According to the Miami Herald, researchers at the University of Miami announced that they have discovered the first piece of the genetic puzzle in treating autism. This wonderful discovery in the genetic code could have far-reaching effects in the improvement of diagnosis and treatment of autism. Down the road may be even the prevention of autism could be a possibility.
Autism is a very profound neuro-developmental disease which often strikes before the age of three, and it affects all forms of communication and social interaction. A child may have normal language and communication with his parents at a very young age, and be socially skilled, but all of a sudden become incommunicative and behaviourally demonstrative. Unfortunately, several children born to the same parents may have autism, due to the genetic coding, and this is very hard on the family.
There are many developmental components under the umbrella of autism which affect one in 150 children. If it is merely communication, that is helped by using cue cards or sign language. If behavioural outbursts are another component, that can be remedied by constant and consistent Behavioral Intensive Therapy. Thirdly, if the child is reluctant to be a part of any social interaction whatsoever, including classrooms, play groups, parks or recreation and does not acknowledge a conversation, he or she may have Asberger’s Syndrome, which has another set of treatments.
The University of Miami conducted a series of tests and studies in conjunction with Vanderbilt University, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of California, Los Angeles. Research teams studied a dozen sites and included more than 10,000 subjects, family members and volunteers without the disorder. They arrived at the conclusion that the apparent gene was not making proper connections among cells in the developing brain.
If this gene finding will open up the medical and educational fields to further research in autism it will be good news for thousands of families. The cost and the hardship of raising an autistic child and finding proper therapy is so insurmountable at times.