| An Introduction to the Organisation | Aims,
Objectives & Activities |
What is Autism? | How You Can
Get Involved Autism
Morning Lecture 2002 – AUTISM YEAR
2002.
The International
AUTISTIC Research Organisation
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What Is AUTISM? AUTISM is a developmental
disorder that manifests a syndrome of social disturbances and relationships.
It often does not become clinically apparent until the second year of life.
Many individuals with AUTISM have limited verbal or non-verbal communication.
This gives rise to inability to communicate with their peers, parents and
other people, such as difficulties to recognise or show facial expressions,
gestures or even notice a change in tone of someone's voice. Problems with feeding and toilet
training are also common and many AUTISTIC children/adults have unusual
behaviour. Although AUTISTIC children often look healthy and attractive,
their visual and auditory concept is distorted, hence they are not able to
make sense of the world around them. AUTISM is more prevalent than previously been thought. According to recent reviews, there appears
fairly good agreement that the
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS affect approximately 60, and narrowly-defined AUTISM 10-30, per 10,000 children under
8. The prevalence of AUTISM
among adult populations is not known.
These estimates make AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDERS far more common than was previously
generally recognised. (MRC-2001). The average prevalence from all
studies published by the year 2000 is 10 per 10,000 for AUTISTIC
DISORDER, and 2.5 per 10,000 for
ASPERGER SYNDROME. Estimates from more recent studies have
been higher, reflecting better ascertainment. For example, prevalence estimates based on two most recent
studies in the UK using active case ascertainment and two
stage ‘screen’ with similar criteria for caseness are consistent. Baird reported a combined prevalence of
57.9 per 10,000 in children by the age of 7 which accords with the figure of
62.6 per 10,000 for all PERVASIVE
DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS reported by Chakrabarti and Fombonne in
their survey of 4 to 7 year-olds in Staffordshire. Baird estimated a prevalence of 27.1 per 10,000 for ASPERGER
SYNDROME which is higher than
8.4 per 10,000 reported by Chakrabarti – this may reflect some differences in
age group studied. (MRC-2001). AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS affect many more males than females. They affect people of all social classes,
countries and races. It is as yet
unclear whether people of particular racial origins are more at risk for AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDERS. (MRC-2001). CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE
DISORDER is very rare, with
prevalence ranging between 0.1 to 0.6 per 10,000. However the five studies reporting prevalence combined included
only 10 affected individuals so these estimates are very uncertain.
(MRC-2001) Since the recognition of AUTISM
in 1943 by Leo Kanner in the
U.S.A. and the ASPERGER
SYNDROME, HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM, classified
as ATYPICAL AUTISM (DSM-IV, 1994)
by Hans Asperger in Austria in 1944 and
CHILDHOOD DISINTEGRATIVE DISORDER
(CDC)/HELLER’S
SYNDROME/LATE ONSET OF
AUTISM first mentioned by Theodor Heller a Viennese educator, in 1908,
scientific endeavours in the 1990’s have led us nearer towards the possible
causes of AUTISM, however, there is still a great deal of
work to be done to reach the ultimate goal. In approximately 90% of individuals
with AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, there is good evidence to indicate that
complex genetic influences are contributing to pathogenesis. However, these estimates are based on
studies of relatively small samples of twins that were ascertained using
relatively narrowly defined and stringent diagnostic criteria. Moreover, to varying extents the samples are
likely to have been subject to ascertainment bias. (MRC-2001). Families with an AUTISTIC
child are given an approximate 6% chance of having another born with
the disorder. A number of
epidemiological twin studies have demonstrated the heritability of AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDER S. For example, Bayley et al found that
probability of both twins having an
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
is high (60%) if they are identical (monozygotic), whereas if they are
non-identical (dizygotic) the probability is very small. The rate of AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
in singleton sibilings is 2-6%, which is still at least ten times the
general population prevalence.
(MRC-2001). RESEARCH IN AUTISM IS
VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Contact Details: Tel.: +44-(0)20 8777 0095.
Fax.: +44-(0)20 8776 2362 Email: iaro@autismresearchww.freeserve.co.uk
Registered Charity No.: 802391 Company
No.: 2431653 Patrons: Luciano
Pavarotti and Lesley Garrett |
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