Introduction
Autism is a disorder that is noticeable at a very tender age when the child is growing or upon birth (Osteen 3). However, it has raised argument whether the disorder is treatable or not and what causes the disorder. In this paper, we will review three literatures that have differing opinions on how to treat autism and how they view the disorder.
Autism by Caroline Fuentes
The book has been written by Caroline Fuentes who holds a B.A in Education and a specialized teacher in computers. In the first chapter of her book, she starts by defining what Autism is. She explains it as a developmental disorder which is persistent and further characterized by impairments in repetitive and restricted patterns, communication disorder, inability to interact socially and engage in stereotype activities and behaviors. She further says that it is usually detectable before a child reaches three years of age (Fuentes 1).
She further gives an argument that the condition might have been caused by different factors such as exposure to unfriendly environment or insult, brain damage and possible vaccine damage between 1-2 years and she bases her arguments on a report that had been released in 2004 (Fuentes 10). She discusses in detail the characteristics of autism in her Chapter five; like the inability to communicate effectively, lack of proper social interaction leading to withdrawal and isolation, and impairment on how the child generally behaves (Fuentes 17). She also gives tips on how to manage the change of behavior with a child who develops autism (Fuentes 25). In her argument, she states that children with autism do not respond to methods being administered to instill discipline and therefore advises that one needs to understand the characteristic change in the child and be able to learn his strengths and weaknesses.
She argues that the treatment of autism is through scientific proven medication that aids in controlling aggressive behaviors (Fuentes 29) and that Trisperidone (Risperdal) is the commonly used antipsychotic (Fuentes 30). She still argues that though it has some side effects like weight loss, dizziness and causing stiff muscles, it works well with autism. She also argues that studies on Zyprexa also known as Olanzapine to be used to treat autism has not been completed.
She further states that it has the same side effects like the Trisperidone but without stiffness in the muscles. She also names Seroquel, Clozapine as medications that are still being tested but not concluded (Fuentes 31). In her conclusion, she states that living arrangements of autism patients is more flexible than it was ages ago when most were placed in an institution. (Fuentes 144).
The Autism Matrix by Gil Eyal
The book has been written by Gil Eyal. In his introduction, he starts by stating how autism has become visible and the countless scientific reports on detecting, understanding and treating autism, letters to editor by aggrieved parties claiming to be reimbursed their monies by the insurers for autism treatment options (Eyal 1).
He also discusses the rise of therapies of autism and gives options of parents choosing a class for their child with autism and even availing them with headphones (Eyal 141). He is also of the opinion that in future, he should be able to analyze and describe all vital therapies that are currently in use to treat autism. In addition, he should be able to modify how autism is conceptualized, experienced or even diagnosed.
He however alerts the reader that the therapies available for treating autism have no origin (Eyal 142). The author does not mention the therapies and further fails to point out how these therapies he is talking about came up, as he argues were not discovered. It should be noted that the author does not discuss any scientific cure and claims that the disorder can not be treated but rather controlled. He associates himself by quoting the autism organizations who claim that there is nothing wrong with autism patients and that they do not need to be cured (Eyal 231).
A Typical Involvement of Frontostriatal Systems During Sensorimotor Control In Autism by Yukari Takarae et al
This article defines autism as a neurodevelopmental kind of disorder that involves dysmaturation of wide distributed systems in the brain (Takarae et al 1). They further add that patients with autism have eye movement abnormalities, a condition associated with the disorder (Takarae et al 3). They carried out a study to define the eye abnormalities that had been observed in previous laboratories studies. The study provided evidence that autism disturbed the neural system that supports the sensory processes leading to the eye movement disorder.
Conclusion
Autism is a disorder that affects growth and development of an individual from childhood. It is also clear from the literature reviews that each individual has their own personal beliefs in treating the disorder. While some believe that the scientific method of administering medicine can be used to treat the disorder, others believe in therapies, which is not scientific.
Works Cited
Eyal, Gil. The Autism Matrix. U.S.A: Polity Press, 2010. Print
Fuentes, Caroline. Autism. U.S.A: Lulu Publishers, 2007. Print.
Osteen, Mark. Autism and representation. New York: Routledge, 2007. Print.
Takarae, Yukari, et al. A Typical Involvement of Frontostriatal Systems During Sensorimotor Control In Autism. Psychiatry Res. 15; 156(2): 117–127. 2007.