Autism Awareness Day

For those that do not know, today is National Autism Awareness Day.

Children who have been diagnosed with Autism have become increasingly more common over the past 20 years, to the point where just about everyone knows of someone or have heard of someone who has been affected by this bio-neurological developmental disability. I happen to know several.

It is said that Autism has grown to  epidemic proportions which now affects 1 in 88 children. Of these children, boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls. Its prevalence is not affected by race, region, or socio-economic status.

Conditions often associated with autism include Fragile X, allergies, asthma, epilepsy, bowel disease, gastrointestinal/digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, PANDAS, feeding disorders, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, OCD, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, immune disorders, autoimmune disorders, and neuroinflammation.

While no one is certain what causes autism, most researchers agree that environmental factors play a role.

The National Autism Association believes:

Vaccinations can trigger or exacerbate autism in some, if not many, children, especially those who are genetically predisposed to immune, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.

Other environmental exposures may trigger, or exacerbate, autism in certain children, especially those who are genetically predisposed to immune, autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.

Mainstream research has identified other contributing factors, including:

Pesticide Exposure: Scientists think that chemicals in pesticides may adversely affect those who are genetically predisposed to autism, leading them to develop the full-blown disorder

Parental Age: A study found that women who are 40 years old have a 50 percent greater risk of having a child with autism than women who are between 20 and 29 years old.

Pharmaceuticals: Babies that have been exposed to certain pharmaceuticals in the womb, including SSRI’s, valproic acid and thalidomide, have been found to have a higher risk of autism.

Freeway Proximity: A study found that children born to mothers who live within a 1000 feet of freeways have twice the risk of autism

Limited Prenatal Vitamin Intake: Women who reported not taking prenatal vitamins immediately before and during a pregnancy were twice as likely to have a child with autism, one study found.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder, however research into the disorder is extremely underfunded.

To learn more about autism and what can be done to help those who have been affected by it check out the website for the National Autism Association ,it's a great resource for parents and others who wish to know more about autism.