Jeigh Hall New Media Designer Profile

JEIGH HALL : NEW MEDIA DESIGNER

JAMES HALL
E . J AY. H A L L 8 9 @ G M A I L . C O M

2 J E I G H H A L L N E W M E D I A D E S I G N E R E.JHNMD@JEIGHHALL.COM P. 2 2 9 - 9 4 7 - 4 4 5 5 W . W W W . J E I G H H A L L . C O M

Research
3 HINTS TO AUTISM principal investigator in the National Institute of go by. But using the wrong intervention for a
Mental Healthʼs Intramural Research Program child with ASD can squander a precious window
on autism. “Weʼre muddying the waters.” Not of opportunity. Learning is life long, but many
everyone concurs, “In many areas of the country, kids who receive intensive intervention early,
there is still a problem with under-diagnosis,” in their first five years, do better than those

demonstrates that
says Nancy Minshew, M.D. a professor of who receive it later.” Establishing treatment

are distributed into
psychiatry and neurology at the University of standards so parents can choose effective

the non-autistic po autistic traits Pittsburghʼs School of Medicine. There is also
growing concern that minority children are
programs is the mission of the newly organized
NAC (National Autism Center).

more of them, som pulation; some peop diagnosedat a rate far below that of Caucasian

e have fewer. Hist le have
kids, and at later ages.
THE GOOD NEW
viduals whom we ory suggests that m Experts do agree, however, that there is no one

would today diagno any indi- Autism was first described and named thing called autism, but that there are autisms
Millions of dollars have been

se as autistic - som
- the broad categories of “regressive” and spent to determine what autism

so - contributed pr
in 1943 and was said to comprise three
is, what causes it, and how we

e severely
common characteristics:
“non-regressive” types, as well as subtypes

ofoundly to our ar
within these categories. To help clear up the might prevent or cure it. And

t, our math, our sc
• Autistic children prefer to relate to

our literature. “
objects over people controversy, the National Institute of Mental thatʼs all to the good. Weʼre on

ience, and
Health launched a vast study last September the brink of learning which genes
• Theyʼre obsessed with maintaining to identify variants and refine the way doctors predispose a child to autism and
routines and sameness in their lives
make diagnoses. So as prevalent as autism is. what might trigger its onset.
• They tend to seek complete aloneness, While a cure is not yet in sight,
shutting out the world around them. DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT
evʼve begun to figure out what

-- Morton Gernsba works for some children, in terms

cher, parent of an
How can you know - and how ealry can you find
out - if your child falls anywhere on the broad of intervention between the ages

autistic child. concerns. spectrum? of 12 months and 5 years. “I
While the disorder has always been said to do think, on balance, kids are
represent a “spectrum,” or range, of problems, Parents whoʼve noted that their 14-month old doing better,” says Dr. Volkmar.
today more children than in the past whose doesnʼt babble or point, is losing skills, or “Twenty-five years ago, when I
symptoms show both moreand less- severity isnʼt talking by 18 months should talk to their did my first follow-up on adults
are included. For instance,kids with Asperger pediatrician and get a deveopmental screening. Iʼd diagnosed as kids - kids
syndrome, which refers to high intelligence If it indicates a possible problem, you should be
who never had any intervention
without language deficits but with social referred to a specialist who can evaluate your
- only about two percent could
impairments, are placed on the spectrum, as child further using tools such as the Autism
are those whose symptoms are so severe that Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), a
live along, hold a job. But since
a generation ago they would have been termed workup done by observing and interacting with we started mandating education
mentally retarded. the child. and services, weʼre seeing more
independent kids. Iʼd say that
No one disputes that the number of children That said, getting a qualified medical two percent has become more
diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis for an infant or a toddler is not the like twenty.” In other words,
(ASD) has gone way up compared with statistics straightforward process it should be. Thereʼs weʼre doing ten times better than
from 30 years ago. “tremendous variability” in the skill that public we were doing a generation ago
But as widespread as ASD appears to be- agencies and private practices bring to the
Thatʼs the “growing number”
affecting as many as 1 in every 150 children, screening process, says Fred Volkmar, M.D.,
we s h o u l d b e a w a r e o f .
according to the Centers for Disease Control chairman of the Department of Child Study at
and Prevention - experts agree that it cannot be Yale University. “Weʼve put a lot of money into
A n d thatʼs the evidence we
called an “epidemic. research but not enough into translating that should start seeing.
research into medical practice.”
The fact is, itʼs impossible to compare how
common autism is today with 10 or 20 years And a sound diagnosis is only the beginning.

AUTI
ago. Not only are doctors better at spotting Treatment is the next step, and there are no
ASD, so the diagnosis is more frequent, but fewer than ten types of interventions offered
many experts say that doctorsʼ interpretation nationwide that work to some degree, says Dr.
of the spectrum has become so inclusive that Volkmar.
a diagnosis of autism is no diagnosis at all.
“The use of the term has expanded to the point But usually only one type is available in any one
where children referred to me as autistic lack area. Making a choice (if there is one) between
the social deficit, which is the core symptom,” or among approaches not easy on the parent,
-BRIAN DINOT
WHAT IS AUTISM?
says Susan Swedo, M.D., a pediatrician and the either, because theyʼre arenʼt clear standards to

Family Living 3

A
tism seems to be everywhere these days
- in newspapers, on TV, even on bumper Research
demonstrates that autistic traits DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT
are distributed into the non- into translating that research into medical

stickers. The rate is skyrocketing,reports autistic population; some people
have more of them, some have
How can you know - and how ealry can you
find out - if your child falls anywhere on the
practice.”

fewer. History suggests that broad spectrum? And a sound diagnosis is only the beginning.
many individuals whom we Treatment is the next step, and there are no

say. We all seem to know of at least one would today diagnose as autistic
- some severely so - contributed
Parents whoʼve noted that their 14-month
old doesnʼt babble or point, is losing skills,
fewer than ten types of interventions offered
nationwide that work to some degree, says
profoundly to our art, our math, or isnʼt talking by 18 months should talk to Dr. Volkmar.
our science, and our literature. “ their pediatrician and get a deveopmental

child “on the spectrum.” -- Morton Gernsbacher, parent of
an autistic child.
screening. If it indicates a possible problem,
you should be referred to a specialist who can
But usually only one type is available in
any one area. Making a choice (if there is
evaluate your child further using tools such as one) between or among approaches not
the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule easy on the parent, either, because theyʼre

And since the latest (ADOS), a workup done by observing and
interacting with the child.
arenʼt clear standards to go by. But using
the wrong intervention for a child with
ASD can squander a precious window of
That said, getting a qualified medical opportunity. Learning is life long, but many
diagnosis for an infant or a toddler is not the kids who receive intensive intervention early,
buzz suggests that early straightforward process it should be. Thereʼs
“tremendous variability” in the skill that
in their first five years, do better than those
who receive it later.” Establishing treatment
public agencies and private practices bring standards so parents can choose effective
to the screening process, says Fred Volkmar, programs is the mission of the newly
intervention is crucial for M.D., chairman of the Department of Child
Study at Yale University. “Weʼve put a
organized NAC (National Autism Center).

lot of money into research but not enough

successful treatment, parents

AUTISM
of ever younger children are
searching for signs. Would
AUTISM FACTS
your pediatrician recognize • 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism

• 1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum
them? Would you? The hype • 67 children are diagnosed per day
• A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes

is worrisome, but the truth • More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined

• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.

behind it should ease some •

•
Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade

Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases

• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

4 Family Living


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