Awareness of autism spectrum disorders Essay Example

Awareness of autism spectrum disorders Essay For a figure of old ages now, my married woman, Jen Morgan has taught kids with autism and autism spectrum upsets. Throughout that clip, I have had the chance to volunteer at assorted charity events to assist raise consciousness and apprehension of these upsets. I have learned important information about these upsets and how it has affected the households that live with them. One thing that has ever bothered me was the deficiency of consciousness of autism spectrum upsets in today s society. In the yesteryear, it was rare to happen anything in print or on the eventide intelligence about autism. Recently at that place seems to be an inflow of studies in the media about autism, its research, and the effects it is holding on the households populating with the upsets. Why is that? What has changed that has brought a upset that has been around for a really long clip to the attending of so many people? We will write a custom essay sample on Awareness of autism spectrum disorders specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Awareness of autism spectrum disorders specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Awareness of autism spectrum disorders specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer What is autism? I think it is of import to first explicate what autism is. The Autism Speaks web site says that Autism is a general term used to depict a group of complex developmental encephalon upsets known as Permeant Developmental Disorders ( PDD ) . The other permeant developmental upsets are PDD-NOS ( Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ) , Aspergers Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Many parents and professionals refer to this group as Autism Spectrum Disorders ( Be Informed, N.D. ) . Harmonizing to Ehlers A ; Gillberg ( 1993 ) , the United States authorities figures show that the prevalence of autism among its population has been lifting every twelvemonth. The ground for the addition has non been found, but improved diagnosing and environmental influence are considered to be the cause for the increased consciousness. Male kids have been reported to be more prone to the upset as compared to the female kids and are diagnosed with the status rather often. In the United States, it is estimated that around 1 % of the male childs are diagnosed with the upset ( p. 1327 ) . One in 150 kids are born each twelvemonth with an autism spectrum upset ( about autism, N.D. ) . What I found to be interesting was that autism is more widespread than childhood malignant neoplastic disease, juvenile diabetes and paediatric AIDS combined. There does non look to be a unequivocal reply as to what causes autism. Some scientist think it is environmental, familial, or a compromised immune system during the kid s pre-natal development, while some believe it is a combination of these things. Recently carnal surveies have produced grounds on how the immune system of the organic structure can act upon symptoms which are linked to autism. These surveies aim at increasing the degree of consciousness and besides probes of utile immunological facts to research workers who are non in that field and those within the field of autism at the community degree ( Haley, 2006 ) . It was one time believed that autism was caused by bad parenting, but in the 1970 s Dr. Bernard Rimland, the male parent of a boy with autism, and the laminitis of the Autism Society of America, assisted in the research that concluded it is non caused by bad rearing but instead is a biological upset ( Be Informed, 2009 ) . Awareness has ever been one of the biggest conflicts for the autism community. Bob Wright, former CEO of NBC Universal, found out in 2004 that his grandson Evan was diagnosed with autism. Bing the Chief executive officer of a major amusement company like NBC, Wright had tremendous power to force a subject such as autism onto a huge audience. In February 2005, Wright and his married woman Suzanne co-founded Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is an organisation that researches autism, its causes, and possible remedies. As good, they advocate for households with autism and spread consciousness about autism and autism spectrum upsets. They have established a web of research scientists and households who are an alone beginning of information that can dramatically increase our cognition and apprehension of autism spectrum upsets ( Wright, 2009 ) . The Willard huntington wrights have had a immense impact on the autism community by distributing consciousness of the spectrum upsets around the unive rse. I was able to happen more than 50 different intelligence narratives, particular studies and interviews which the Wrights personally did between the old ages 2005 and 2007, with the might of NBC Universal behind them. Not surprising they were about all on NBC and NBC affiliate Stationss. When autism effects the celebrated and affluent, they have the agencies and the audience to recommend for autism spectrum upsets, where the mundane common individual does non. It is obvious that the Wrights function in the autism community has brought important consciousness to the state and universe. While the Wrights work in the autism community has yielded positive consciousness, the inquiry arose, what are the unconstructive facets of autism consciousness, and who specifically could be lending to this signifier of consciousness. When I was seeking for negatives in respects to autism consciousness, the individual that kept coming to visible radiation was actress Jenny McCarthy. McCarthy s boy was diagnosed with autism in 2005 at the age of 3. She became an militant to raise consciousness of autism together with her