Autism: An Epidemic - Assignment Example

Autism: An Epidemic Autism: An Epidemic There are different causes for the increase in the prevalence of autism worth noting. For example, parental age is cited as a huge factor in the increase of autism cases. According to research, older parents have a likelihood of bearing children with the condition. This means up to 16 percent of autism prevalence result from old age. Another reason involves a decline in awareness of how autism affects a person especially children. Consequently, stakeholders act late in curbing the disorder (Oller & Oller, 2010).

Consumption of certain foodstuffs is equally contributing to the proliferation of autism cases because such foods have heavy metals, phenols, and solvents among others. Therefore, children are increasingly developing autism in cases where older parents have not been counseled on against giving birth. This results to risk factors that are often associated with prenatal stresses endangering birth for the parent. Alternatively, inability to control environmental agents results to birth defects that double the potentiality of autism in individuals.

In other words, lack of control and caution from responsible stakeholders such as the government and doctors increase the causes of autism cases amongst children (Olmsted & Blaxill, 2011). Overall, the blame is not only upon parents but the external environment that produces the individual suffering from the disorder. I do not think numbers have increased because of improved methods of identifying and diagnosing children with autism. Instead, it is the opposite because most people still lack proper understanding how autism affects its victims.

This is increased by postnatal environment that predisposes people to allergies and system abnormalities at an early age. On the other hand, according to research, a decline method of diagnosing early stages of autism is the main cause of the increase of disorder in numerous countries (Oller & Oller, 2010). Another leading reason involves the poor medication dispensed in hospitals to control the situation. It implies that there are environmental, genetic, and cultural reasons that also contribute to the alarming rise of autism in America and Canada.

Genetically, for instance, about 90 percent of autistic cases are largely influenced by social disabilities. Structural genetic variation, on the other hand, arise out of mutations especially the parental genome. This scenario is corroborated by environmental issues that include consuming particular foodstuffs that contain metals leading severe birth defects. As a result, exposures to substances that entail thalidomide or valproic acid that adversely affect the embryo while being affected by cultural values (Olmsted & Blaxill, 2011).

In that case, cultural values encompass values and customs that level favoritism in terms of proper medication. The most vital step to address the autism epidemic, first, involves increasing social awareness though consistent sensitization programs. These programs should be dispensed to both the stakeholders and the parents of the autistic kids to enable them have prior knowledge of controlling the disorder (Oller & Oller, 2010). Another step is to compel governments to sanction foodstuffs that contain dangerous metals such as misoprostol and nitrogen dioxide.

Consequently, brain development of young children will develop effectively to deter the encroachment of the syndrome particularly at an early age. ReferencesOller, J. & Oller, S. (2010). Autism: The Diagnosis, Treatment, & Etiology of the Undeniable Epidemic. New York, NY: SAGE. Olmsted, D. & Blaxill, M. (2011). The Age of Autism: Mercury, Medicine, and a Man-Made Epidemic. Mason, OH: Routledge.