Autism Spectrum Disorder

Lester Julian McRae

What is Autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder are any of a group of neurodevelopmental

disorders that lead to impaired language, communication, and social skills.

About 1 in 88 children in the United States are now affected, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (23% increase from last report in 2009)

Males are 4 more times more likely than girls to have ASD

What causes Autism? Autism has no single cause. A number of genes play a role in the disorder. In some children,

environmental factors also may play a role in development of the disorder. Studies of people with autism have found abnormalities in several regions

of the brain, including the cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, septum, and mammillary bodies.

Neurons in these regions appear smaller than normal and have stunted nerve fibers, which may interfere with nerve signaling.

These abnormalities suggest that autism results from disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development.

Other studies suggest that people with autism have abnormalities of serotonin or other signaling molecules in the brain.

Types of Autism Autistic disorder

This is what most people think of when they hear the word "autism." It refers to problems with social interactions, communication, and imaginative play in children younger than 3 years.

Asperger's syndromeChildren don't have a problem with language -- in fact, they tend to score in the average or above-average range on intelligence tests. But they have the same social problems and limited scope of interests as children with autistic disorder.

Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) also known as atypical autism. Children who have some autistic behaviors but who don't fit into other categories.

Rett syndrome Occurs mainly in girls, children start developing normally but begin to lose their communication and social skills. Beginning at the age of 1 to 4 years, repetitive hand movements replace purposeful use of the hands.

Childhood disintegrative disorder Children develop normally for at least two years and then lose some or most of their communication and social skills.

How do we know if someone has Autism? Behavioral assessments

Medical history Diagnostic guidelines for autism - The American Association of

Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Behavioral questionnaires/additional diagnostic tests that focus on

children younger than age 3 Clinical observations Developmental and intelligence tests

Physical assessments and laboratory tests Physical exam Hearing tests Testing for lead poisoning

Treatment Behavioral training and management

Use positive reinforcement, self-help, and social skills training to improve behavior and communication

Specialized therapies Includes speech, occupational, and physical therapy

Medicine Treats depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and obsessive-compulsive

behaviors Community support and parent training

How is Autism misdiagnosed? As autistic symptoms often manifest as a person matures, it is often very

difficult to diagnose in a younger child. A diagnosis of autism offers a variety of resources to help parents of an

autistic child cope with the devastating effects of the condition. Mild cases of autism are often misdiagnosed, even by doctors, and it’s

important that autism be diagnosed by well informed individuals. Parents that recognize autistic symptoms in their child, often jump to

conclusions before speaking with a doctor.

Costs of Autism The cost of providing care for a person with autism in the U.S. is an

estimated $1.4 million over their lifetime For those who are impacted with intellectual disabilities (with an IQ of 70

or less) -- nearly half of the autistic population -- the cost jumps to $2.3 million

Families with autistic children also earn 28% less compared to families whose children do not have health limitations.

The total annual cost to the U.S. is estimated to be $137 billion One family spends $1,000 out of pocket each month for therapies Another family has spent nearly $200,000 in the eight years A third family spends $9,000 - $10,000 a year on un-reimbursed medical

costs Direct medical and nonmedical costs can add up to as much as $72,000 a

year for someone with an extreme case of the disorder, and even $67,000 a year for those on the lower end of the spectrum (Harvard School of Public Health)