INTRODUCTION
Autism is one of the most prevalent conditions suffered by many young people. The important question is, does the prevalence represent an epidemic or is it simply been misdiagnosed, under-diagnosed, or over diagnosed? Autism does not manifest in every child the same way and to the same degree; this has earned in the title of a Spectrum disorder, which means that it has a broad range of diagnosis under the umbrella of autism (Web MD 1). In the past people who were perceived as abnormal was simply labeled insane, today we are much clearer at differentiating between different conditions. The numbers of autism diagnosis has continued to increase throughout the last decade. Many feel that the condition can be attributed to environmental factors or from side-effects of vaccinations. Others feel that autism has always been present; it just went unrecognized for a long time. Some even feel that heightened levels are biological responses to the stressors and pressures of life. The most realistic explanation of the rise in autism can be attributed to under recognized and over diagnosis, like what happened with ADD and ADHD in 1990s. Realistically, it is likely that the present of autism has always been present to one degree or another; it is only our recognition and then over diagnosis of the condition that has created the current prevalence.
HISTORY
Any condition that affects children is those that pull at societal heartstrings and encourage diligent research and understanding to impact unsavory statistics. Today, the medical community does have a better understanding of autism today than ever before, but much of the condition does remain something of a mystery. So what exactly is autism? Again it is a spectrum disorder, so pinning down a single set of symptoms and the progression of the conditions is not easy to achieve. The truth is, in those effects of autism can begin as early as 3-years-old and last throughout their lifetime. Again, this condition can range from minor symptoms, while others are afflicted in a way that is entirely debilitating and hampers any kind of normal function (Web MD 2).
- Difficulty with communication when they possess speaking skills.
- Lack of facial expression and difficulty reading emotional expressions in others.
- Uncomfortable and sometimes incapable of functioning is social situations.
- Difficulties making friends and may prefer to play alone.
- Repetitive body movements
- Focus on strange objects or unusual aspects.
- Incredibly resistance to change in family locales, routines and day-to-day schedules.
Unfortunately, even in this modern era, we still do not know exactly cause the presence of autism. Many feel that it is a hereditary conditions, or poor development in neurological areas of the brain, and a reaction to childhood infections that had lasting consequences (Levine 1). However, no one of these examples can explain the instances of autism alone. It is still evolving understanding and the prevalence of the diagnosis has led to the idea that those numbers are increasing and have the lay-public developing theories of their own.
Throughout history anyone and everyone who did not behave, respond, or function in the socially acceptable and typical ways were identified as having some form of “madness.” This was often not attributed to any kind of medical affliction but a spiritual one. Looking back at history there are many mental conditions and diseases, like rabies, for example, which manifest symptoms similar to the descriptions of “demonic possession.” That said for centuries, even millennia, the mentally ill were not seen dignified and classified with any specific disease, they were just arbitrarily identified has insane. It would not be until the last century and a half that people have began to see the world through the eyes of science and less on religion and the supernatural. Today, there are many children being diagnosed as having autism at, what appears to be, and ever-increasing rate. The instances of diagnosed autism in have gone from 1 in 166 in the year 2000 to 1 in 88 in 2010; however, those statistics have continued to rise (Autism Speaks Organization 1). Some studies are now showing that 1 in 68 children are identified as falling into the autism spectrum range Demographically it effects more boys, approximately 1 in 48 bouts, while girls who are diagnosed, respectfully, 1 in 189 (Pearson 1).
DISCUSSION
Many people, particularly parents, of autistic children have seen the condition go from a rare diagnosis to one of the most feared and common diagnosis presently. More and more children are being assigned a place somewhere on the autism spectrum. Many in the modern era believe that the increase in autism is due to environmental aspects, as well as side-effects of certain medications and procedures. Some parents feel that the instances of autism did not increase until the government started requiring a battery of vaccinations for children before they can enter the public school system. Inoculating children has always had some controversy around it, but despite that, there has never been a single piece of definitive proof that supports the idea that it is mass vaccinations that is leading to autism in children today (Web MD 2). There are some Americans who are convinced that autism, as well as, other conditions that retard normal development and function, seem to sky-rocket with the implementation of more and more advance science and technology. These people fear that the causes of growing autism statistics can be attributed to pollution and other environmental factors (Insel 1). Again, there is no direct correlation that would support that this position is absolutely true and can be attributed to all cases.
Another significant contributor to the prevalence of mental illness, specifically autism, which has increased over the years, may be misdiagnosed. Misdiagnosis is not an uncommon problem as well. Much like, lumping everyone together as insane, negating the correct diagnosis. Over diagnosing is also a problem in modern society. We see the same thing in children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. Parents and teachers are identifying children who seem to lack focus and are unable to pay attention in the classroom may find their child stamped with a diagnosis and placed on calming drugs, like Ritalin. Of course, these same children who cannot pay attention in class can go home and play the same video game for hours. This is not a child with ADD or ADHD; this is just a kid that doesn’t behave at school (Levine 1). That is not a disease it is no more no less than a spoiled child who does not want to do school work. The diagnosis of autism, in certain cases, may also be inaccurate and adding to the inflated percentages we are seeing today.
There is one very controversial theory that seeks to explain the increased prevalence of autistic and mental illness diagnosis. This perspective claims that mental illness is a direct response to the pressures and stresses of life. Mental illness is a form of psychological rebellion. They claim that our modern world, its careers, entertainment, social demands, and day-to-day stresses are causing these mental “shutdowns.” They explain that life is no longer providing certain basic necessities that help to support healthy growth and development. They claim our societal institutions (Levine 1).
- Encourage passivity, as opposed to enthusiasm
- Manipulative and goal oriented relationships override personal relationships
- Encourage paranoia and isolation, as opposed to community and trust.
