April is Autism Awareness month. It’s a condition that affects so many of our children. The term “Autism Spectrum” is used because the degree to which children are affected can range from totally non-verbal through high-functioning. It doesn’t mean a child is unintelligent–many earn advanced college degrees and have successful professional lives. The key, though, is early diagnosis (before age 2) and treatment. They’ll always have autism, but they’ll learn how to deal with it and improve.
Here are some causes and risk factors to watch for in your child:
- Autism has a strong genetic component as demonstrated by twin studies
- A child has an approximately 19% higher risk of autism if an older sibling is on the spectrum
- A growing body of evidence investigating maternal infection, drug use, and age (there is also evidence linking advanced paternal age to an increased risk) as potential causes of autism
- Health complications during pregnancy and in childbirth may raise a child’s autism risk significantly, a baby experiencing complications both during and before birth may have a 44% increased risk of autism
- Toxins in the environment, especially heavy metals like mercury and lead, have also been associated with an increased risk, but most of these studies have various methodological limitations