fellow, histrion and comedian Jim Carey. McCarthy claimed her boy became autistic after he received his rubeolas, epidemic parotitiss, German measles ( MMR ) vaccinum. Argument occurred when she announced that she had cured her boy s autism with a technique called chelation therapy. Basically, chelation therapy is the natural cleaning of the organic structure of quicksilver which is in vaccinums and that she and others believe can do autism, although there has been n o solid scientific grounds to turn out this. This theory has been widely rejected by the National Institute of Mental Health, reasoning that autistic kids are improbable to have any benefit to equilibrate the hazards of cognitive and emotional jobs posed by the chelating agents used in the intervention ( McCarthy, 2005 ) . It is believed that the symptoms that her boy ab initio had and what led to his diagnosing was really a upset called Landau-Kleffner syndrome. It is a neurological upset that has some of the same symptoms as autism, and is frequently misdiagnosed as autism. Symptoms by and large disappear as kids get older ( Landau, 2005 ) . Although her work at raising consciousness for the autism community is in its basic signifier positive, some see it as pulling negative attending to a really controversial and sensitive topic. The possibility of her boy s misdiagnosis coincides with a recent survey published in the Journal Pediatric, and reported on by the New York Times. The study covered 78,000 families, which had diagnosed household members with autism. In the article Carey ( 2009 ) stated that about 40 per centum of the kids surveyed no longer fell into the class of what would be considered an autism spectrum upset. This supports what was addressed about McCarthy s boy, and about kids being r ushed into a diagnosing that could be inaccurate. Their symptoms labeled autism could really good hold been a upset like Landau-Kleffner syndrome, which in most instances is grown out of, non cured. I had an interesting conversation with my married woman, who has been a instructor of kids with autism and mental upsets for over 10 old ages. We were speaking about parents that she had dealt with in the yesteryear that seemed to utilize their kids s upset to acquire attending for them and look to work it for pecuniary addition. ( J. Morgan, personal communicating, December 09, 2009 ) said it is a upset in itself. It s called Munchhausen by proxy. Peoples with this upset want their kids to be ill, or to hold a upset. They feel satisfied by acquiring attending from others, and really disquieted if they do nt. This is non to state they do nt love their childs, but the upset makes them seek attending. Morgan mentioned one female parent that would move about disgusted or taken a back if they met person who had neer heard of them or their kid. Now they were non people of importance in the community, but they were known for showcasing their girl at assorted autism consciousness events. Munchhausen by proxy tantrums in with McCarthy and her boy. McCarthy seemed to utilize her boy s upsets to derive attending to compose books and hike her neglecting calling. Now this is merely my sentiment but it falls into line with my research. It is obvious McCarthy loves her son really much and wants nil but the best for him, but to state she cured her boy of autism is a small bizarre, and she provides no scientific information to endorse up her claims. The information does back up the fact that a batch of kids are misdiagnosed with autism, and that it is lead poisoning or exposure to some other chemical which is doing their neurological upsets. Awareness within the autism community in any manner is a good thing. The addition in the figure of persons reported with autistic spectrum upsets can be attributed to alterations in referral forms, in the methods of diagnosing, and the cognition of the different manifestations of autism. Bringing a subject like autism to visible radiation and the instruction of the general population merely serves to assist the autism community. By researching and recommending for those populating with autism spectrum upsets, it will merely be a affair of clip before the cause and finally a remedy is found. Ownby ( 2009 ) said that The more we publish research and statistics we merely help people go more cognizant of autism spectrum upsets and diagnosings. One thing I did larn was that households that have kids with autism are really courageous people. They deal with existent miracles every twenty-four hours, and unrecorded with the hope that one twenty-four hours all their difficult work and the work of so many others will convey the kid that they know and love out to the remainder of the universe. Sell ( 2007 ) said Turning up is difficult work and the universe can be a confusing topographic point, particularly for person with a processing upset. While I ca nt alter the universe for my boy, I can give him the tools he needs to perplex things out for himself. And that gives me hope. ( p. 237 ) As I was researching autism, I found that the lengths that some will travel through to raise consciousness of the upset can be every bit different as dark and twenty-four hours. From people like the Wrights, and McCarthy, to parents enduring from their ain upset like Munchhausen by placeholder. It s clear that they all have, in their ain particular manner, a really large bosom and want nil but the best for household s covering with these upsets. I still want to cognize why it takes person of stature like the Wrights or McCarthy to open the universe s eyes to a upset that is impacting so many households every twenty-four hours. Why is it that merely the rich and celebrated have the power and influence to consequence alteration in respects to a subject such as autism? Is