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Parents whose child is autistic often realize something is very wrong by the time their child is three years old. Autism, a complex neurological developmental disability, affects the normal functioning of the brain. This disorder inhibits a person’s ability to interact with others and to communicate with them. People with autism generally have trouble not only with verbal communication, but with non-verbal communication as well. Often, an autistic person repeats an action over, and over, and over again. An autistic person usually has very limited interests and does not engage in leisure activities.

An increasing number of Americans, 1.5 million today, have some form of autism, one of five disorders falling under Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.” Two other forms of autism are called Asperger syndrome or Rett syndrome.

Because of better diagnostic tools, the U.S. Department of Education estimates that autism is growing every year. The estimated statistics show that the prevalence of autism will reach far more Americans in the next decade. “Experts estimate that three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.”

For this reason, it is important to learn about autism and to increase public awareness about the daily issues that affect people with autism; to support proper services for individuals across the lifespan; and to provide the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

Autism is not based on race, ethnicity, social boundaries, family income levels, lifestyle choices, or educational levels. While there is no known single cause for autism, we do know that understanding autism is due to abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans have shown differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to children who do not possess the disorder.
 
Although many theories exist about the causes of autism, such as heredity, genetics, and other medical problems, none of these theories has proven to be a conclusive answer as to how people acquire autism. Currently researchers are on the hunt for irregular segments of genetic code that children with autism may have inherited but no identification has been made on the specific cause for the development of autism.

People who are diagnosed with autism do not “outgrow” it; however, early detection and intervention have been known to dramatically improve behavioral outcomes. Experts at the NIH say, “As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent. Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements, such as rocking and twirling, or self-abusive behavior, such as biting or head-banging. Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people.”

Since autism is somewhat treatable in the early development of children, remember these helpful signs to look for in children: Lack of or delay in speaking, repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms, little or no eye contact, lack of interest in having friends or interacting with them, lack of spontaneous or make-believe play, and persistent fixation on parts of objects.  

A medical screening by experts will determine whether a child has autism. Keep in mind that each person with autism is still a unique individual with a personality and a mixture of characteristics. Some will be mildly affected, experiencing only slight delays in language.  Others may come across as aggressive and exhibit self-injurious behavior.

If you have any concerns or questions about autism, Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc., (OHI) encourages you to talk to your doctor.

About Ocean Health Initiatives - OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.