TORONTO – It’s a developmental disorder that affects about 200,000 Canadians and one in every 110 children is born with the condition.
Still, little is known about what causes autism spectrum disorder.
Monday marks the fifth anniversary of World Autism Awareness Day, which was started following a United Nations resolution in 2007.
It’s only one of three official health-specific UN Days, and is meant to focus the world’s attention on autism, a global health crisis that affects tens of millions of people worldwide.
The disorder typically manifests itself during the first three years of a person’s life, affecting the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills. Its severity is measured on a spectrum because it takes a variety of forms and the degrees of intensity in certain behaviours aren’t consistent.
Here, Global News lists five things most Canadians don’t know about autism.
1. Cases of autism are steadily escalating. So far, about one in 88 children have the disorder, according to the most recent statistics released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week. The Autism Society of Canada reports an “incredibly steep incline” in diagnosis, which affects boys more. About one in 54 boys are diagnosed compared to only one in 252 girls. Still, cases have jumped by 78 per cent since 2000. The largest increases documented in the CDC report affected Hispanic and African-American children.
One in 10 autistics cannot speak, nine of out 10 have no regular job and four out of five austistic adults are still dependent on their parents.
2. In Canada, autism treatment is not covered by medicare. While children with cancer or other medical illnesses are treated by the state through universal health care, the benefits do not necessarily apply to those diagnosed under autism spectrum disorder. Kids with the condition receive support covered through social service ministries – the same departments that deal with child abuse and not medical conditions. These ministries offer intervention programs prescribed to fit an individual child’s needs, but parents pay a large proportion of treatment out of their own pockets. Michael Lewis, president of the Autism Society of Canada and its B.C. counterpart, said that, for example, an intervention program could cost up to $60,000 a year, but the government only provides a third of funding up to the age of 6. There is no national program for funded treatment and some provinces offer virtually no assistance.
3. There are advantages those with autism have. People with autism are often marginalized in society but one University of Montreal psychiatry professor says the group is often underestimated. In a study published last November, Laurent Mottron said some people with autism on the higher end of the spectrum are ideal candidates to work in the fields of scientific research and academia. Compared to their non-autistic counterparts, some with the condition are better at processing large amounts of data, less likely to remember information incorrectly and better at spotting recurrent patterns in large pieces of information. Mottron studied autism for two decades and had four research assistants who are autistic. Research has shown that some autistics can outperform others in tests on discriminating sound, measuring accuracy and other tasks that require unwavering focus.
4. The diagnosis of autism may change, which could affect those on the higher end of the spectrum. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – what doctors refer to when diagnosing and classifying illnesses worldwide – is getting its fifth rewrite, and its first major revision since 1994. The health community and families affected by autism are anxiously awaiting any revisions that alter the criteria for diagnosing autism that was proposed by the American Psychiatric Association. It’s been contentious – if the criteria are adjusted so that those on the higher end of the spectrum don’t match the condition, families’ support services are on the line. They could fall under “social communication disorder” instead of the umbrella term of “autism spectrum disorder” and will receive a new support system.
5. What causes autism is unknown. While there is a steady stream of research being conducted globally to examine what autism stems from, its origins haven’t been found. The Autism Society of Canada says the disorder is described in vague terms, such as “triggered by a genetic predisposition, triggered by environmental factors.” In the past, autism was synonymous with schizophrenia to some researchers and in the 1960s and 1970s, some experts believed autism was caused by a lack of maternal empathy. In Chicago, Bruno Bettelheim suggested a “refrigerator mother” theory, blaming depressed or overworked moms as the cause of autism. Cambridge University researchers, in 2011, even linked adults who worked in science and math-based jobs, such as a engineers, scientists and computer programmers, to have a higher likelihood of having autistic children.
Autistic Disorder usually appears during the first three years of life.
Asperger Syndrome is typically diagnosed later on, once a child reaches school age. It’s not related to race, ethnicity, family income, lifestyle or parenting.
To read more about autism and the characteristics an autistic child may have, read more on the Autism Society of Canada website.
During question period in the House of Commons Monday, Conservative MP Mike Lake told his colleagues about his family’s experience with autism.
“Today is World Autism Awareness Day. It also marks 14 years since my son, Jaden was diagnosed with autism.
In many ways Jaden is like a 3- or 4-year-old trapped in a 16-year-old’s body. He is non-verbal, has trouble with abstract concepts, will cry when sad and squeal loudly or giggle when happy. When something gets on his mind, he will grab my face and inquire with an escalating, “Bababababa” until he gets the explanation he needs to move on with his life.
He is obsessed with dogs, to the point where he will go nose to nose with any dog he sees, regardless of size or demeanour, something we must always be aware of when out in public. In some ways, Jaden is very much like other 16 year olds. He loves making chocolate chip cookies, working in the school library and bowling with dad on Saturday mornings.
I never dreamt I would have a son with special needs, but I can honestly say I could not be more proud of my boy. He is always quick with a high-five or a kiss, is never ever a bully and loves everyone without a hint of judgment. I think we could all use a little more of that.”
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