it the resources that are available to them, or is it the simple fact that they have such a powerful influence over so many people? Mentions About Autism. ( n.d. ) . Retrieved November 27, 2009, from the Autism Society of America Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.autism-socety.org/site/pageserver? pagename=about_home Be Informed. ( n.d. ) . Retrieved December 06, 2009, from the Autism Speaks Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php Bob Wright. ( 2009, October 20 ) . In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 06, 2009, from hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Bob_Wright A ; oldid=320932311 Carey, B. ( 2009, October 5 ) . Childhood: Autism diagnoses lifting, U.S. studies. The New York Times, p. C2. Ehlers, S. , A ; Gillberg, C. ( 1993 ) . The epidemiology of Aspergers syndrome: a entire population Study, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34 ( 8 ) , 1327. Jenny McCarthy. ( 2009, December 14 ) . In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 08, 2009, from hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Jenny_McCarthy A ; oldid=331525867 Haley, B. ( 2006 ) . Vaccines and the altering epidemiology of autism. Child Care Health Dev. Retrieved on 15th December, 2009 from: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.whale.to/a/autism_diagnosis.html Landau-Kleffner Syndrome. ( 2009, November 14 ) . In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Landau % E2 % 80 % 93Kleffner_syndrome A ; oldid=325795007 Ownby, M. ( 2009, April ) . Autism Awareness and Acceptance. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //autismaspergerssyndrome.suite101.com/article.cfm/autism_awareness_and_acceptance Sell, C. ( Ed. ) . ( 2007 ) . A cup of comfort for parents of kids with autism. Avon, MA: Adams Research Log Why, in recent old ages has at that place been an addition in consciousness of autism spectrum upsets? 12/5/2009 For a figure of old ages now, my married woman has taught kids with autism and autism spectrum upsets. Throughout that clip I have had the chance to volunteer at assorted charity events to assist raise consciousness and apprehension of these upsets. During this clip I have learned allot about these upsets and how it has affected the household s that unrecorded with them. One thing that has ever bothered me was the deficiency of consciousness in today s society, until the past twosome of old ages. In the yesteryear it was rare to happen anything in print or on the eventide intelligence about autism. But late at that place seems to be an inflow of studies in the media about autism, its research, and the effects it is holding on the household s life with the upsets. Why is that? What has changed that has brought a upset that has been around for a really long clip to the attending of so many people? In the streamlined paper I will seek to reply some of these inquiries, and seek to acquir e a better apprehension as to why there has been an addition in consciousness and apprehension of an issue that has affected so many lives for so long. 12/6/2009 About autism. ( n.d. ) . Retrieved November 27, 2009, from the Autism Society of America Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.autism-socety.org/site/pageserver? pagename=about_home The basic facts about autism spectrum upsets in web site format. This is a basic article explicating what autism is, and the basic facts about the autism upset. Most of the information is basic and could merely be used as unobjective facts. Further research would be needed. 12/6/2009 Be Informed. ( n.d. ) . Retrieved December 06, 2009, from the Autism Speaks Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.autismspeaks.org/whatisit/index.php The basic facts about autism spectrum upsets in web site format. What is autism? I need to reply this inquiry foremost and foremost before I can acquire the bosom of my research. I think informing the reader of what autism is will be of import. Autism Speaks is one of the first organisations dedicated to the research, bar and consciousness of autism spectrum upsets. They have a great definition of autism that I should utilize. Quotation mark from Autism Speaks web site What is Autism? ( Be Informed, 2009 ) Autism is a general term used to depict a group of complex developmental encephalon upsets known as Permeant Developmental Disorders ( PDD ) . The other permeant developmental upsets are PDD-NOS ( Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ) , Aspberger s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Many parents and professionals refer to this group as Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ehlers, S. , A ; Gillberg, C. ( 1993 ) . The epidemiology of Asperger syndrome: a entire population Study, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34 ( 8 ) , 1327.. This is a journal entry speech production to the prevalence of autism upset in the United States and to the addition in consciousness of autism throughout the state 12/7/2009 What causes autism: There does non look to be a unequivocal reply as to what causes autism. Some scientist think it is environmental, familial, a compromised immune system during the kid s in utero development, and after birth. While some believe it is a combination of these things. One thing is widely accepted is that it is non due to bad parenting. Quotation mark from Autism Speaks web site ( Be Informed, 2009 ) In the sixtiess and 70s, Dr. Bernard Rimland, the male parent of a boy with autism, who subsequently founded the Autism Society of America and the Autism Research Institute, helped the medical community understand that autism is non caused by cold parents but instead is a biological upset I tend to tilt towards the familial facet. Local intelligence adult female gave birth three times back to endorse. All three kids have autism spectrum upsets. Try non to brood deep into the cause, as it can easy take over your research, and drag it off subject. State the basic facts and thoughts of causes and allow the reader research more into that if they desire. Commonality. 