Autism is NOT A DISEASE. It is a little-understood developmental brain disorder affecting approximately 4 out of every 10,000 people.
In spite of over fifty years of research into the varying manifestations of autism and the families affected by it, the disorder continues to mystify doctors, psychologists, and scientists.
Autism manifestations
Autistic individuals are affected by the disorder in wide-ranging ways. People with severe cases display self-injurious, aggressive, and unusual behaviors. The mildest forms may appear, at least to the layperson, to be a personality disorder, possibly associated with a learning disability.
Did you know males are three times more like to have the disorder than females? From our research at Nutri Health, we have found that in most cases of autism, whether mild or severe; male or female, there is always a degree of imbalance of the male hormones. These imbalances are exhibited as impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Our studies have also shown that some people have a genetic predisposition to autism due to Immunoglobulin E (IGE) abnormalities, giving evidence to the reason why most autistic individuals and their family members also suffer from food allergies, respiratory allergies (sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and skin allergies).
Scientists estimate that families with one autistic child have a 5-percent (one in twenty) chance of having a second autistic child. Both of these factors cause neurological imbalance or malfunction that renders the autistic individual painfully oversensitive to external stimuli. Moreover, autism is not caused by parental neglect or actions as was once believed.
How can you diagnose autism?
Often, an autistic adult or child might at first appear to be mentally retarded or hard of hearing. For this, we stress that it is important to distinguish autism from other conditions. Physically, autistic individuals do not appear different from others but exhibit marked differences in behavior from a very early age. Autism is usually diagnosed in early childhood (before the age of three) and is characterized by the following:
- Marked unresponsiveness to other people and to the surrounding environment.
- While most babies love to be held and cuddled, autistic infants appear indifferent to love and affection.
- Autistic children may be overly agitated, and cry most of the time they are awake.
- Autistic children cannot form attachments to others in the way most children do and seem to withdraw into themselves.
- Many exhibit various unpredictable and unusual behaviors that can range from constant rocking, feet-pounding, or sitting for long periods of time in total silence.
- Some experience bursts of hyperactivity that include biting and pounding on their bodies.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the criteria used to diagnose autism include the following:
- Absence or impairment of imaginative and social play.
- Impaired ability to make friends with peers.
- Impaired ability to initiate or sustain a conversation.
- Stereotyped, repetitive, or unusual use of language.
- Restricted patterns of interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus.
- Apparent inflexibility with regard to changes in routine or rituals.
- Preoccupation with parts of objects.
At Nutri Health, we help better the experience of autistic children with the Nutri Treatment and Management for autism. Secure an in-person consultation for detailed guidance.