Autism: What causes it, and can it be cured?
Autism is a disorder that is affecting more and more children. But many
autistic children have been able to lead normal lives.
Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the early stages
of development of a child, mostly in the first three years of development.
It is a neurological disorder that affects the proper functioning of the
brain and affects the development of the social and communication skills
of the individual.
Early diagnosis of autism is most important for the treatment of this
disorder. However, there is no blood or medical test available which will
help in the diagnosis of autism. Generally, it is delay in the development
of language skills or lack of appropriate social development that causes
parents or teachers to seek a medical evaluation. There are no racial or
ethnic specifications for the occurrence of this disorder, although boys
are three or four times more likely to have autism.
Autism is seen to affect each individual in different levels and so
is considered a spectrum disorder. Generally, autism is seen to affect
the verbal and non-verbal communication skills, leisure activities, and
the all-round social interactions of the individual.
There is no standard treatment for the cure of autism. Different medical
professionals have different philosophies and practices for treating autistic
individuals. The results of the treatment of autism will also vary from
individual to individual. However, autism cannot be completely cured; there
can only be improvements in the abilities of the autistic person. Autistic
children are seen to benefit greatly from treatment approaches that include
special education and behavioral management.
An important strategy in the treatment of autism is to keep the diet
of the autistic children gluten- and casein-free. A gluten- and casein-free
autism diet is seen to produce a marked level of improvement in autistic
children. This is because in their body system there is incomplete breakdown
of the peptides in the food substances containing gluten and casein. This
leads to an increased absorption of peptides causing disruption in the
biochemical and neuroregulatory processes in the brain. Adding vitamin
B6 and B12 to the diet is beneficial to the treatment of autism as it improves
digestion, symptoms of allergy, and sociability in children.
Despite one child in every thousand being affected by this illness,
the awareness and the number of support groups for this illness is negligible.
Efforts are being undertaken to create an increased awareness and to generate
funds to support research and treatment of autism.
Autism awareness bracelets and ribbons help spread awareness about
this disorder. The sale of these bracelets supports many autism research
foundations and also provides financial assistance to many parents with
autistic children.
‘Autism walk’ is another novel fundraising effort for the support of
those suffering from autism. The money generated from registration of the
‘Autism walk’ events is used to provide financial support to the parents
of autistic children, or to establish support groups to facilitate their
treatment.
About The Author
Lisa Hyde-Barrett, a registered nurse and wellness advocate, understands
the relationship between good nutrition and good health. Visit on of her
many health site here: http://www.autism-awareness-online.com
