Will We Know Soon? What Causes Autism?
There are many different theories as to what causes autism. None of them, however, are completely conclusive. For this reason, medical professionals and parents alike continue to research and discuss the possibilities, hoping that some kind of definite answer will arise. Not knowing the route of a condition can be highly disconcerting for those that have to live with sufferers. It makes treatment quite difficult, and entirely symptomatic. Adding to this, the inability of autistic people to share their experiences in a way that those around them can comprehend ensures that research in this field is often stunted. There are a lot of unresolved debates on the issue, particularly when it comes to the sensitive topic of its possible link to vaccinations given to children to prevent other illnesses. It would definitely be highly beneficial to therapists, drug companies and parents to know exactly what causes autism so that treatments can be developed accordingly.
Before looking at the cause, it is important to understand exactly how the condition manifests itself. In summary, it is a neurological condition that impairs the patient's ability to interact socially, as well as having a huge impact on their verbal capabilities. It can be detected very early on in life, if the symptoms are closely monitored. It often manifests itself in children as a reluctance to start speaking, and, once they do, an impaired understanding of language-based associations. A child with the disorder may present a strange relationship with their toys, either not seeming to know how to play with them or growing overly attached to certain objects. They are also terminally shy, often avoiding looking people in the eye, or interacting on a social basis. These symptoms undoubtedly make it incredibly difficult for the autistic person to operate in society from a very early age.
The condition is also known as ASD, denoting that it is a wide spectrum disorder. What this means, essentially, is that ASD will display itself differently in different patients. It can range from being very severe, where the sufferer is utterly socially impaired, to more minor cases where they just have an intense battle with social behavior. The latter may make a child seem offensive or incredibly rude, when actually they just misunderstand social behavior. Because it is so broad, it is difficult to decipher exact treatments, as well as what causes autism in the first place.
A lot of research is now being done about pregnancy risks, and the relation they have to the condition. It seems now that the disorder can be detected before a child is brought to term. Also, certain factors such as premature birth and low birth rate at delivery appear to be common when it comes to autistic children.
While the answers still seem unclear, there is a lot of time, money and energy being put into finding out more about this fascinating condition. The more we know, the easier it will be to come up with treatments. As of yet, there is still no cure, but finding out what causes autism may definitely bring us closer to one.
