The ABC's of Autism

Many people ask me exactly what IS autism??? I can never really answer that with a simple description. Fact is, autism is very, very COMPLEX. It affects many parts of the body and no two children have the exact same symptoms. My only experience with autism prior to Ivy being diagnosed, was of Dustin Hoffman's portrayal of an autistic man in the movie Rain Man. I do not believe that the 1 in 150 kids being diagnosed today are of the same type of autism. I believe that there is something much more complex about today's autism. I don't buy into the theory that the rise in autism is due to better diagnosing. In fact, I think that is a load of crap. I think the autism of today, is being triggered by outside interferences such as vaccines, exposure to heavy metals, poor diet, nutritional deficiencies, amalgam illness, poisoned water supplies, pitocin overuse, and the list can go on and on.....

So, over the course of the next 26 days I am going to give you autism from A to Z. Each day I will write about something directly related to autism be it an explanation, treatment, therapy, etc. I hope by the end of the alphabet, you will have a much better understanding of autism. Enjoy!

A is for AUTISM

:: Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before the age of three.

:: Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

:: Individuals with autism often suffer from numerous physical ailments which may include: allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, and more.

:: Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than girls. Its prevalence is not affected by race, region, or socio-economic status. Since autism was first diagnosed in the U.S. the occurrence has climbed to an alarming 1 in 150 people across the country.

:: Autism does not affect life expectancy. Currently there is no cure for autism, though with early intervention and treatment, the diverse symptoms related to autism can be greatly improved.