ADD AND AUTISM INCREASE! WHY?

ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder and Autism over the last decade or more has been on the rise.  Why!  No one has truly pinpointed exactly.  But you can bet it has a lot to do with the life style we all are engaged in, along with our past roots.  Yes! We can go back 50 or 60 years and study the great decay of highly basic morals and values of Grandma’s and Grandpa’s in our, so called, develop countries. Also the lack of vision and outlook by various governments added to this rise of unusual development in the populous.

 

    For over 24 years I worked with various young Students.  There was Public School in Boston, Special Programs dealing with Inner City Youth, a very decent program that worked with court referred juveniles.  Now, I don’t consider myself an expert or anything in this field, far from it.  However, I was a great observer and many of the young people I worked with displayed ADD and Autistic difficulties.  Many of these young men and women never received the help necessary for their success.  They were continually shuffled on to some other (unhopeful) institution.  To cope in their unpleasant environment, these young people normally rebelled or engaged in aggressive behavior.  Most of these individuals were very quick mentally and could have easily found success but the system had nothing in place to diagnose or train these young people.  Another factor was that parents also lacked education in the areas of ADD and Autism.  These children probably displayed observational symptoms early in childhood and could have been trained to function with their talent. I say talent because many times these students are very gifted.

                                          

As taken from the ADHD Health Center content on ASD and Causes provided by ADHDCentral.com

 
Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of disorders referred to as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The terms PDD and ASD are used interchangeably. They are a group of neurobiological disorders that affect a child’s ability to interact, communicate, relate, play, imagine, and learn. These disorders not only affect how the brain develops and works, but may also be related to immunological, gastrointestinal, and metabolic problems. Signs and symptoms are seen in early childhood. The term spectrum is important to understanding autism because of the wide range of intensity, symptoms and behaviors, types of disorders, and considerable individual variation. Children with ASD may have a striking lack of interest and ability to interact, limited ability to communicate, and show repetitive behaviors and distress over changes, as in the case of many with classic autism, or Autistic Disorder. On the other end of the spectrum are children with a high-functioning form of autism who may have unusual social, language, and play skills, as in Asperger Syndrome. The autism spectrum consists of the following disorders: Autistic Disorder or Classic Autism, Rett’s Disorder or Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Asperger’s Disorder or Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)
 

 

Causes
Brain Structures. Research using advanced imaging techniques shows there is a difference in the size of certain parts of the brain in children with ADHD compared to children who do not have ADHD. The areas showing change include:

The prefrontal cortex.The prefrontal cortex is located in the front of the brain. It is thought to be the brain’s command center. It regulates the brain’s ability to block certain responses. Numerous imaging studies have indicated that the prefrontal cortex of the brain in people with ADHD may be less active than in those without the disorder.
The caudate nucleus and the globus pallidus.The caudate nucleus and globus pallidus, located near the center of the brain, speed up or stop orders coming from the prefrontal cortex. A major 2002 study reported that it was smaller than average in young children with ADHD, but tended to normalize as children got older. Abnormalities in these areas may impair a person’s ability to stop certain actions, resulting in the impulsivity typical of people with ADHD.
The cerebellum.The cerebellum is the area above the brain stem. This area helps control muscle tone and balance, and synchronizes muscle activity. An important 2002 study reported that this area tends to be smaller in children with ADHD compared to those without the condition.
Brain Chemicals. Abnormal activity of certain brain chemicals in the prefrontal cortex may contribute to ADHD. The chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine are of special interest. Dopamine and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, that affect both mental and emotional functioning. They also play a role in the “reward response.” This response occurs when a person experiences pleasure in response to certain stimuli (such as food or love). Studies suggest that increased levels of the brain chemicals glutamate, glutamine, and GABA — collectively called Glx — interact with the pathways that transport dopamine and norepinephrine.

Nerve Pathways. Another area of interest is a network of nerves called the basal-ganglia thalamocortical pathways. Abnormalities along this neural route have been associated with ADHD, Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorders, all of which share certain symptoms.

As taken from AutismSpeaks.org
 

 What is Autism? An Overview
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.

My goal here is to introduce you to a couple of informative sites that could help anyone who may have ADD or Autism. Please go to Instant ADD Success and investigate thoroughly.  If you have family or friends whom you are aware of that might benefit, don’t hesitate, share this information.

PASS IT ON!

                                                                                                                                                
  *****************************************************************************