 Frequently Asked Questions Here at EIP Autism, we have received many quiries regarding autism in general as well as our services. These are the answers to the most commonly asked questions. On Autism: + What is Autism? + What are the symptoms of Autism? + Is Autism inherited? + Can Autism be Cured? + What kind of therapy is available to treat Autism? + Is there any medication/vitamins/diets to cure autism? + What are the causes of autism? + What are the procedures in assessing a child suspected of having autism? + What is Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD)? + How early can autism be diagnosed? + Who can make the diagnosis? + What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? + Is there a link between MMR and autism? + What is Asperger Syndrome? + Is there a prenatal test for autism? ___________________________________________ Q: What is autism? Autism is neurobiological developmental disorder caused by a dysfunction in the central nervous system, which leads to disordered development. Also, known as 'classical autism' or autistic disorder, this disorder severely affects the course of development in a child. The onset of symptoms occurs within the first three years of life and is present in three major areas, namely, impairment in communication and play, impairment in social interaction, and the presence of repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior. |back to questions| Q: What are the symptoms of autism? Children with autism exhibit three major symptoms: · Qualitative Impairments in Communication Impairments in communication include both verbal and nonverbal deficits. Children with autism presents poorly developed language, and often stereotyped language, in which they are unusually repetitive (i.e., repeating phrases or words heard from advertisements or TV program over and over), or have absence of speech. Other unique features are echolalia (rote repetition of what has been heard, or parroting), pronoun reversal (confusion in referring self in second or third person), verbal preservation (repeating certain phrases over and over, or dwelling on a single topic), and abnormalities of prosody (rate, rhythm, inflection, or volume of speech). In some cases, children with autism initially developed some language but showed a loss in language or regression, usually during the second year. On the other hand, some has significant delay in all aspects of language and communication. · Qualitative Impairments in Social Interaction Children with autism are described as "aloof", "unresponsive", and "in their own world". They have significant deficits in relating to others and often, do not use gestures, such as pointing and shaking or nodding their heads, fail to respond to their name, avoid eye contact, and have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling. Parents have reported that they have first notice the symptoms since infancy, as they find their child have poor eye contact, lack interest in being held, or stiffens when held. As they grow older, these children may express their social impairment by ignoring people or interacting only to have their needs met. And older or higher functioning children may desire social relationships but is insensitive to others' reactions, and has difficulty picking up social cues. · Restricted Repetitive and Stereotyped Patterns of Behavior, Interest and Activities Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking, spinning, flapping their hands, or in self-abusive behavior such as head-banging and biting. They also very narrow interests, for instance, lining up cars, building towers, and sorting out CDs in colors. In terms of activities, they have a tendency to be preoccupied with parts of objects such as the wheels of a car, or shiny objects. |back to questions| Q: Is autism inherited? A few medical conditions has been found to occasionally give rise to autism, These include genetic disorders such as tuberous sclerosis, fragile X Syndrome, and phenylketonuria. However, there is still no single case of identifiable medical disorder found to explain autism. Recent studies have also shown that autism may run in families. About 3% of siblings of a child with autism also develop autism (Piven and Folstein, 1994). This is greater than the risk for the general population, and researchers are looking for clues about which genes contribute to this increased susceptibility. In short, there are studies that show strong relations between autism and the role of genetics. But, efforts are still in the process to determine the gene responsible for autism. |back to questions| Q: Can autism be cured? As autism is a spectrum disorder with a wide range of presentations with no known specific etiology or cause, it is difficult to pinpoint a single cure. On the other hand, various interventions have shown promise in improving some symptoms of autism in some children. |back to questions| Q: What kind of therapy is available to treat autism? Several studies have shown that treatment approach using the methods in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) can result in dramatic improvements for children with autism. ABA employs methods based on the principles of learning theory, to increase or build socially useful skills and reduce problematic or dysfunctional behaviors. In ABA, its treatment focuses on teaching small, measurable units of behavior systematically. Each step is taught in an one-on-one teaching situation with presentation of prompts or cues. Teaching trials are repeated many times, until the child performs a response readily without any prompts. All responses are recorded and evaluated according to the specific definitions and objectives set. Along with ABA, other approaches to enhance and maximize skill development in children with autism are namely, Speech and language therapy, Occupational therapy, and Music therapy, just to name a few. |back to questions| Q: Is there any medication/vitamins/diets to cure autism? Various medical interventions, such as psychoactive drugs, hormone therapies, anti-yeast therapies and immunologic therapies, have been suggested in the treatment of autism. However, the usage of these therapies is controversial and requires intensive research and conclusive evidence before it is to be given to individuals with autism. Vitamin therapies have also been proposed in the treatment of autism. Again, this therapy is not recommended as studies showed that its efficacy have mixed results. Although short-term side effects are reported to be mild, its side effects in the long time are not known. The use of special diets that eliminates milk-products, gluten properties, or other specific foods from diets has been strongly advocated by some parties, with promising results. Diet therapies, however, are not generally accepted as the standard forms of treatment for autism, and is still considered experimental by many experts. Studies have not shown definite evidence and advantages to special elimination diets for children with autism, but limitations have been recorded, in which it may cause some children to get inadequate nutrition, besides being very costly. |back to questions| Q: What are the causes of autism? The cause of autism is still unknown. However, it is known that there is a genetic component that puts some children susceptible to autism. Studies have been conducted and some found that people with autism have abnormal levels of serotonin or other neurotransmitters in the brain, while other studies found irregularities in several regions of the brain. While these findings are intriguing, further study needs to be carried out as they are still in the preliminary stages. |back to questions| Q: What are the procedures in assessing a child suspected of having autism? To arrive with a formal diagnosis of autism, assessment involves experienced professionals gathering information about the particular child's behavior from parents and from direct observation of the child. An autistic assessment as well as a comprehensive assessment will be carried out, where the child is assessed in the following areas of development: · Cognition · Communication · Social interactions and relationships · Adaptive behaviours · Motor skills · Behaviour and responses to environment · Relationship between family and child Typical autism assessment instruments are, Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Checklist for Autism In Toddlers (CHAT), and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). |