Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and repetitive behaviors. It can range very mild to very severe and occur in all ethnic, socioeconomic and age groups. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females. Some children with autism appear normal before age 1 or 2 and then suddenly “regress” and lose language or social skills they had previously gained.
Autism Facts & Statistics from The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention state that Autism now affects 1 in 88 American children. An estimated 1 out of 54 boys and 1 in 552 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disorder and yet the most underfunded. With early intervention children with autism do progress.
What causes autism? With much research done, we are beginning to see some answers. First and foremost, research shows that there is no one cause of autism. Over the last five years scientists have identified a number of rare genetic changes, or mutations, associated with autism. A small number of these are sufficient to cause autism but in most cases, however, it appears to be caused by a combination of risk and environmental factors that influence early brain development.
There is hope for families afflicted with Autism. Brain SPECT imaging is utilized in helping physicians diagnose and treat ASD. The SPECT scan can identify the parts of the brain that are generally believed to be involved in ASD disorder and determined whether they are working properly. Having this information, physicians can now correlate the patient’s clinical symptoms and arrive at a diagnosis that is supported by objective diagnostic evidence.
Our staff and physicians are here to help. We believe that we can offer additional strategies for understanding your brain’s current functioning through the use of SPECT imaging–a functional brain imaging modality. If you have questions and would like to learn more or schedule an appointment contact us at 1-800-315-5739.