Autism is now Common

It's hard for me to tell whether there are more developmental problems or just better diagnosis because my kids are so young. I have talked to teachers who say they are seeing more problems now compared to 10-20 years ago. So I guess I am leaning toward more disorders. What do you think?

FROM ABC: It seems that doctors are finding autism more and more common. Now a new government study continues the trend-- which includes other developmental problems. Autism and other childhood development difficulties have increased seventeen per cent in the last ten years.

That's the finding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-- published in the journal "Pediatrics." Based on data from children age three to seventeen, the authors found a rise in those with: - autism - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - cerebral palsy - mental retardation (and) - seizures Autism had the biggest increase, rising four-fold between 2006 and 2008.

But Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose thirty-three per cent-- the biggest reason for the higher incidence of developmental problems. Boys had a higher prevalence than girls. The experts say the increase may be due to more pre-term births and parents having kids at later ages. They also cite better awareness and detection.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Autism Diagnosis at just Months Old

It would be amazing if autism could be diagnosed as early as three months old. The kids who start treatment early are seeing great progress. Preventing autism is extremely important, but until that's possible getting the best treatment is key. This is very promising!

FROM NBC: While most children with autism spectrum disorder are diagnosed around age 2 or 3 -- a new study suggests it may someday be possible to flag these children as young as just a few months old. The idea that an autistic child could be diagnosed as an infant -- and therefore be able to get the earliest treatment possible -- is intriguing to experts in the field. "Waiting 3 years versus 3 months obviously might make a big difference."

A small new study of babies who'd been placed in the neo-natal intensive care unit after birth was originally intended to research infant development. Dr. Max Wiznitzer - UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland: "This was not meant to be an autism study, but they went back and said: 'mmm we have some features here that can differentiate the kids with autism compared with kids who don't.'"

Some of the children who were later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder had developmental anomalies as young babies -- differences in muscle tone and how they responded to noises and visual patterns. The differences were subtle -- which experts say could not be identified by a parent. and it's too early to generalize these findings to healthy newborns. Dr. Max Wiznitzer - UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland: "

These were babies who were sick enough that they ended up in an intensive care unit and then were followed afterwards to monitor their development." Still -- these red flags could be used in future infant autism studies. the hope is to find solid autism markers that doctors can look for -- even in their tiniest patients. Even though there's no real cure for autism -- the experts say getting these children into treatment programs as early as possible helps. Current early signs of autism include not making eye contact, not responding to their name, repetitive behaviors and not socializing or interacting appropriately.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Dr. Andrew Wakefield and Autism

This is pretty interesting. If you know about the autism/vaccine controversy, you have heard about Dr. Wakefield. Here is the story that aired on NBC last week. I wish I had seen it! I am curious to know what you guys think about this one...

FROM NBC: It's been a controversy for years: is there a link between autism and a common childhood vaccine? Now, one medical group has declared that Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who first raised that possibility, carried out his research in an unethical and irresponsible manner. A finding he flatly denies.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield's 1998 study suggesting the possibility of a link between autism and the MMR vaccine gave many parents around the world a reason to stop vaccinating and parents of children with autism a possible answer to the devastating question---- why?

Dr. Wakefield: "They took their children to be vaccinated, and then something happened; their children fell apart." But in the years following his publication in the "Lancet", no large-scale study could reproduce exactly what Dr. Wakefield's small study found and to investigative reporter Brian Deer, **that** raised a lot more questions than answers.

Deer: "He was not an independent researcher." Deer learned that Wakefield was working as a paid expert in a class action suit being planned against makers of the MMR by parents who believed their children were damaged by the vaccine. Brian Deer: "Dr. Wakefield was being paid by a firm of lawyers for two years before he ever published this report." sot matt lauer "no disputing that?" Brian deer "no disputing that."

Deer says it was a conflict of interest that should have been disclosed in the study, but never was. In an exclusive interview this summer, Dr. Wakefield *admitted* he was paid to conduct research on behalf of the plaintiffs, but said it was for a **later** study, one that never got published.

Matt Lauer: "So you'll look at me in the eye and say that at the time you were doing your research, you were guilty of no conflict of interest whatsoever in-- in either research or the dealing with those children you studied?"

Andrew Wakefield "No, not at all. And had I been, it would've been disclosed."

