Jobarteh 1

Fatou Jobarteh

Dr. Cassel

ENGLISH-101E-14

2 December 2017

What is the leading cause of Autism and what are ways to prevent the disorder?

Imagine growing up with a disorder that many do not really understand. Imagine acting out

at times without warning and being told by your teacher that you're just a naughty student who is

looking to gain attention. Imagine with every ride on the public transportation or any public setting

you sit on your own or in a corner cupping both hands over your ears. Imagine being asked what

you want and thats it's on the very tip on your tongue but you cannot answer because you cannot

articulate your needs and wants. Imagine this and try to imagine that this was you because this

could have very much been you. A new government survey of parents estimates that 1 in 4 children

between the ages of 3 to 17 years old will have been diagnosed with Autism.

When I first decided to conduct the research on Autism it was originally with my younger

brother in mind. He was diagnosed with Autism at an early age but the signs weren't detected soon

enough and he had to live his early life with much difficulty. In his early years his condition leaned

more on the severe side of the Spectrum, he was diagnosed with a speech impediment and had a

lack of motor function in his jaws. Speech therapy was soon introduced as well as Food therapy,

as well as attending a school that catered to his needs. It was an arduous journey but now he can

clearly articulate both his wants and needs and he talks so much it's kind of difficult to ever assume

that he ever had a speech impediment. There is still much work that he puts in for his Motor therapy

for his molars, its real effort and work that he puts in.
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There is a reason for both the short anecdotal and the imagines. The Autism Spectrum

Disorder is defined as a broad range of symptoms which can hinder one from performing actions

or portraying needs and wants (Barna). The spectrum we have come to know is actually the more

updated version and has since then broadened to fit and cater to the many people who are faced

with this difficulty in expressing themselves fully. The staggering rise of Autism over the recent

years has caused quite the stir and many scientists are now faced with the problematic such as what

is the leading cause of Autism and what are ways to prevent the Disorder?

When most think about Autism they envision a child or an adult who cannot care for

themselves. They envision the stereotypical image that the media has portrayed of any person with

a disability; someone who is childish, nave and blind to the worlds dangers. This view that we

have labeled to anyone with an Autistic Disorder must be the first thing that we eliminate, because

it singularly categorizes and generalizes all of the different disorders and spectrums of Autism and

thats the problem because is that there is no one leading cause of Autism. Just like there is a

spectrum to the diagnosis of Autism there is a spectrum of causes that lead to Autism

(Chung)(Mark). Just as there is a Spectrum of Autism there is also a Spectrum of the causes that

lead to Autism. A study shows that Autism can stem from 200-400 different kinds of genetic

components (Chung) but, a mutual understanding is that these 200-400 genetic components are

the same in every case study that has been conducted. And because these genes have been

identified it will now slightly lessen the challenge in discovering the leading cause. This plays a

very significant role, because if the leading component is found it will make it much easier to

understand its role the disorder.

Although, there is no leading cause there are preventative measures that can be taken to

lessen the likelihood of the Disorder such as avoiding environmental factors that can lead to
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Autism. Furthermore, just because both maternal and paternal genetics have neither acquired the

ASD genetics it does not mean that their child would not acquire ASD. On the topic of genetics

there has been research that shows that twin fetuses who share the same intrauterine wall are more

susceptible to ASD (European College of Neuropsychopharmacology)(Chung) because the fetuses

will have shared the same uterine environment and have 100% of the same genetic information,

but when looking at the statistics you will have seen that the rate of Autism in twin are 77 percent

and is although significantly still doesn't account for 100 percent of twins and that genes aren't to

account for all risks of Autism (Chung). This shows that Autism does not essentially need to be

carried trait. Although, more research is being done studies show that environmental factors also

play a role such as exposure to certain agents such as air pollution, water pollution, pesticides and

inflammation from an infection especially during fetal brain development as well as expecting

mothers who take valproic acid to curb episodes of epilepsy (Chung)(Barna). This is important

because it tells us that there is more to Autism than just it being acquired, it doesn't necessarily

have to be gene carried by either parent and by being exposed to different environmental agents

can lead Autism.

