What The Future Holds For Autism

What The Future Holds For Autism

Lexus M. Guerra
University of Texas at El Paso

What The Future Holds For Autism

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Introduction

Today, scientists are discovering new characteristics and attributes of Autism, as well as
addressing to find therapeutic treatments after a child is diagnosed with Autism. The Science
Daily released an article, Children With Autism Have Extra Synapses in Brain: May Be
Possible to Prune Synapses With Drug After Diagnosis, in August 2014 written by scientists of
Columbia University regarding a discovery of children with Autism having extra synapses in the
brain. A synapse is basically a point between two nerve cells where a nervous impulse takes
place passing from one nerve cell to the other. This surplus of synapses may have profound
effects on how the brain functions (Columbia University Medical Center, 2014). Geneticist,
Wendy Chung also shares through her TED talk, Autism- What We Know (And What We Dont
Know Yet), what scientists and society already know about the Autism spectrum disorder, as well
as provides what they have learned through the studies of it.
Ethos
The article immediately establishes its ethos by having the source as Columbia University
Medical Center. The study was also published in the online journal Neuron. The article also
portrays its many scientists expertise and scholarly credit such as Dr. Lieberman, Lawrence C.
Kolb professor and Chair of Psychiatry at Columbia University and director of New York State
Psychiatric Institute; Dr. Sulzer, who was the senior investigator of the study, PhD, professor of
Neurobiology in the Departments of Psychiatry, neurology, and Pharmacology; Dr. Tang, PhD,
assistant professor of neurology; and Dr. Alan Packer, PhD, senior scientist at the Simons
Foundation. Dr. Wendy Chung of the TED Talk, is also at the Simons Foundation where she is
the director of clinical research. She also directs the clinical genetics program at Columbia
University. In the beginning of the video, Dr. Wendy Chung builds up her ethos. She begins with

What The Future Holds For Autism

a question, and her answer to the question includes her field of expertise by stating, As a
pediatrician, as a geneticist, as a researcher, we try to address the question (Chung, 2014, 0:11).
This effort of a statement is to gain the audiences trust. In addition to appealing to a broader
audience, Dr. Chung uses a constant we-us relationship, where Dr. Chung and the audience are
we and us. For example, when Dr. Chung states, One of the things that concerns us is
whether or not there really is an epidemic of Autism (2014, 1:34). Not only is Dr. Chung stating
us as in herself and her fellow colleagues, but as well as the parents of Autistic children, and
the community.
Intended Audience
The scholarly article is being geared towards the scientific community. In the article, Dr.
Lieberman, who was not involved in the study, states that the drug that was found to improve
autistic-like behaviors is an important finding that could lead to a novel of and much needed
therapeutic strategy for Autism (2014). Dr. Lieberman is reaching out to the scientific
community to also input their findings and contribute to discovering that therapeutic strategy.
Wendy Chung, however, in the iconographic example, is reaching out to the general public. At
the end of the TED Talk, Dr. Chung invites all the people in the community to pass down the
wisdom of Autism. She also invites family members and parents of Autistic children to join an
interactive Autism network to make an impact, and to complete the mission of a finding a
solution to Autism.
The audience reading the scholarly article would take around fifteen minutes reading the
entire article and comprehending what is being said. This is due to the extremely formal
language utilized in the article such as prestigious medical terms and procedures. However, if the
readers were scientists completing research then the audience would take a little less time than a

What The Future Holds For Autism

general audience. On the other hand, for Wendy Chungs TED Talk, the audience would take the
duration of time that the video is, unless the audience wanted to rewatch the video if they had
missed a segment.
Purpose And Support of Claims
The purpose of the scholarly article is to present that Autism is treatable with the right
resources and time. Dr. David Sulzer is the studys senior investigator and he proposes that
although the drug used for the study, rapamycin, has side effects, its the fact that we can see
changes in behavior suggests that Autism may still be treatable after a child is diagnosed, if we
can find a better drug (Sulzer, 2014). The purpose of the iconographic genre, on the other hand,
is to reach out to the public of what is known and what is unknown about Autism. For example,
Dr. Chung presents that there are 200-400 genes that cause Autism, therefore it being such a
wide spectrum. These genes also fit together in a network and create their own systems (2014,
10:33).
In the scholarly article from Science Daily, Children With Autism Have Extra Synapses
in Brain: May Be Possible to Prune Synapses With Drug After Diagnosis, the scientists from
Columbia University Medical Center found that a drug that restores normal synaptic pruning
can improve autistic-like behaviors in miceeven when the drug is given after the behaviors
have appeared (2014). The scientists at Columbia also found that children and adolescents with
autism have a surplus of synapses in the brain, and this excess is due to a slow down in normal
brain pruning process during developmentbecause synapses are the points where neurons
connect and communicate with each other, the excessive synapses may have profound effects on
how the brain functions (2014). To further expand on their argument, the scientists provide
information of when a burst of synapses is formed at infancy and where they are formed in the