Because of Deer's reports, the general medical council -- which licenses physicians in the UK-- began investigating Dr Wakefield, including looking at the unusual way he got children's blood samples for his research.

Andrew Wakefield "We needed some control blood from children who were entirely normal. and So I asked my children and my wife said, 'we've got a birthday party coming up. we've got some medical friends. why don't we ask them if they'd be prepared to let their children do it, too?' so seven or eight children said, 'sure.'"

Matt Lauer "I don't know why that sounds funny to me, but it does. At a children's birthday party, blood samples being drawn from children. Were they paid for the samples?" Andrew Wakefield "They were rewarded. They weren't paid."

Matt Lauer "How were they rewarded?" Andrew Wakefield "At-- at the end of the party, they were given five pounds about-- at the time, I guess about-- eight dollars." Matt Lauer"Why isn't that paying them?" Andrew Wakefield: "Well, it's not saying up front by coercing them, 'you do this. we're gonna give you money.' it's saying at the end of it, 'here's a reward for-- for helping.' it's a-- it's a different thing in-- in ethical terms."

The British Medical Council disagreed. Now, two and half years after they began their inquiry, found that Wakefield's actions were unethical, and that he had acted "dishonestly and irresponsibly." Still, Wakefield's supporters are standing firm and Dr. Wakefield vows to press on. Wakefield: "The allegations against me and against my colleagues are both unfounded and unjust. The science will continue in earnest."

Dr. Wakefield will learn his fate this summer, when the general medical council decides whether to strip him of his license to practice or to do nothing at all. In the meantime, he continues his work here in the U.S., where he is Director of Research for an Autism Treatment Center in Austin, Texas.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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More Cases of Autism

FROM CNN HEALTH:A study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics indicates about 1 percent of children ages 3 to 17 have autism or a related disorder, an increase over previous estimates.

"This is a significant issue that needs immediate attention," Dr. Ileana Arias, deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. "A concerted effort and substantial national response is warranted."

The study used data from the federal government's 2007 national survey of children's health. The survey of parents was conducted by the Health Resources and Services Administration, and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The results are based on a national telephone survey of more than 78,000 parents of children ages 3 to 17.

In the study, parents were asked whether a health care provider had ever told them their child had an autism spectrum disorder. ASD is a group of brain disorders comprising autism and two less severe disorders: Asperger's disorder and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified.

Children with the disorder show impairment in social interaction and in their ability to communicate. They often display repetitive behavior.

The investigators also asked a follow-up question: Were the children considered to have ASD now? Nearly 40 percent of the parents and guardians said no.

That finding led the authors to question whether some of the children originally diagnosed as having ASD may have been improperly diagnosed, since the disorders are not considered curable.

But Kogan said the two surveys cannot be compared because the earlier investigators did not ask the follow-up question about whether the children were still considered to have the disorder.

Still, based on the findings, lead author Dr. Michael D. Kogan of HRSA's maternal and child health bureau estimated the prevalence of ASD among U.S. children ages 3 to 17 at 110 per 10,000 -- slightly more than 1 percent.

Boys were four times as likely as girls to have ASD, and non-Hispanic black and multiracial children were less likely than non-Hispanic white children.

He estimated that 673,000 children have ASD in the United States.

Monday's findings of nearly 1 in 100 appear to indicate an increase from the average of 1 in 150 that was reported in 2003, the researchers said.

The researchers urged caution in interpreting the change, noting that an increase in diagnoses does not necessarily mean that more children have the disorder. It could simply reflect a heightened awareness of the disorder.

"We don't know whether the change in the number over time is a result of the change in the actual condition, in the actual number of conditions or in part due to the fact that the condition is being recognized differently," Arias said.

She said that preliminary results from a separate, CDC-funded study she is working on also indicate that about 1 percent of children in the United States are affected by ASD. That study is to be published later this year, she said.

"This is a behavioral diagnosis, and it's difficult to make, and it's difficult to make at young ages," said Dr. Peter van Dyck, HRSA's associate administrator for maternal and child health.

Half of the cases were considered mild by their parents, the study reported.

The results underscore the importance of creating policies that will result in early identification and intervention, the officials said.

