Siblings With Autism

AUTISM??? Autism, part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. The disorder is characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors. Symptoms range from mild to severe. One milder form of the disorder is known as Asperger Syndrome. Other developmental disorders that fall under the Autism Spectrum Disorders are Rett Syndrome, PDD NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't wait: speak to your pediatrician about getting your child screened for autism
SPECTRUM??? Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means it manifests itself in many different forms. A diagnosis can range from mild to severe, and though children who have it (i.e. are on the spectrum) are likely to exhibit similar traits, they're also as individual as the colors of a rainbow, each one managing a grab bag of symptoms. While one child may rarely speak and have difficulty learning how to read and write, another can be so high-functioning he's able to attend classes in a mainstream school.
HOW IS IT CAUSED No one knows for sure. Though it's understandable to expect that a disorder as common as autism would have a known cause, in many ways it's still quite mysterious. Recent studies suggest a strong genetic basis for autism -- up to 20 sets of genes may play a part in its development. Genetics alone, however, can't account for all the cases, and so scientists are also looking into possible environmental origins, as well as other triggers.
AUTISM CASE RISEING FASTER As many as 1 in 150 children are autistic, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That adds up to almost 1.5 million people in the United States. Also, government statistics suggest the rate of autism is rising 10-17 percent annually. Unfortunately, the numbers appear to be continuing their upward climb. In fact, it is the most prevalent developmental disorder to date; according to the Centers for Disease Control, of the approximately 4 million babies born every year, 24,000 of them will eventually be identified as autistic. Also, recent studies suggest boys are more susceptible than girls to developing autism. In the United States alone, 1 out of 104 boys are suspected of being on the spectrum, with perhaps more going undiagnosed to this day. That said, girls appear to manifest a more severe form of the disorder than their male counterparts.
VACCINES CAUSE IT??? Though the debate over the role that vaccines play in causing autism grows more heated every day, researchers have still not found a definitive link between the two. According to organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization, there's just not enough evidence to support the contention that vaccines – specifically thimerosal-containing vaccines – cause children to develop autism. One study published in the medical journal Lancet faulting the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shot has since been questioned by its own authors, and many others have also failed to pass scientific muster. Still, the accusations continue, largely from parents of children on the spectrum, and it's easy to understand why: There are still no answers to this day about what's causing a disorder that appears to steadily be expanding its reach. (MY OPPINION IS YES VACCINES DID CAUSE IT BECAUSE MY SISTER WAS A NORMAL BABY WHEN SHE WAS BORN BEFORE SHE GOT HER SHOTS SHE COULD TALK SHE INTERACTED WITH ME AND COUNLD COUNT AND SHE COULD SAY NANY'S NEW SHOES SHE WAS PERFECT BUT AFTER THE SHOTS SHE STOPED LEARNING AND TALKING NO EYE CONTACT SHE WAS ALMOST DEAD INSIDE THE DOCTORS SAID SHE WOULD BE LIKE A VEGTABLE AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE DONE WELL MY MOM DIDNT TAKE NOTHING COULD BE DONE AS AN ANSWER AND WE WENT TO DOCTOR AFTER DOCTOR YEARS LATER SHE WAS 12 AND I HAD LEARNING PROBLEMS AND I WAS ON THE SPECTRUM ALSO BUT NOT DIAGNOSED OUR DOCTOR SAID HE WAS GOING TO TEST OUR METAL LEVELS IN OUR BODY WE HAD HIGH LEVELS OF MERCURY AND WE WERE CHELATING IT I BECAME BETTER AT LEARNING AND MY SISTER SLOWLY WAS GETTING BETTER AND IT CONTINUES TO GET BETTER AND LEARN)