is caused by a component in vaccinations. If you are parents, the chances you've heard of this are greatly increased!
According to the MedlinePlus website, the exact number of children with autism is unknown. It was thought at one point that trace amounts of a mercury called thimerosal used as a preservative in vaccinations was one of the causes. Medical researchers (such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and The Institute of Medicine) are now stating that studies have shown no known link between vaccinations and autism.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain the proven safety of vaccinations further, and offers information that supports these findings: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
Autism may also be referred to as a pervasive developmental disorder, and these labels encompass varying degrees of the disorder, such as:
- Asperger syndrome
- Rett syndrome
- Childhood disintegrative disorder
- Pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified (also called atypical autism)
Most parents will notice some cognitive and behavioral abnormalities in their child by about 18 months, and there are certain psychological tests that may be performed to confirm the diagnosis of autism.
Some symptoms include: trouble with pretend play, delayed development of speech, child becomes distressed with routine changes, child is highly sensitive to sound or light, may appear obsessive-compulsive.
For more information on symptoms and diagnostic criteria, please visit the CDC website:
Autistic Spectrum Disorders Diagnostic Criteria
Throughout the length of this research project, I will be giving more detail on this disorder, including discussing advocacy (awareness), treatments, well-known persons with autism, and I will also be sharing personal stories of friends and family (with their express permission, that is).
I do hope you'll find this journey as exciting and informative as I will!
Feel free to comment and ask questions below.
