Did you know that around 1 in every 68 American children is on the autism spectrum, ten times greater than the amount just 40 years ago, and that increase can only be partially attributed to improved diagnosis and awareness? Furthermore, in the United States, it is estimated that 1 in every 42 boys and 1 out of 189 girls are diagnosed with autism. There are many unique forms of autism; however, since 2013, all autism disorders have been diagnosed as one disorder – Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. Autism is considered a developmental disorder, meaning its conditions are present in childhood and seriously impair different cognitive areas, making it extremely hard to live and behave normally. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects tens of millions of individuals across the globe, including over 2 million domestically (Diagnosis). Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most severe neurodevelopmental disorders known to man; it affects an individual’s behavior, including communication and social functioning.
Just a decade ago, if you asked, “What causes autism?,” you would get the response “We have no idea.” It was not until recent years that researchers began to discover the answer to this question. There is no one cause of autism. Over 100 autism risk genes have been discovered. Most cases of ASD are not exclusively based on genetic disposition. On the contrary, the majority of cases involve both a complex combination of genetic risk and environmental risk factors. These environmental factors can be clearly witnessed before and during birth. Some factors include advanced parental age at the time of conception, maternal illness, prematurity, difficulties during birth that lead to oxygen deprivation, and exposure to pesticides and pollution (Diagnosis). Environmental factors do not cause autism; however, genetic disposition in combination with these factors have proven to increase rick of autism spectrum disorder. According to a study conducted at the University of California, San Diego in 2011, children diagnosed with autism have more brain cells and heavier brains compared to their non-autistic counterparts. In their study, children on the spectrum had 67 percent more neurons in the prefrontal cortex compared to the control group. This suggests that faulty cell growth and replication or cell maintenance may be related to autism spectrum disorder (In Brief). Other research has suggested that the risk of autism is significantly lower when mothers take prenatal vitamins before and after conception (Diagnosis). There is no direct cause of autism spectrum disorder; however, the combination of genetic factors with environmental factors significantly increases the risk.
Because there are many forms of autism, there are also a wide variety of symptoms, which spread across three fields: social interaction, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors. Similarly, the severity of autism varies. Some diagnosees are highly functional and face relatively minor challenges. On the other end of the spectrum, symptoms are much more severe and drastically interfere with everyday life. Autism spectrum disorder appears within the first three years of one’s life and affects both verbal and nonverbal communication. Without the ability to interpret social cues, the world can be extremely dangerous and confusing. Some individuals not only express difficulty deciphering other people’s feelings, but also struggle to express their own emotions. Children and adults with autism might also have strange eating or sleeping habits, or hurt themselves by banging their heads and biting their extremities (Autism). People diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior. These repetitive behaviors may include motor movements, insistence on adhering to a specific routine, fixated interests, and hyperactivity (or hyporeactivity) to sensory input. As a result, many autistic children require a consistent day-to-day routine. Fortunately, with therapy, some of these symptoms can be overcome. To a degree, children with autism can eventually be taught how to interact with others and recognize facial expressions and most people with autism can learn how to verbally communicate (Diagnosis). The symptoms and severity of autism spectrum disorder vary across three fields: social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors.
Neuroimaging has proven to be a useful tool for in vivo study of brain structure and function and has provided some very valuable information on the neurobiological mechanisms of autism spectrum disorder. Structural MRI studies have revealed irregularities in the amount of gray and white matter in specific regions of the brain between people with autism and those without ASD. Neuroimaging has also been used to analyze the both the shape and volume of the brain in order to investigate atypical brain anatomy and neurodevelopment (Ha). Researchers have repeatedly noted that autistic children around the ages of 2 to 4 years old experience an accelerated growth rate in total brain volume; the increase appears to be the result of enlarged frontal and temporal lobes. Some suggest that the premature overgrowth of the brain is due to an increase in the cortical surface area but not the thickness of the cortical, which prevents cortical white matter from maturing properly. This rapid development is followed by arrested growth and a decline in brain volume once the child begins reaches their teenage years (Ha). Researchers have also discovered possible links between certain symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and core regions of the brain. For instance, difficulties related social language processing and social attention are believed to be the product of abnormalities in the inferior frontal gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, and Wernicke’s area. On the other hand, a damaged frontal lobe, superior temporal cortex, parietal cortex, or amygdala may be associated with social behavior. Lastly, defects in the orbitofrontal cortex and caudate nucleus are believed to result in restricted and repetitive behaviors we see in autism spectrum patients (Ha). Autism spectrum disorder has a wide variety of symptoms that can be traced to numerous regions of the brain.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment option to completely eradicate autism spectrum disorder. However, medications and therapy are being utilized to reduce the severity of some symptoms. Although there is no drug that can be prescribed to cure the disorder, medication is often used to treat whatever symptoms prove to be the most trouble. Seldom do drugs improve a behavior on their own, so autism diagnosees typically have to go through behavioral interventions as well. Operant conditioning is utilized in many types of autism therapy. It involves the use of rewards as positive reinforcement, as well as punishment to discourage poor behavior. This technique has helped children cope with autism spectrum disorder and improve their communication and social skills, while simultaneously decreasing an individual’s negative behaviors (Autism Treatment). The developmental individual-difference relationship-based model (DIR) is another form of intervention where the parents and therapists follow the child’s lead as they play together and engage the child in complex interactions. The TEACCH Autism Program uses learning strengths and weakness of people who suffer from autism spectrum disorder to teach flexibility, independence, and self-efficacy (Diagnosing). Research done within the last five years indicates that the future of therapy for those with ASD is a treatment known as sensory-motor or environmental enrichment. It builds on a number of previous experiments and is based on the idea that most children who suffer from autism have sensory problems. Thus, sensory enrichment may be an effective therapy for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. This treatment is cheap, can be done nearly anywhere, and can be performed with children well past their infant stage (Leon). It is important to note that the therapy used with autistic patients is not designed to cure autism spectrum disorder, which is nearly impossible. Psychotherapy is used to help people function as comfortably as possible and manage anxiety or mood disorders, communication difficulties, and improve relationships, as well as any other challenges they may have.
Autism spectrum disorder is one of, if not, the most severe developmental disorders. It affects behavior and communication skills, and can be seen in millions of individuals around the world. While there is no cure for autism, therapies can drastically improve the living conditions for those with autism spectrum disorder.