By contrast, the problem that is prevalent in the Autism Disorder Spectrum would be that

many believe that vaccines are the cause of Autism which was confirmed as a false claim. The

author Andrew Wakefield who conducted the research between the links of vaccines and autism

misrepresented and altered medical history (Cohen, Falco) the information and his research were

both retracted from the journal lancet in which it was published from and he had his medical license

revoked for falsifying information. Though, Wakefield's research was proved wrong through tests

that were being conducted by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention which proved that

vaccines do not lead to the cause of Autism, and that they have no direct correlation many have
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still refused to listen and to reason and continue to protest the situation that has forever created a

distinguished line between vaccinations and Autism.

Contrary, to beliefs that there is no leading cause to Autism a research was conducted that

showed that vaccines were the leading cause to Autism and has since then been backed with many

supporters which have resisted in getting their children vaccinated (Barna). Although, this idea

was rebuked and proven wrong many continue to believe it and have refused their children from

being vaccinated which makes them more susceptible to illness that have long thought to have

been extinct such as measles, rubella and mumps. The after effects of Wakefield's research had it

that many parents refuse to get their children vaccinated this in turn makes them more immune to

illnesses that were thought to have been extinct this is not only endangers the child but other

children surrounding them. This is due to parent relying on misinterpreted, misrepresented

information and negligence.

Indeed, it is exceedingly important to know about the Disorder before making judgment.

The world would and could be different is many were well informed about Autism because then

there would be speculating parents who are hesitant and refusing their children from health care,

there would be no huge rally in trying to prove that vaccines are the leading cause when it has been

proven that they are not.

ASD has come far in its research but there is still much to be done. There is still the question

as to what exactly is the genetic component out of the 200-400 that exactly leads to Autism as well

as whether or not having the disorder is as detrimental as people are portraying it. Chung states

that in her field as a geneticist and physician "That same diagnosis of autism, though, also applies

to Gabriel, another 13-year-old boy who has quite a different set of challenges. He's actually quite

remarkably gifted in mathematics. He can multiple three numbers by three numbers in his head
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with ease." Those who are diagnosed with Autism are not incapable as we have come to know they

are quite remarkable especially with their drive to insistently focus on a specific subject. Though,

to counteract situations that will lead to complications infants are encouraged to be tested with the

use of biomarkers that measure their accuracy in eye tracking and eye contact. Through studies

like this many will be able to reverse the disability component that in which makes it seem as if

they are incapable of achieving and doing things because they can and are just as similar to those

of us who have 'normal' cognition. Changing out perception of Autism as a disability is something

that needs additional work. Autism isn't exactly a disease that kills, and contrary to popular belief

many who are diagnosed on the spectrum are able. They, just like us can very well do work.
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Works Cited

Adak, Bappaditya and Santoshi Halder. "A Review Based Prevalence of Autism Spectrum

Disorder." Indian Journal of Health & Wellbeing, vol. 8, no. 8, Aug. 2017, pp. 836-846.

EBSCOhost. Accessed 25 October 2017

Barna, Mark. "Autism Spectrum Disorder." Discover, vol. 38, no. 6, Jul/Aug2017, pp. 62-65.

EBSCOhost. Accessed 25 October 2017.

Chung, Wendy. Autism - what we know (and what we dont know yet) | TED Talk, TED Talk, Mar.

2014,

www.ted.com/talks/wendy_chung_autism_what_we_know_and_what_we_don_t_know_

yet. Accessed 25 October 2017.

Cohen, Elizabeth, and Miriam Falco. Retracted autism study an 'elaborate fraud,' British journal

finds. CNN, Cable News Network, 5 Jan. 2011,

www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/autism.vaccines/index.html. Accessed 25 October

2017.

European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. "How First Autism Disease Genes Were

Discovered." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 September 2008.

<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080901205626.htm>. Accessed 25 October

2017.