¶ … Autistic Children Being Born Increasing or Were They Always There?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder which is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2015) as "the name for a group of developmental disorders. ASD includes a ... spectrum, of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability." The spectrum of conditions include a range of potential common characteristics, including unusual and/or repetitive behavioural traits, problems associated with communicating and interacting with other people, and symptoms which may adversely impact on an individual's ability to function socially (NIMH, 2015). The condition appears to manifest in children from all ethnic backgrounds, although research of Kogan et al. (2009), indicates that prevalence of the condition has a high incidence in certain populations. Firstly, gender with reports that boys are four times more likely to have ASD compared to girls (Kogan et al., 2009). The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2016), also identified this bias in manifestation, and a greater prevalence in male rather than female children. Kogan et al., (2009), also found that non-Hispanic black children were 57% less likely to have ASD compared to non-Hispanic white children, and non-Hispanic multicultural children were 42% less likely to have ASD compared to non-Hispanic white children. The severity of the condition also varied, with 49.6% of parents describing the symptoms as mild (Kogan et al., 2009). 33.9% of children were classified as presenting moderate symptoms, and 16.5% is severe, with no significant difference in severity level and assessed by gender or sociodemographic factors, other than children classified as suffering severe effects were more likely to have parents with less than 12 years of education, accounting to 68% of the sample.
These results indicate be possible to argue there are biological influences, especially with the impact of gender and ethnic origin on the potential manifestation of ASD . However, sociodemographic factors, such as parental educational levels also better. Importantly, when examining the data, it may also be considered that when examining sociodemographic factors, there are other potential variables related to these are considering economic utility, ethnic minorities often suffering from social demographic problems, such as lower levels of income, and the associated lifestyle issues.
A key issue in managing or treating any condition is the ability to diagnose the condition. There is little doubt that the numbers of children diagnosed with ASD have increased (Newschaffer, F, & Gurney, 2005). The question for many medical professionals today, is whether the occurrence of autism is increasing, or whether the rise diagnosis is simply due to a greater level of recognition, as well as a possibility for over diagnosis.
Methodology
This brief research paper will be based secondary data gathered from existing peer review journals and official sources, such as the CDC. The topic is one that is difficult to assess, as the identification of under diagnosis in the past is problematic, due to the historic nature of data. Therefore, the research methodology employed will be based on a pragmatic approach, utilising an inductive research paradigms. The inductive, rather than deductive approach is suitable due to the complex nature of the problem, and acceptance there may be more than a single answer, which is aligned with an interpretivist rather than a positivist epistemology (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2012). It is more usual within medical, and scientific research in general, to adopt the positivist paradigms, associated with a deductive, rational approach (Furtak, Seidel, Iverson, & Briggs, 2012). However, to provide the required characteristics of research; validity and reliability (Cresswell, 2013), in a robust manner, the research would be required to undertake a vast level of data collection in order to analyse trends in data. With many different views, potential for sociodemographic influences, as well as changing environment, the pragmatic research paradigms facilitates a more flexible approach (Saunders et al., 2012). Therefore, methodology employed aims at providing some generalisable results, which may provide a basis for further research.
The research in this paper based on an extensive literature review, using secondary information to assess the changes in prevalence levels, and identify potential explanations for those changes, and examine these explanations in any statistical results primary research which may support, or undermine, the potential for other variables impacting on increased levels of autism. If new variables are not discovered that may explain how and why autism is increasing, it is more likely that the influences are not causing the right, it is that the diagnostic processes are improving. Therefore, in addition to considering potential...
Dr. David Miller, in his article examined the methods of testing for autism. He concluded that a discovery of genetic variables contributing to autism (ASD) is the first step in developing effective clinical diagnostic genetic tests. He concluded that most cases are still unexplained by current genetic testing and will require ongoing discovery to improve the yield from clinical testing. Miller (2010). In other words, Miller suggests that the
The Article concludes by reiterating the IOM's recommendation to continue with the current immunization programs in the absence of any strong and concrete evidence on the contrary. [Michelle Meadows] The last few years have triggered intense debate on the autism and vaccination topic with research results supporting both sides. A study by weibel et.al (1998) concluded by stating a rare but important link between measles vaccine and brain encephalopathy among
Autism is one of the most severe and disruptive of all childhood disorders. It is a communicative disorder that interferes with an individual's ability to form social relationships, as well as to communicate with others. Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD's) officially belong to a group of illnesses known as 'developmental disabilities'. They are characterized by problems with social and communication skills of varying degrees (Schechter & Grether, 20). Autistic people also
The children were scored in terms of whether they imitated the action that had been modeled for them as well as for the presence of any "errors" -- the introduction of actions not in the modeled behavior. The results were then subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. The researchers found, in contrast to previous similar research, that children with both conditions did not evidence any greater problems with either gross motor
Autism and Dementia Description of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dementia Behavioral Criteria for Autism and Dementia The Incidence Rates and Causes Options for Treatment Based on Theoretical Models Description of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Dementia Autism Spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is essentially a brain dysfunction that has the potential to affect emotion, learning ability and memory that gradually comes to light as an individual grows up. This is generally evident in children and
Sadly, the real risk is a global recurrence of the disease as, one at a time, people begin to reject vaccinations because they are associated with controversy, not real medical findings. US CDC Stand: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have an informative fact sheet that demonstrates, very briefly the establishment of fear and states unequivocally that there is no known connection between MMR and autism and goes further
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