Re: Article - Many Questions Remain About Autism

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This article reminds me of the story about the blind man and the elephant.

Article - Many Questions Remain About Autism

Basic, but important article at News - UC mentioned. Please give your recommendation regarding this article by scrolling to the bottom of the page and selecting the appropriate number of stars (link provided). http://news./s/kcra/20060426/lo_kcra/3424496Thanks,_____Many Questions Remain About AutismAutism is the fastest-growing developmental disorder in the United States, now affecting one in every 166 children, yet there still many questions about its cause. Six pieces of artwork hang in the halls of the state Capitol in Sacramento to mark April as Autism Awareness Month.All of the artists have autism. Chalk, paint and pencil help convey what they are feeling. The variation in the art symbolizes the variations in the disorder.Autism is marked by problems with communication, social interaction and functional delays.Doctors and researchers at the University of California, M.I.N.D. Institute said autism is on the rise."Is this that more children are being referred and that we are better at diagnosing it, or is there an increase in the number of children who really do have autism?" Dr. Robin Hansen said.Are the causes genetic, environmental or both? Experts said the best way to find out is to study children who have symptoms of autism and compare them to children who do not."In order to do these types of studies, we have to have children who are the same age, in the same area, but who have typical development, so that we have a good comparison group," Hansen said.The M.I.N.D. Institute needs to enlist hundreds of children for its clinical studies. The hope is that families -- even those with normally-developing children -- will volunteer for a study.All the M.I.N.D. Institute studies are different. Some children will be interviewed, while others will be asked to give blood samples.