- Sense of helplessness, instead of empowerment
- Conformism over individuality
They offer that these aspects are the root contributors for the bulk of mental illness and general depression. That said they believe to compensate for this negative and unhealthy thoughts and emotions that predominate the modern world, the body has responded biologically and manifesting the negative side-effects of that modern world. While this argument has some support, as yet there is no definitive proof that this theory has any concrete basis in reality or the true story of autism and mental illness prevalence in the modern world.
The most realistic position is that it is not an increase in the presence of autism but a greater scientific acknowledgement of the condition and the ability to identify and diagnosis it (Insel 1).After all, since autism, can manifest in so many different forms that it can be difficult. Those who suffer from one of the most minor forms of autism, Apserger Syndrome, could be perceived as a minor “slowness” in their function and anxiety around people. In its severest form, such children, may require professional mental health care and monitoring on a regular and permanent basis. In the past is it any surprise that they did not recognize these two very different manifestations as being the same condition (Web MD 1). It is likely that many autism sufferers in the past were misdiagnosed as many different things, therefore making the prevalence difficult to ascertain whether the prevalence as increased, decreased, or simply remained the same.
As modern medicine grew in its depth and understanding the perspectives on “insanity” began to change. Now that there was a medical answer to the puzzle it became less necessary to attribute them to supernatural or divine forces. It could be explained. Unfortunately, autism is such a varied condition that it made it difficult to assign the diagnosis to and remains so today. It is very likely that autism, along with many other mental and neurological conditions and disorders have existed throughout the ages and in societies all across the globe (Web MD 1). The only difference is there is now a name for it. A good example might be to compare it to would be dyslexia. Many people, a large percentage, have been diagnosed with the disorder dyslexia, which cause the reader to see the written letters in the wrong order, or backwards. This can make it very difficult for that individual to read what is presented. However, we only acknowledge the presence of dyslexia in the “reading world.” However, there may have been many people, even more than today, who suffered from dyslexia, but because reading and writing did not exist yet, the condition went unnoticed. It is very likely that many conditions, like autism, only appeared to increase in prevalence because our ability to indentify it has also increased (Insel 1).
There is also another aspect that historically could make the instances of autism seem to be increasing in the modern era. For decades and still today, there is a stigma attached to any kind of mental illness. When someone may have been mentally ill, their families would simply hide that family member away to avoid such a social stigma. That said there is a whole percentage of children who may have suffered from autism, but due to social pressures no reports or treatments were ever sought. There are, also, the numbers of people who may intentionally fake mental illness or conditions that may allow them to get away with things others could not. A prime example is how Malcolm X, feigned mental illness, in order to avoid the military draft. This falsifying of mental illness can impede practical research and make identifying genuine conditions and illnesses all the harder (Levine 1). Over the last few decades the attitude toward mental illness and developmental conditions has changed. There is a greater encouragement to speak out and work towards treatment for autism has increased, therefore, in turn, so did the number of people willing to seek that help.
The reality is, is that autism is still a bit of a mystery, more and more light is shed every day, but as yet we are still learning about the conditions, what causes it, how it manifest, and how it can be treated is a continual pursuit in the medical communities. There have been many treatments, drug therapies, and behavioral approaches that are working to improve the lives of children who suffer from autism and their families who care for them (Web MD 1). However, what does not seem feasible is that autism is a new condition or something spawned from everything that is wrong with the modern world, It is more likely that it is more a matter of misdiagnosis, lack of diagnosis, or mistaken for non-medical cause, like possession. There are not more autistic children in the world today, it is just that they are not hidden away and are seeking medical interventions. There is also good reason to believe that there is a level of over diagnosis and over medicating of children who may not actually have any of the disorders that fall into the autistic spectrum (Levine 1). Autism, in the past, .like many conditions, were not tracked and calculated the way that they are today, this is what creates the idea that there are more instances of autism today than ever before; it is more a matter of perspective.
CONCLUSION
Human beings have always been curious and problem solvers. People have been trying to understand the workings of the body and how it functions and why it does not. We have come a long way from sickness is a curse or an act of God, but in fact a response of the body to internal or external stimuli. While our understandings of the body have improved by leaps and bounds, our understanding of how the brain and the mind works is still something of an enigma. In the case of autism, science is really just now starting to understand how to approach and treat individuals with all different levels of symptoms and behaviors present in this spectrum disorder. The mystery has not been solved, however, what does seem obvious, given the body of research, that the prevalence of autism has not increased with the modernizing of society, but was simply undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in the past and the potential of over-diagnosis in the present
WORK CITED
Insel, Rom. "Director’s Blog: Autism Prevalence: More Affected or More Detected?." National institute of Mental Health. (2012): 1. Print. <Director’s Blog: Autism Prevalence: More Affected or More Detected?>.
Levine, Bruce. "Why the Rise of Mental Illness? Pathologizing Normal, Adverse Drug Effects, and a Peculiar Rebellion." Mad in America. 31 Jul 2013: 1. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://www.madinamerica.com/2013/07/why-the-dramatic-rise-of-mental-illness-diseasing-normal-behaviors-drug-adverse-effects-and-a-peculiar-rebellion/>.
Pearson, Catherine. "Autism Rate Has Increased -- 1 In 68 Kids Now Identified With The Disorder." Huffington Pot. 27 Mar 2014: 1. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/autism-rate-1-in-68_n_5041858.html>.
Autism Speaks Organization, . "Autism’s Rising Prevalence: What Do The Numbers Mean?." Autism Speaks Organization. 2014: 1. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/autism’s-rising-prevalence-what-do-numbers-mean>.
Web MD, . " Autism Spectrum Disorders Health Center." Web MD. 2014: 1-11. Web. 5 Dec. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/mental-health-autism>.
