There has been research findings that indicate a connection between Autism and Lyme Disease. Currently, 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with Autism. Males seem to have a higher rate than females. In the early 1990’s there was a significant increase in the number of Autism cases in the United States. It is believed this is due to the education of parents and medical professionals in regards to Autism.

There is still no definite answer when it comes to the cause of Autism, but there are plenty of good theories. There is plenty of research that continues to take place relating to Autism and what the underlying factors of it are. The research that has been completed has allowed for good therapies to be implemented for successful treatment in many children with Autism.

Some of the research that has recently been done shows a link between Lyme Disease and the beginning of Autistic features to emerge. For those of you not familiar with Lyme Disease, it is the result of a bite from a tick. It can result in the body feeling achy, slurred speech, memory problems, and becoming very sensitive to sounds and lights.

It is important to seek immediate medical attention for Lyme Disease as it can be life threatening in the most severe cases. It can also result in the body slowly deteriorating over time. Most people respond well to antibiotics for successful treatment of Lyme Disease if it is diagnosed early on.

New research results indicate that 90% of children who suffer from Autism are also suffering from Lyme Disease. It is not believed that Lyme Disease is the cause of all Autism but it is a good indication that it does play a very significant role. It is believed Lyme Disease attacks the immune system making small children very susceptible to the affects of heavy metals and various environmental factors.

There is enough research to link Autism and Lyme Disease that the Lyme Induced Autism Foundation was established in 2006. The goal of the organization is to continue efforts for raising money so more conclusive research can be conducted. If you go back to my earlier mention of the increase in Autism cases being found in the 1990’s the number of cases of Lyme Disease were also on the rise during that period of time. Hopefully further research will provide use with enough information to find a cure for Autism.

If you found this information on Autism Research useful, you’ll also want to read about Increase In Autism.

The debate has been raging for years and has not died down.  There has been research upon more research and many parents of children with autism feel that the research is incomplete, inconclusive or just plain wrong.

When there are no distinct answers to the questions of how our child ended up with autism, as parents, we want answers.  The question is, how do we determine which answers are true?  There is no easy way to figure this out.

In the past, research was presented – initially by a researcher from the United Kingdom – stating that he had performed a huge multitude of tests on Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines and determined that they were the cause of autism.

Many parents were relieved to obtain an answer; however, they were frightened by the findings.  They decided not to have their children vaccinated any further and warned their friends and family not to do so either.

There have been several results because of this.  One result is that there is a higher incidence of Measles, Mumps and Rubella in many children who have not been vaccinated.  This has led to many clusters of outbreaks of the diseases – Measles, in particular – in schools throughout the country.  Another result has been that even with parents not using the MMR vaccines for their children the number of children with autism has gone up, not down. 

In addition, Andrew Wakefield, the researcher from the U.K. who originally blamed vaccines for autism, was later discredited by his research partner who was investigated and who admitted that Mr. Wakefield did unauthorized research including spinal taps, biopsies on intestines and scores of blood tests on numbers of children who were put under anesthesia without permission, and did other tests without permission, some leading to other health problems for some of the children.

The assistant also stated that Mr. Wakefield’s methods were faulty and that the reason for his stating that vaccines contaminated children was that the methods he used were not free from contamination and he was being paid one million dollars to prove that MMR vaccines caused autism.  At the same time as he was doing this research, he was trying to get his own separate vaccine approved.

He is currently charged with professional and medical misconduct and will go on trial shortly.  If he is found guilty, he may never practice medicine in the U.K. again.

More research is needed to determine this side of the facts.  In a new book called Autism’s False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine and the Search for a Cure by Dr. Paul A. Offit, some explanations are offered.  The book talks about the fact that science can be misinterpreted and talks about the issue of vaccines among other things. 

Though the author essentially feels that vaccines are safe and that any ingredients that may have caused autism in the past have been removed from them long ago, there is still some good information.  There are explanations that whether we agree with them or not, might make sense, and there are questions that are addressed that might give parents an “Aha!” moment, even if they don’t provide the entire answer to their autism questions.

If you are a parent of a child with autism, this is a book worth reading.  Even if you don’t agree with it, there are at least some logical points that could help lead to some real life answers.

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When you know someone with an autistic child, you may be wondering what are safe presents, and which ones you might want to skip. This will depend on the child, and a parent can probably tell you what is good and what is not. Many times clothes and loud toys are not a good idea, as you don’t know how they will respond to the textures or the noises associated with them. There are many times when books for autistic children are just the ticket, but you should remember that there are some that are better than others, and the reasons for this are quite simple.

One of the first things to consider when you want to buy books for autistic children is the material the book is made from. This might be something that would not be a consideration for a child without autism, but it is a matter of importance. Some children with autism love to tear paper. They will do this repeatedly. If you get them a book made with paper pages, they will probably rip it to shreds. Instead, find the large block books that are made from cardboard. They will not be able to rip these nearly as easily, though it is possible. If they chew on things, you might want to skip the cardboard as well and go for the types that are made of pliable plastic. Be careful not to choose the ones with squeaky inserts, as they might be sensitive to those noises.

When choosing a type of book, you may want to ask the parent what the child prefers. If the child loves to sit and hear stories, they would probably love to get books that are about children and animals. They may simply enjoy something that is full of pictures. These pictures can be about anything, but for most young children, pictures of other children, babies, or animals are popular. There are some that have a theme, such as space or farm, that can be used to teach association. When it comes to older children, you should ask the parent what to get. They know better than anyone what their child likes, and they also know the level of intellect. Some autistic children are highly intelligent, and they will need something to stimulate their mind.

There are also some books that are meant to help with socialization and language skills. Because many children have problems socializing, and often have communication problems (despite that fact that they might have an extensive vocabulary), these books can really help. There are books written and developed just for children with autism. These books for autistic children can help them understand their world a little better, and will also help them to understand others These books are also made for children who might have a sibling with autism, or if they have someone in their class with this condition. Understanding and knowledge go a long way towards helping these children adjust, and if siblings and classmates understand, they are less likely to pick on them and make them feel like they are different.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter for more information on choosing books for autistic children. In the newsletter you’ll also find out more about the signs and symptoms of autism.