Paper Example on Comprehensive Review of Autism: Prevalence, Diagnosis and Prognosis

Introduction

According to the scientific review of mental health practice, the author argues that autism is a universal progressive disorder which is characterized by thoughtful shortfalls in language, social, and cognitive skills (Hebert, Sharp, & Gaudiano, 2002). There is a lack of certainty on the increase of the actual prevalence of autism, as well as the certainty that the regular diagnosis leads to more recognition of the disorder. In an argument, the author proposes that the diagnosis of the disorder is taken when the child is undergoing preschool, and it is relatively distressing news for the parents (Hebert, Sharp, & Gaudiano, 2002). In contrary to most conditions of mental retardation, autism appears normal, and that can cause the parents, caretakers, or the teachers to think that the disorder is normal.

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The author bases the arguments on MMR vaccination, which possibly causes autism. It is based on the concern that rubella as a component of the vaccine causes autism. The reported incidences of autism rapidly increased, and the incident corresponded to the increased use of MMR vaccine beginning from 1979 (Hebert, Sharp, & Gaudiano, 2002). The argument is based on scientific studies, for example, the analysis of California department of development services revealed an increase in the cases of autism by approximately 572 percent between 1980 and 1994, and a similar increase happened in the UK. More importantly, there would be no relevancy in questioning the objectivity of the author because incredible scientific-based studies support the argument.

The conclusion is based on scientifically gathered evidence. For instance, the author has used the report from analysis of the California department of development services. The evidence justifies the cause-effect of the conclusion because the scientific evidence supports the conclusion that the disorder is a manifestation of several brain problems that may occur as a result of the integration of genetic disposing of and the environmental insult.

Pokezwinski

Regarding the arguments of Pokezwinski, the preservatives in vaccines do not cause autism in children, but the elements which are found in the vaccine, particularly the rubella content of the vaccine (Pokezwinski, 2013). She argues that rubella causes the damage of the developing brain at the womb, and the vaccine is made from a fast-developing virus while asserting that autism is a neurological disorder. Therefore, it is the real reason for the increase in the disorder. Pokezwinski is not objecting the use of the vaccine, but she complains of the timing of the vaccines which are provided to the children.

The arguments of Pokezwinski are based on emotions and social experience of the disorder in her child, and therefore, the objectivity of her argument is questionable since it lacks scientific evidence to support her statements. Her conclusion is based on a personal story about what she experienced when her child got affected. The conclusion is not justifiable because she believes MMR vaccines do not cause autism and at the same time complaining on timing and not the vaccine. More significantly, the alternative explanation is that they should not be vaccinated before the age of two years.

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), autism is a progressive disability which is caused by the difference in brain functions (CDC, 2013). CDC argues that vaccines and autism are completely not related. For instance, the research by the Institute of Medicine revealed that on the vaccines which were given to both adults and children are very safe and does not cause any disorder. And the study by CDC also showed that the vaccines do not lead to autism (CDC, 2013). The author further argues that no vaccine ingredient can cause autism. For instance, the study was carried out on one ingredient called thimerosal, and it was found not to cause autism.

The argument of CDC is based on scientific studies like the study by the Institute of Medicine. The objectivity of the argument is questionable because the research is not wide but takes a narrow aspect, for example studying only one vaccine ingredient and not a range of variety. Therefore, the result is unreliable. The conclusion is unjustifiable because the research found that the amount of antigen from the vaccine was equal for both autism children and the children without the disorder. Some studies also included both adults and children instead of using only children.

More imperatively, the scientific review of mental health practice is based on scientific findings. The argument does not give any certainty to the cause of autism, but many researchers have revealed an increase in the occurrence of the disorder due to MMR vaccination. The scientific study helps in education by providing proper knowledge about specific instances. Pokezwinski's findings are based on the personal story and experience from her child. Without any scientific research, she argues that the vaccines do not cause autism, and she questions the timing of the vaccine. Her findings do not show any scientific proof, thereby rendering it inefficacy. Personal stories give social experience on different events; enable proactive measures in preparation of a possible event. CDC centered their argument on a narrow aspect of research, and the research is only appropriate when it is wider.

