Case Study - Autism
INTERVIEW WITH A PARENT OF AN AUTISTIC CHILD
Autism is a developmental disability characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. It is estimated that 1 in 166 children today has autism. Males are four times more likely to have it. Some symptoms of autism are exaggerated reactions and inappropriate behaviors. Also, it is common for autistic children to be disturbed by noise.
There is an area of debate and controversy surrounding the causes and etiology of autism, along with other Autism Spectrum Disorders. A genetic basis for autism has unquestionably been established and at this stage it appears that multiple genes may be responsible. Currently, there is no genetic test that can be done to detect autism. Though it is agreed that there is a genetic susceptibility to autism, disagreements surface over the whether the condition is genetically established and therefore inevitable, or is triggered by factors in the environment. The controversy is made more problematic by the broad spectrum of autism, ranging from near total disability to mild social difficulties. It is hypothesized that these multiple “causes” act together with each other in delicate and complex ways, and would explain the wide range of conflicting effects and behaviors in each individual.
Genetic cause of autism
Scientists commonly agree that there is at best a genetic basis for autism, although this may still be debated by some psychology researchers, parents of children diagnosed with autism, and members of the autistic community. Many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated weaknesses to environmental triggers. And while there is disagreement about the magnitude, nature, and mechanisms for such environmental factors, researchers have found seven genes prevalent among many individuals diagnosed as autistic.
Various studies disclose that there are definite physical changes in the brains of individuals on the autism
Autism is a developmental disability characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. It is estimated that 1 in 166 children today has autism. Males are four times more likely to have it. Some symptoms of autism are exaggerated reactions and inappropriate behaviors. Also, it is common for autistic children to be disturbed by noise.
There is an area of debate and controversy surrounding the causes and etiology of autism, along with other Autism Spectrum Disorders. A genetic basis for autism has unquestionably been established and at this stage it appears that multiple genes may be responsible. Currently, there is no genetic test that can be done to detect autism. Though it is agreed that there is a genetic susceptibility to autism, disagreements surface over the whether the condition is genetically established and therefore inevitable, or is triggered by factors in the environment. The controversy is made more problematic by the broad spectrum of autism, ranging from near total disability to mild social difficulties. It is hypothesized that these multiple “causes” act together with each other in delicate and complex ways, and would explain the wide range of conflicting effects and behaviors in each individual.
Genetic cause of autism
Scientists commonly agree that there is at best a genetic basis for autism, although this may still be debated by some psychology researchers, parents of children diagnosed with autism, and members of the autistic community. Many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated weaknesses to environmental triggers. And while there is disagreement about the magnitude, nature, and mechanisms for such environmental factors, researchers have found seven genes prevalent among many individuals diagnosed as autistic.
Various studies disclose that there are definite physical changes in the brains of individuals on the autism