1 in 150 kids are born each twelvemonth with an autism spectrum upset. What I found that was interesting, and mildly disturbing was that it is more common than childhood malignant neoplastic disease, juvenile diabetes and paediatric AIDS combined. This is a really of import fact that I think demands to set in my concluding bill of exchange. Remember do nt travel overboard on all the basic facts. Stick to your subject. 12/7/2009 I thought I would speak to my married woman to assist me make up ones mind where to get down my research. She is a really gifted instructor of kids with autism, and has been really active the community for old ages. She suggested I look at celebrated people and famous persons conveying attending about the autism upsets 12/8/2009 Bob Wright. ( 2009, October 20 ) . In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 06, 2009, from hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Bob_Wright A ; oldid=320932311 Bob Wright, former CEO of NBC Universal. 1986-2007 for 21 old ages My married woman said I should make some checking on British shilling Wright. His grandson Evan was diagnosed with autism in 2004. Bing the Chief executive officer of a major amusement company like NBC He has tremendous power to force a subject such as autism onto an tremendous audience. This Wiki entry is some basic information about British shilling Wright and would be good for basic back land information merely. His impact on the autism community will necessitate farther research. 12/8/2009 While making hunts around the cyberspace I was able to happen more information on British shilling Wright and his impact on autism. His grandson was diagnosed with autism in 2004. In February 2005 Wright and his married woman Suzanne carbon monoxide founded Autism speaks, an organisation that researches autism, its causes and possible remedies. As good they advocate for households with autism and spread consciousness about autism and autism spectrum upsets. They have established a web of research scientists and households, an unprecedented beginning of information that will dramatically increase our cognition and apprehension of autism spectrum upsets. He has had tremendous impact on the autism community and acquiring consciousness of the upsets out to the universe. With the might of NBC cosmopolitan behind him, between the old ages 2005-and 2007 I was able to happen more than 50 different intelligence narratives, article, particular studies and interview British shilling Wright and his married woman Suzanne personally did. Not surprising they were all on NBC and NBC affiliate Stationss. This will do a great beginning to do the point that the when autism effects the celebrated and affluent they have the agencies and the audience to acquire at that place word across, where as the mundane common adult male does non. I need to see if there are any negative facets of the Wrights or others work. Is at that place work doing any contention within the autism community. This brings up a good inquiry of whether or non the over exposure of an issue like autism is good or bad. 12/8/2009 I have seen allot about Jenny McCarthy and her supposed sure for her boies autism, need to acquire a little more into this. Jenny McCarthy. ( 2009, December 14 ) . In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 08, 2009, from hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Jenny_McCarthy A ; oldid=331525867 Landau-Kleffner syndrome. ( 2009, November 14 ) . In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 15, 2009, from hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title=Landau % E2 % 80 % 93Kleffner_syndrome A ; oldid=325795007 This is a wiki entry explicate the landau-Kleffner upset frequently misdiagnosed as autism. Connect straight with Jenny McCarthy. It is believed that is what her boy really had and non autism. Jenny McCarthy s boy was diagnosed with autism in 2005 at the age of 3. She became an militant to raise the consciousness of autism together with her fellow, amusing adult male Jim Carey. McCarthy claimed her boy became autistic after he received his rubeolas, epidemic parotitiss German measles ( MMR ) vaccinum. Controversy occurred when she came out and said she had cured her boy s autism with a technique called chelation therapy. Basically, it is the cleaning of the organic structure of quicksilver which is in vaccinums and that she believed it causes autism. This theory has been widely rejected by the National Institute of Mental wellness, reasoning that autistic kids are improbable to have any benefit to equilibrate the hazards of cognitive and emotional jobs posed by the chelating agents used in the intervention ( wiki ) . It is believed that the symptoms that her boy ab initio had and what led to his diagnosing was really a upset called Landau-Kleffner syndrome. It is a neuro logical upset that has some of the same symptoms as autism, and is frequently misdiagnosed as autism. Symptoms by and large disappear as kids get older. This could take to McCarthy s belief that she cured her boy of autism with chelation therapy. The inquiry I have now is was her boy misdiagnosed and did she cognize that, but was so committed to the autism statement and that MMR vaccinums caused it that she had to lodge to her statement? Or, did she truly bring around her boy s autism. So, did McCarthy go on her campaign to maintain her name in the media or was she truly committed to the autism cause? 