Autism breakthrough might not come from researchers

When I was young, the diagnosis of autism was relatively rare, less then one in 10,000 births. Today, it is the fastest-growing childhood medical condition. By some estimates, 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism. In some subsets of the general population, it might be even higher.

Autism is defined as an impaired ability to socially interact, and it may be linked to repetitive behavior. These traits are usually recognized by the parents before the child is 2 or 3 years old. Autism can be a severe and debilitating condition. It can also manifest in much milder forms.

Autistic children show less response to everyday social stimuli and it might appear that they want to be alone. Quite the contrary, most autistic children can form close contacts with family members and friends.

The cause of autism is unknown. Some believe the huge increase in cases is, in part, because it is more readily recognized today than in the past. I have my doubts. Physicians 40 years ago were as good at diagnosis as we are today -- maybe even better. They would not have missed 90 percent of autistic children.

There is some evidence, in select cases, that vaccines may play a role. Still others point to genetics, environment, nutrition and even Lyme disease.

Unfortunately, there are few proven medical therapies for autism. Besides behavioral, speech and occupational therapies, traditional medical treatment includes antidepressants, stimulants and even anti-psychotic medications. Many parents also have turned to nontraditional therapies.

If there is limited medical research on traditional medical therapies for autism, there is also limited research on nontraditional approaches. However, the anecdotal results from better nutrition, specific vitamins, martial art-based exercise and even hyperbaric oxygen are enough for parents to continue to search for answers.

One of the best resources for autism is the autism "community." Over the years, my experiences with the prostate and breast cancer communities of patients and their supporters taught me that a well-informed group offers more information, options and experiences than can be found in the traditional medical office alone.

One specific community, Autism One, is having a large conference May 21-25 at the Westin-O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont. Actress Jenny McCarthy, the keynote speaker, has a vested interest since she has a child with autism. For me, a unique aspect of this conference is a symposium specifically for physicians and clinicians on diagnosis and treatment options for autism. For more information, see www.autismone.org.

Medical breakthroughs do not always happen at the major research centers. Often they can be found in the ideas and experiences of those who are truly on the front lines. For autism, let's hope that some breakthroughs are brought to light next month at the Autism One conference.