What Is This Site For?

To Share INFORMATION

Ok, so you got the diagnoses: Your child, your little Johnny, your little Sally, little Sandile, little Thandi is AUTISTIC. But what does it mean? What do we do? How are things going to change?

Questions…

So Many Questions….

There is so much out there that you don’t know where to start.

What is Autism?

Autism is a different neurotype that includes differences in communication and reactions to sensory stimuli. Current statistics state that globally 1 in 68 children is diagnosed with Autism, 1 in 42(i) boys and 1 in 189-210 girls(i). In South African government hospitals, 10 new diagnoses are made every week and the Western Cape Department of Health estimates annual growth of 10-17%.

Due to recent changes to the DMS-5 (diagnostic manuals)(i), Autism is now part of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders classification. This includes Pervasive Developmental Disorder-not otherwise specified(i), Childhood disintegrative disorder(i) and Asperger Syndrome. However, due to continual research, Asperger Syndrome(i) may also soon be removed from the Spectrum list and become a condition on its own. Another condition with similar traits is Landau-Kleffner syndrome(i), Sensory processing disorder/ sensory integration dysfunction(i), Rett Syndrome(i), Fragile X Syndrome(i), Williams Syndrome(i) and Prader-Willi Syndrome(i). There is also a condition called PANS/PANDA(i) caused by the Strep virus that causes similar behaviours as those normally prescribed to people on the Spectrum.

Also, read here(i) and here(i) for more views on what Autism is.

Possible Causes

Research is ongoing and no single person or group has made definitive breakthroughs in what causes autism, what treatment is best and what therapy works best. Many believe that it could possibly be a combination of Epigenetics(i), Diathesis- Stress Theory(i), Auto-immune Dysfunction(i) and Environmental factors(i).

Video from NutritionFacts.org, Dr Michael Greger – Autism Playlist

Areas of Influence

Autistic people are affected in 3 ways: Language, Social and Behaviour. It is also important to add areas of Senses and Health.

In my opinion, it works something like this: If your Senses (Sensory) are overstimulated it affects the way you behave, and the way you behave affects your Social interaction and your Social interaction with your Language. And lastly your Health. Most people on the Spectrum also have co-morbidities(i) like Epilepsy, Bi-Polar Mood Disorder, Schizophrenia, Dyslexia, Depression, Anxiety, Compromised Immune systems, Muscular disorders, being blind or deaf, sleep problems, ADHD, Down Syndrome and Dyspraxia, to name but a few.