Part II

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a developmental disorder that is characterized by deficits and differences in cognitive, social, and social capabilities (CDC, 2015). Individuals with ASD often experience variation in the way they interact, learn, and communicate. There have been various debates concerning autism and vaccines. It has been established that different factors surrounding autism have become a fertile ground for pseudoscience where there have been overstated claims about the effectiveness of different intervention measures to curb autism. While Kanner (1946) argued that autism has a substantial biological component that disrupts conventional emotional contact, Bruno Bettelheim considered the most influential theorist, downplayed the arguments fronted by Kanner and he posited that "refrigerator" mothers cause autism (Herbert, Sharp, & Gaudiano, 2002). Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studies have pointed to the fact that there is no linkage between autism and vaccines (CDC, 2015). Furthermore, CDC research has focused on antigen numbers from vaccines during the early stages of life, and it has been proven that the total number of antigens from vaccines have not shown any variation between children with ASD and the ones who are free from ASD.

Pokezwinski's Experience

Cindy Pokezwinski is a mother of a young boy with autism, and she gives an insight into the relationship between autism and vaccines and more specifically the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine (Pokezwinski, 2013). Her theory regarding creates a substantial linkage between autism and vaccines. Her reasoning in supporting this linkage revolves around the experience of her son where she highlighted that her son after receiving MMR vaccine aged nineteen months, he changed forthwith where his social skills were heavily compromised despite having no regress in development (Pokezwinski, 2013). Evidentially, she pointed out that after her son received the MMR vaccine, he started to get terrorized by the noise coming from the vacuum despite being his favorite "toys" before the vaccination (Pokezwinski, 2013). Furthermore, clothing and food textures became constant irritants to him after the administration of the vaccine.

Pokezwinski argued that the increase in the high rates of autism is perhaps attributed to administering of MMR vaccine, which has rubella components known to be major cause damage to the developing brains of either fetus or infants (Pokezwinski, 2013). Despite appreciating the importance of vaccines in limiting the consequences of different diseases, Pokezwinski emphasized the timing of administering the MMR vaccine, and she highlighted that MMR should be given to children beyond the age of two years or even after a child has attained two and a half years (Pokezwinski, 2013). The credibility of this source of information is premised on the experience of Pokezwinski where she followed the changes that her child was undergoing and rubella has been positively identified to be the key trigger of autism in children. The implications would be widespread adoption of Pokezwinski argument that children should receive MMR vaccine after attaining two years.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC's stance about autism and vaccines is that there is no proven linkage between autism and vaccines. Institute of Medicine (IOM) report has indicated that vaccines administered to children and adults are majorly safe (CDC, 2015). The study by the CDC in 2013 indicated that vaccines do not cause ASD. The study focused on the number of antigens, which are substances contained in vaccines that strengthens the immune system, from vaccines during the immediate two years in children's life (CDC, 2015). It was established from the results that the total number of antigens from vaccines administered was similar between children with ASD and the ones who had no ASD.

The vaccine ingredient that has elicited great interest is thimerosal. It is a mercury-induced preservative that is used in preventing contamination of multiple doses of vaccines. Research has indicated that ASD is not caused by thimerosal (CDC, 2015). In 2004, the IOM's scientific review found that the collected evidence positively rejected the causal linkage between thimerosal-based vaccines and autism (CDC, 2015). Also, the results delinked the relationship between autism and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Before this period, thimerosal was partially removed from a considerable amount of children's vaccines to limit mercury exposure in children, and the studies later concluded that thimerosal was indeed harmless (CDC, 2015). The credibility of this source is anchored on high profile research and studies that were conducted by CDC, which debunked the notion that vaccines often cause autism. The implication would be that many parents would be motivated to subject their children to vaccines without fear that they would get ASD.

Psychoanalytic Theory and Candida Infection

It is instructive to note that psychoanalytic theory describes the relationship between parents and children. According to Bruno Bettelheim, he argued that autism is caused by the coldness and detachment depicted by mothers towards their children (Herbert et al., 2002). Despite the absence of notable scientific evidence, psychoanalytic theorists still posit that autism is caused by a dysfunctional relationship between mothers and their children. Concerning candida infection, it has been determined that an overgrowth of candida in the body often causes candidiasis infection. During the 1980s, there were reports that children with candidiasis often develop notable symptoms of autism and those who vouch for this theory posit that candida generates toxins that damage the body's immune system which increases chances of brain damage (Herbert et al., 2002). These theories gained prominence despite not being supported by empirical evidence because of the proponents' listed unsupported claims that the cold relationship between children and their mothers cause autism (Herbert et al., 2002). Also, the supporters of candida infection theory relied on the reports that toxins produced by candida cause brain damage.

However, there are some causes of autism that have been supported by scientific studies. The genetic disorder has b...