Autism What Are the Reasons

Autism

What are the reasons that a healthcare can offer to a parent whose child has been diagnosed with autism? Presently in the United States there are controversies regarding the cause of autism, as some parents and groups insist that certain vaccines are the root cause. This paper reviews the information that pertains to the cause of autism.

The Literature on Autism

The National Autism Association (NAA) explains on their Web site that the U.S. is in "…midst of a tragic epidemic of autism" and that between the years 1992-1993 and 2000-2001, there has been an average increase of 644% in terms of reported cases of autism. One in nine children in public schools have shown signs of autism, according to the U.S. Department of Education (quoted by the NAA). The NAA believes that children that are exposed to thimerosal (ethylmercury) -- which is used in vaccines -- have a greater chance of becoming autistic.

"A growing number of scientists and researchers believe that a relationship between the increase in neurodevelopmental disorders of autism, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and speech language delay and the increased use of thimerosal in vaccines" (NAA).

The NAA believes that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "acted too slowly" in removing ethylmercury from over-the-counter products, and moreover the NAA criticizes the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for their "failed" attempt to be "vigilant" when new vaccines were brought on the market, approved, and given the okay to be used in immunization proceedings for children. The NAA finds another culprit in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for a lack of "aggressive" actions to remove thimerosal from all vaccines, and as a result, children were exposed to thimerosal / ethylmercury far longer than they should have been, according to the NAA.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assure readers on their Web site that "…evidence from several studies examining trends in vaccine use and changes in autism frequency does not support such an association" (CDC). In fact, the CDC continues, a scientific review by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has concluded that there is no justification for believing that "a casual relationship" exists between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism (CDC).

The CDC believes that "about 1 in 150 children have ASD" (autism) -- quite a different number in comparison with the NAA's data -- and the CDC explains that it is approaching the research into the causes of autism in three important areas: a) understanding the trends and the frequency of autism spectrum disorders; b) the CDC is conducting advanced research in the causes and potential treatments of ASD; and c) the CDC is very involved in research that can help parents and teachers understand the symptoms so early detection and diagnosis is possible.