The reports raise "a lot of questions about how we are preparing in terms of housing, employment, social support -- all the issues that many of these people are going to need," said Dr. Tom Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

"It also raises questions about how well we're prepared in the educational system to provide for the special needs of many of these kids."

Insel said the federal government is beefing up the resources it is mobilizing to address autism and related disorders, with $85 million being appropriated by the National Institutes of Health and $48 million for next year by the HRSA.

I just want to mention the reason for the increase does not have to be just one thing. It is most likely a number of factors that come into play. Maybe some kids are misdiagnosed. Maybe some parents are more aware of the symptoms. Maybe more kids are being impacted. All the scenarios may be true. I hope this study leads to more research and programs to help these kids.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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8 Challenges of Autism Today

FROM MSN:
1. Behavior

Facing facts: Science has established that autism is a developmental brain disorder, but experts have not yet been able to pinpoint why the behavioral outbursts associated with this disorder occur, says Richard Foxx, Ph.D. Foxx is professor of psychology at Penn State University, an adjunct professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, and co-editor of Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism (Pro-Ed, 2001). What experts do agree on is that these behaviors—which may include tantrums, self-injury and aggressiveness—are learned, says Foxx, whose specialty is treating behavioral problems in people who have autism. The behavior, he says, is a way for a child with autism to communicate the need for attention or to escape from an undesirable situation.

What to do: Foxx suggests parents enlist the services of a board-certified behavior analyst who can help assess the motivation behind the disruptive behavior. (You can find one at http://www.bacb.com/.) For example, he says, a child may have a strong negative reaction to taking a bath and will throw a tantrum whenever asked to take one. However, a behavior analyst might determine that the child was watching a favorite DVD when asked to take a bath, and was expressing frustration over being interrupted. Possible solutions might be to schedule the bath at a different time, and then, using positive reinforcement, letting the child watch that DVD.

If parents cannot afford a private behavior analyst, Foxx suggests requesting one through the school district or a mental health organization.

2.Vaccination

Facing facts: Some parents believe the vaccine that protects against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) has caused the spike in autism. There's a reason why it's easy to connect the two events, says Tracey Oppenheim, M.D., a child psychiatrist who specializes in treating children with autism at Banner Children's Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Ariz.

Oppenheim says autism symptoms usually appear when a child is between 18 months and 3 years of age. Most children who are eventually diagnosed as having autism initially show gradual abnormal development. However, others appear to be developmentally on track, and then suddenly undergo behavioral changes and lose language skills. "This abrupt turn of events can make parents desperate to figure out what happened to their child," says Oppenheim. "And, if the child was vaccinated during this time, some parents tend to connect the vaccine and the onset of autism because of this coincidental timing." Sometimes, says Oppenheim, some of these parents, either first-timers or those who already have an older child who has autism, therefore decide not to vaccinate their children.

What to do: Parents needn't worry about vaccines, says Oppenheim. Experts at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), and at the American Academy of Pediatrics (aap.org), agree that the MMR vaccine is not responsible for the rise in cases of autism. She advises that parents base their decisions on facts, rather than on fear.

3.Nutrition

Facing facts: Dr. Foxx says food can be a major issue for children with autism, and for their parents who are bombarded with suggestions of different diets to follow, says. Foxx, whose specialty is treating behavioral problems in people who have autism, says these children often choose their foods selectively, sometimes eating only foods of a certain color or items made by a particular brand. They may also gravitate to foods with a soothing texture, such as puddings. And they may fixate on appearance, rejecting items with, say, bits of green in them. To make matters worse, some children with autism have poor chewing skills, or may refuse to eat solid foods.

"Parents are so desperate to help their child that they may seize on less-traditional food regimens," says Foxx, co-author of Treating Eating Problems of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Interventions for Professionals and Parents (Pro-Ed, 2007). Some popular but highly controversial food interventions, he says, include gluten-free or dairy-free diets. "The danger is taking a one-size-fits-all approach," he says. "Autism is a complex disorder, and a well-balanced diet is always best for a child."

What to do: If you're concerned about your child's nutrition, it's best to enlist a licensed and certified professional, preferably one associated with a medical school, to do a full work-up on your child. Many parents have had success broadening their child's palate through behavioral methods, such as putting a tiny amount of a rejected food into a child's favorite food, and gradually increasing the amount. Children can also learn to broaden their palates by working with an occupational therapist.