What The Future Holds For Autism

brain. The article also claims, synapses are known to be affected by many genes linked to
autism, and some researchers have hypothesized that people with autism may have more
synapses (2014). To test this logical explanation, a co-author of the study from Columbia
University Medical Center, examined brains from children with autism as well as children
without autism, and measured the synapse densities.
Dr. Wendy Chung provides evidence such as arguing a misconception about vaccines
causing Autism. She states the doctor who performed the research was fraudulent and lost his
medical license (2014, 2:46). Chung continues to present arguments with the history of autism
or a standard fact and a series of questions to follow along. For example, Chung states, So this
provides some of the data that Autism is genetic. Well, how genetic is it? (2014, 7:00). Chung
also focuses her argument on genetics. She states Im focusing on this not because genes are
the only cause of Autism, but its a cause of Autism that we can readily define(2014, 5:00).
She logically appeals to the audience because although they all might not have Autism, they all
do have genes. Utilizing simple reasoning and vocabulary, Dr. Wendy Chung is able to logically
build up her argument in order to persuade the audience.
Pathos
The typographic genre article emotionally appeals to the audiences imagination, as well
as evokes emotions such as hope and motivation. The article provides motivation to all scientists
to finish off the research and to keep researching treatments for Autism; such as how Dr.
Lieberman stated that a therapeutic strategy is much needed. There is a shift in language when
Dr. Alan states, the goal now is to understand how those hundreds of genes cluster together into
a smaller number of pathways; that will give us better clues to potential treatments (2014). The

What The Future Holds For Autism

shift evokes inspiration to the audience and motivation, and the audience then understands the
sense of urgency to act.
Dr. Wendy Chung of the iconographic example also provides a sense of hope to the
audience. She effectively utilizes pathos in her concluding talk by inviting the audience to be
able to help us think about how to do this better, to use as a community our collective wisdom to
be able to make a difference(2014, 14:09). There is also a shift in Dr. Chungs expression,
expressing deep sincerity as well as her hand gestures. Dr. Chungs tone is also solemn, and also
provides an optimistic atmosphere. The camera also pulls back and takes a segment of the entire
audience from the back, viewing them as a whole. The audience then becomes aware that the
more they work together, the better chances of finding solutions for Autism. She then asks a
series of questions that deepen into the audiences morals and values, such as, is it something
thats really going to make a difference in your lives, as an individual, as a family with Autism?
(2014, 14:09).
Conclusion
Through the effective uses of rhetorical skills and the arrangement of both the article and
the video, the scientists are able to persuade the audience that Autism is worth finding solutions
for and the battle is not over. Both scientists from the two genres are able to easily persuade the
audiences with their logical appeals by stating the findings of the past and the findings of what
could be a solution. The scientists also focus on their ethical appealing by building relationships
with the audience, in a sense of showing them they are trustworthy. In addition, both scientists
make an effort to create a lasting impression on the audience by utilizing emotional language.
Through the use of the emotional language, both scientists similarly appealed to the audiences

What The Future Holds For Autism

imaginations of what could become of Autism, and to their sympathies, leaving the audience to
think and feel that there will be a solution to Autism in the future.

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Reference Page

Chung, W. (2014, March). AutismWhat We Know (And What We Dont Know Yet).
Retrieved from
https://www.ted.com/talks/wendy_chung_autism_what_we_know_and_what_we_don_t_
know_yet/transcript?language=en

Columbia University Medical Center. (2014, August 21). Children with autism have extra
synapses in brain: May be possible to prune synapses with drug after diagnosis.
ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 11, 2014 from
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140821124730.htm