INDEPTH: AUTISM
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Pauline Dakin, for CBC News Online | October 14, 2003
Autism Society Canada is the national group representing autistic people in Canada. The society warns of an alarming increase in the number of children with the neurological condition.
A growing number of families struggle to cope with the severe, life-long condition that has no cure.
The autistic brain processes information differently
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The prevalence of the disorder has doubled in the last decade, with 3,000 new cases identified in the last year, according to the society. It says there are about 105, 000 Canadians of all ages living with autism, and there's no clear reason for the increase.
Brandon, 3½, and his twin brother Kyle are both autistic. Their mother, Tracy Avery, says the boys have some of the classic symptoms of the disorder.
"My son Brandon, up until recently, he constantly flapped his arms," says Avery. "It looked like he was trying to fly away."
Many autistic kids flap their arms to comfort themselves. Symptoms vary widely, which is why the condition has come to be known as Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD.
In severe cases, children can't connect with people around them. They don't make eye contact or speak; they may sit in the corner doing repetitive actions.
While some people with autism may be unable to answer a simple question or understand the risk of traffic, others have remarkable skills in math or science.
The world can be a confusing, scary place for autistic children because of the way their brains process information.
"It's almost as if I put you down in a foreign country with a different culture," said Paul McDonnell, a psychologist who works with autistic children. "How would you feel? You'd be very, very anxious for most of the time."
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According to data collected in 2001 from provincial departments of education:
One in 286 Canadians has Autistic or other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The total is approximately 105,000 people.
Over two years, the number of Canadians with autism and PDD increased by 63 per cent with an average of 3,000 new cases per year.
Source: Autism Society of Canada
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McDonnell, a professor emeritus at the University of New Brunswick, says because children with autism can't understand or make themselves understood, their frustration is often expressed in tantrums, screams or cries.
No one knows for sure what causes the life-long condition, although researchers think most cases are a combination of genetic factors.
In Canada and other countries, the number of children diagnosed with autism seems to be on the rise.
"Currently, we're looking at about one in 250 approximately in Canada," says Jo-Lynn Fenton of Autism Society Canada. "The Centers for Disease Control in the United States is putting it at about one in 150, particularly if you look at children under 10."
More cases, better diagnosis
Fenton says Canada lags behind the U.S. in collecting real numbers on autism. Statistics from school boards in Saskatchewan, Quebec and British Columbia show an average increase in autism cases of 63 per cent over the last two years.
McDonnell, the psychologist, says the numbers seem alarming. There may be areas where incidence is rising, but in general, he thinks the numbers are misleading.
"As the diagnostic abilities of professionals have increased then what has happened is we've been able to identify more and more individuals who actually did have autism or were on the autistic spectrum somewhere," says McDonnell.
Whether the incidence of autism is on the rise or it is simply being diagnosed more is a point of debate.
Genetic clues
"It's possible that two things are going on," says psychology Prof. Susan Bryson of Dalhousie University in Halifax. "We broadened the definition of autism and therefore the numbers are much higher, but it's also possible that something else is going on to increase prevalence. And we don't know for sure at this point."
Bryson holds a research chair in autism. Other researchers are looking at whether some environmental toxin is causing autism; so far there is no evidence.
At Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., researchers are looking for clusters of cases that could point them to a particular toxin.
Psychiatry and physiology Prof. Jeanette Holden oversees the work of an international autism research group. She says so far, studies seem to show most cases have a genetic basis.
"Perhaps you need five or six different genetic variations that predispose to autism," says Holden, a geneticist. "We feel it's very important to identify those genes so that we can help to identify individuals early in development."
For researchers, finding the genetic answers and developing a test could paint a truer picture of the real incidence of autism and perhaps offer clues in the search for a cure.
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Some Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autistic disorder: This is also known as classic autism. It affects ability to communicate with and relate to other people. Some people with autistic disorder can speak and interact while some who are more severely affected are completely non-verbal.
Asperger syndrome: People with Asperger syndrome do not have a delay in speech development, but may have a range of deficits in social development. They often also have obsessive, repetitive behaviours and preoccupations such as rocking or hand waving.
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD): CDD is also known as regressive autism. Children with CDD usually develop normally for two to four years before they begin to lose language, social skills and interest in their environment.
Source: National Alliance for Autism Research
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