4. Early Screening

Facing facts: Why is early screening for autism so important? The earlier it can be determined that a child has autism, the sooner he or she can get intervention, says Matt Tincani, Ph.D., an expert on autism disorders and associate professor of special education at Temple University's College of Education. And the sooner they get intervention, the more likely these children can make progress.

The first step in getting a handle on the condition, then, is a screening, says Tincani, who's also the co-editor of Complete Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders (Prufrock Press Inc., 2009). The results of some screenings are tip-offs that more specialized tests are needed, he says, just as if you had a positive screen for high blood pressure and were sent for further tests to see if you have heart problems. Despite the value of these screenings, it's not always easy for parents, who suspect something is not right developmentally with their child, to get one.

What to do: Tincani says pediatricians are not always very experienced treating and diagnosing autism and other developmental disorders, and may tell parents that the child will outgrow the concerning behaviors. Therefore, parents who want a screening for their child should be adamant and ask the physician for a referral to a pediatric neurologist, or to another professional who understands autism. Because the screening results can lead to early intervention, it pays to be persistent, he says. It's also imperative to get treatment early because in some states, insurance companies cover specific therapies only until the child reaches age 7, after which time payment must be made out of pocket.

5.Sibling issues

Facing facts: A child who has autism requires enormous attention from everyone in the family, says Dr. Foxx. And the strain is acutely felt by the child's siblings. "A large percentage of parents' time is tied up in caring for the safety and welfare of their [child with autism], so parents are not able to give as much time as they'd like to typical siblings," he says. "It's an arduous balancing act," he adds.

What to do: Be upfront and honest with your other children about why the sibling with autism needs extra care, says Foxx, noting that siblings are capable of great patience and understanding in this type of situation. Often, siblings feel appreciated and respected if the parent asks them for help in caring for the sister or brother who has autism, but it's important to not overburden them with responsibilities.

6. School placement

Facing facts: A child's mental and emotional health is often tied to a successful school experience. For children with autism, the right placement plays a key role. For the best outcome, parents of children with autism need to be well informed about how classroom placement occurs, says Dr. Tincani. The good news is the law—The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA)—is on your side.

IDEA states that parents are equal members of the child's educational team, and that the only reason for removing the child from a traditional classroom setting is if the youngster is not making satisfactory progress there. However, many schools act not in the interest of the child, but according to the preferences of teachers who may not want behavioral disruptions in their classroom, says Dr. Tincani.

What to do: Be realistic about your child's abilities, but don't give in to pressure, he advises. "If you're considering a self-contained classroom setting—where a [child with autism] receives more intensive instruction in basic skills—insist on seeing the classroom. It may be a red flag for parents if, for example, their child is verbal and expressive, and most of the children in the classroom appear secluded and withdrawn. Another alternative, if the child can handle such a transition, is splitting the school day between traditional and self-contained classroom instruction.

7. Getting informed

Facing facts: The challenge facing parents seeking information about autism is that there's so much of it. "People are overwhelmed and frustrated with all the information that's out there," says Areva Martin, an attorney in private practice in Los Angeles and the mother of a 10-year-old son with autism. That's the reason she co-founded Special Needs Network, a non-profit organization that provides resources, education and advocacy to families raising children with disabilities in underserved communities (http://www.specialneedsnetwork.net/); she's now president of the organization. And, she adds, because autism expresses itself differently in every child, only a small percentage of the vast amount of information online may be applicable to your child's situation. However, says Martin, many parents are so desperate for answers that they can easily be misled.

What to do: Find a trusted source of information, such as a family doctor, educator or mental health professional, to help you sort out what may be contradictory information, says Martin. While it's important to keep up with the latest studies, she underscores that "collecting information is only a part of the puzzle." Getting the information interpreted, so that it helps your child and provides new options, is just as crucial.

What do you think is the biggest challenge when it comes to autism? I don't have a child with the developmental disorder, but I would think discipline would be an everyday battle. When do you blow off bad behavior as a symptom and when is the child acting out and needing to be disciplined? Is it always easy to tell the difference? I think discipline is so hard for any parent. It is exhausting and if you start slacking, it just gets worse! Thanks for sending the this article Lauryn!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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