Newswise — Research about autism is growing, but not fast enough to keep up with the need. According to Michelle Rowe, Ph.D., professor of health services at Saint Joseph's University, one in 150 children in the United States has been diagnosed with autism, and every day the list of potential causes grows.
"Some of the alleged culprits are genetics, vaccines, emissions from burning fossil fuels, the use of the drug Pitocin during labor, food allergies, and poor nutrition, just to name a few," says Rowe." This long list of speculative causes can send even the most intelligent and reasonable parent into a frenzy of confusion, fear and mistrust."
Rowe describes the medical field around autism as a battleground, with scientists and physicians, pediatricians and parents, insurance companies and therapists, and schools and families, lining up on different sides.
"Respectful discussions are an important part of the scientific process and the exchange of information between all parties is critical to effective treatment," Rowe adds. "We need to remember that this is fundamentally about helping individuals with autism."
Rowe asserts that uncertainty and fear makes people less effective in helping those with autism to become the best they can be. As a biopsychologist who studies the role stress plays on one's ability to cope, she suggests more focus on therapeutic support and counseling services for families.
"Coping with autism is one of the most stressful experiences a parent can ever endure," she notes. "The statistic that 80 percent of marriages break up in couples of children with autism further supports this."
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