12/9/2009 Carey, B. ( 2009, October 5 ) . Childhood: Autism diagnoses lifting, U.S. studies. The New York Times. p. C2 This is an article analyzing a recent survey published in the Journal Pediatric refering a phone study conducted. The study covered 78,000 families, which had diagnosed household members with autism. The article is a good beginning of informations refering how people have been diagnosed with autism and autism spectrum upsets. Additionally, it can be used to discourse the possibility of people being misdiagnosed with autism spectrum upsets. The article stated that about 40 per centum of the kids surveyed no longer had fell into the class of what would be considered an autism spectrum upset. This supports what was addressed earlier about kids being rushed into a diagnosing that could be inaccurate, and the symptoms that could hold been labeled autism could really good hold been something that is grown out of. 12/9/2009 Pegram, C. ( 2008 ) . Out of a distant universe. Retrieved November 27, 2009, from the Autism Treatment Center of America Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/contents/reviews_and_articles /distant_world.php This article is a basic overview of the autism upset with basic facts. Additionally, it contains quotation marks from people populating with autism upsets. This a good article for basic unobjective information, and personal histories. Further research would be needed to verify some of the information. 12/9/2009 McLaughlin, P.L. , A ; Wehman, P. ( Eds. ) . ( 1996 ) . Mental deceleration and developmental disablements ( 2nd ed. ) . Austin, TX: Pro-ed. This is a text book for pupils get downing a calling in the attention and instruction of people with mental upsets. Since this is a text book for college pupils the information would do a great beginning from the point of position of the academic community. 12/9/2009 I had a nice small conversation with my married woman today. We were speaking about parents that she had dealt with in the yesteryear that seemed to utilize their kids s upset to acquire attending for them and look to work it for pecuniary addition. My married woman said it is a upset in itself. It s called Munchhausen by proxy. Peoples with this upset in a manner want their kids to be ill, to hold a upset. They feel satisfied by acquiring attending from others, and really disquieted if they do nt. It is really a upset that is being research by the autism research institute. This is non to state they did nt love their childs, but were attending hungry. She mentioned one twosome that would move about disgusted or taken aback if they met person who had neer heard of them. Now they were non anyone of importance in the community, but they were known for showcasing their girl at assorted autism consciousness events. I thought this went right along with Jenny McCarthy and her boy. She se emed used her boy s upsets to derive attending for her failing calling, to compose books, and hike her calling. Now this is merely my sentiment but it falls into line with my research. I am she jenny McCarthy loves her son really much, but to state she cured her boy of autism is a small bizarre, and seems a small unusual. Opportunities are he was misdiagnosed. My married woman said a batch of kids are misdiagnosed with autism, when in fact it is lead poisoning or exposure to some other chemical. 12/10/2009 Celebrated Peoples With Autism. ( n.d. ) . Retrieved December 10, 2009, from the Autism love to cognize Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //autism.lovetoknow.com/Famous_People_with_Autism This is a nice web site that looks at the possibilities of celebrated people throughout history that may hold had an autism spectrum upset. Some luminaries are Albert Einstein, Virginia Woolf, and Courtney love. Courtney love was the lone 1 that I could happen that was really diagnosed with a spectrum upset. There is no solid grounds to demo that any of the others really had autism, they did demo autism traits that would do people believe they did. 12/11/2009 Ownby, M. ( 2009, April ) . Autism Awareness and Acceptance. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //autismaspergerssyndrome.suite101.com/article.cfm/autism_awareness_and_acceptance This an article states allot of basic about autism. Statisticss, consciousness, and myths. But is do a good point that the continued research in autism and of all time altering statistics has drawn autism into the visible radiation and is a ground why there has been an addition in consciousness in the past few old ages. Quote ( Ownby, 2009 ) By publicising this statistic, people are going progressively cognizant of the turning prevalence of autism spectrum upset diagnosings 12/11/2009 I m acquiring in a rut. I need to complete this up. I need to get down authorship and clear some of my ideas up. I am over thought this. 12/11/2009 Autism Statistics ( n.d. ) . Retrieved December 11, 2009, from the EMED TV Web site: hypertext transfer protocol: //autism.emedtv.com/autism/autism-statistics.html This is basic statistical information about autism 12/12/2009 Sell, C. ( Ed. ) . ( 2007 ) . A cup of comfort for parents of kids with autism. Avon, MA: Adams. This is nice book of shared narratives of household s who have kids with an autism spectrum upset, some of the tests and trials in their mundane lives, and how they get through the tough yearss. This is a great beginning to demo how the mundane household lives with a household member who has autism, and how the upset has changed their lives. ( Sell, 2007 ) Turning up is difficult work, and the universe can be a confusing topographic point, particularly for person with a processing upset. While I ca nt alter the universe for my boy, I can give him the tools he needs to perplex things out for himself. And that gives me hope .