Maybe it’s more than just a phase

Autism has risen from 1 in 1500 to 1 in 150 in five years—that is ten times as many children being diagnosed per year. The cause of the dramatic increase (much like the cause of disease itself) is unknown. However, treatment for the childhood is available and with parents’ help the effects of the disease can be lessened.

The mystery surrounding the childhood disorder creates rampant speculation and a negligent attitude toward the disease and those affected. For instance, a child may be deprived of treatment because his or her parents did not know or did not bother to look for warning signs of autism. It is time to dispel misconceptions, and take care of the issue at hand: raising awareness of symptoms and treatment of autism.

Some think autism is not a helpable problem. Children with the disease must live with the disease and the consequences. People who think nothing can be done for the children, don’t take proactive behavior personally or in a classroom.

In reality as signs of autism are recognized early, children can be helped to achieve more social normalcy. The disorder is usually first diagnosed in early childhood. The main signs and symptoms of autism involve communication, social interactions and repetitive behaviors. For example, many autistic children wont make eye contact when being spoken to or will only repeat one activity over and over.

Not all autism cases go undetected. There are parents who notice something is wrong take children in to the doctor for a diagnosis. Once the disorder is addressed, parents work with their child to understand the problem and what can be done.

There are many treatments for autism spectrum disorder because the disorder is not the same for individuals. Some of the treatments include, speech therapy, behavior modification and vision therapy. Dr. Ivar Lovaas, founder of one behavior modification program says, “If a child can not learn the way we teach we must teach in a way the child can learn”. Vision therapy helps those unable to visually "hold still" to rely on a constant scanning of visual information to find out meaning.

Within the education system understanding and help can be given for further development. Treating autism is not pampering, “dumbing down,” or segregating children. It is using knowledge of the disorder to understand when and how to push each child toward different goals.

Every child, autistic or not, has certain needs that must be met in order to reach full potential, but it is in light of the growing trend in autistic children that special attention must be paid.

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