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ALL THE RIGHT FEELS

AuTiSTiC SPECTRuM

DiSoRDER

Having a child with autism is not just

By Dr Vasanthie Pillay, hard, it is life changing. The journey is
a paediatrician practising at
Netcare Sunninghill Hospital usually fraught with fear, frustration,

doubt and exhaustion.

T here is no definite cause AsD is characterised by varying published with false claims that the

degrees of the following:
of autism, however the
MMr vaccine was linked to autism

general outcome is improved

retracted and the authors discredited,
• Problems with verbal and nonverbal
when diagnosis is made • Difficulties in social interaction and, although it was eventually
early and appropriate interventions communication anxiety about MMr remained
are instituted. Creating awareness • repetitive behaviours and abnormal for a long while. Today, 20 years
later, adherence to recommended
about the signs and symptoms is
movements
1.2 GL MT
• Differences in sensory perception.
immunisation schedules is still highly
therefore of great importance and

FROM R134 900 incl. VAT FROM R185 000 incl. VAT the main focus of this article. Causes of autism Prevalence of autism
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What is autism?
Although there are no definite
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reported rates of autism have
Autism spectrum disorder (AsD) and
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a role, including the following:
the last few decades. It’s unclear
describe a group of complex disorders
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Asperger syndrome and Pervasive childbirth, for example infections such due to better awareness amongst
Developmental Disorder. Climate as rubella, prematurity, and exposure the public and increased reporting
change activist greta Thunberg is to toxins. by healthcare providers.
likely the most famous person with • genetics – the risk is higher if a sibling
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which manifests in childhood and • Advanced parental age – the risk with some reports suggesting
it describes individuals who may increases if either parent is over that AsD can be as much as 4
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Dealer address here: learn in ways that are different from • Vaccinations – some children seemed
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severely impaired. Therefore, the association between AsD and Africa, sub-saharan Africa has
Discover more at support they require may range childhood vaccinations, including the seen a more than 70% increase
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While stocks last. Mandatory insurances are excluded. Pictures shown are for illustrative purposes only.
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Retail o er valid until 30 April 2020. Suzukikyalami.co.za
Image used for illustrative purposes only. SuzukiAuto.co.za from minimal to extensive. MMr vaccine. In 1998, an article was in the number of children with
Waterfall Issue 4 2020 19