Concept Map
The concept map we created for our COM 4250 class was a creative endeavor used to organize our thoughts and ideas. The goal was to "create a visual map/tale of how you are thinking about and might want to organize your topic." We were required to have a working definition, three topics, and sub-topics. We also had to find connections between all of our topics in order to make it flow. I chose to do my concept map as a blue puzzle, since blue is the color for Autism Speaks and the puzzle piece is the symbol of autism awareness.
Annotated Bibliography
The following authors address the possible causes of autism, including the research done on genetics and theories based on vaccinations/exposure to heavy metals.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2012).Concerns about autism. Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Autism/Index.html
Johnson, N. L., Giarelli, E., Lewis, C., & Rice, C. E. (2013). Genomics and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 45(1), 69-78. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2012.01483.x
The following authors discuss how autism is diagnosed, focusing specifically on the types of assessments that are used. They detail the pros and cons of each assessment and discuss the usage and accuracy of each one.
Matson, J., & Sipes, M. (2010). Methods of Early Diagnosis and Tracking for Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS). Journal Of Developmental & Physical Disabilities, 22(4), 343-358. doi:10.1007/s10882-009-9184-2
Chawarska, K., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2008). Autism spectrum disorder in infants and toddlers: Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
The following authors discuss methods of prevention and treatments for children with autism, including preventative treatments during pregnancy and treatment methods for toddlers.
Cohen, S. (2006). Targeting autism: What we know, don't know, and can do to help young children with autism spectrium disorders. (3rd ed.). Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.
Berry, R. J., Crider, K. S., & Marshalyn, Y. A. (2013). Periconceptional folic acid and risk of autism spectrum disorders. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 309(6), 611-613. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.198.
Other Sources
Emory genetics laboratory. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://genetics.emory.edu/egl/featuredtests/index.php/1641
How to prevent autism today. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.prevent-autism.org/
New gene screen flags autism risk in infant siblings. (2012, April 09). Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/new-gene-screen-flags-autism-risk-infant-siblings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (2012).Concerns about autism. Retrieved from website: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Autism/Index.html
- This webpage is published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under their “Vaccine Safety” section. It gives a brief overview of how autism is a growing epidemic in the United States, using facts from the CDC’s Autism Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. The article says that the CDC does not support the theory that vaccinations cause autism due to scientific research from many studies, including one from the Institute of Medicine. Since the CDC officially announced this stance on vaccinations and autism, many other resources have agreed that vaccinations are not a probable cause of autism. Despite the scientific research, many family members refuse to believe that vaccinations had nothing to do with their child’s developmental disorder.
Johnson, N. L., Giarelli, E., Lewis, C., & Rice, C. E. (2013). Genomics and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 45(1), 69-78. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2012.01483.x
- The authors of this article include two professors focused in nursing and health, a research manager who focuses on genetic alliances, and an epidemiologist from the National Center on Birth Defects and Development Disabilities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The purpose of this article is to discuss the research done on genetics and genomes in regard to autism and explain how that research may affect health care for that child. The article is intended for those who are in nursing or are caretakers for a child with autism. The authors of the article provide an extensive overview of autism and the research that’s being done, but their conclusion is that if genetics do cause autism, the process is extremely complex and will require extensive research. However, they mention that the new information that has surfaced regarding autism can help nurses and caretakers better support families affected by autism.
The following authors discuss how autism is diagnosed, focusing specifically on the types of assessments that are used. They detail the pros and cons of each assessment and discuss the usage and accuracy of each one.
Matson, J., & Sipes, M. (2010). Methods of Early Diagnosis and Tracking for Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS). Journal Of Developmental & Physical Disabilities, 22(4), 343-358. doi:10.1007/s10882-009-9184-2
- The main author of this article is Johnny Matson, a Professor and Distinguished Research Master in the Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University whose research specializes in people with intellectual disabilities and autism. The article focuses on early assessment methods, specifically behavioral tests that are given to children of varying ages. The article details 22 different scales that are used to diagnose autism; the fact that there are so many different scales enforces my belief that autism diagnoses are rarely 100% accurate. This article describes each scale, explaining where and how they are used.
Chawarska, K., Klin, A., & Volkmar, F. (2008). Autism spectrum disorder in infants and toddlers: Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.
- All three of the authors are professors at Yale University School of Medicine and focus mainly in child psychology. They wrote this book together to review the research that has been done on autism and explore recent concerns about autism diagnosis, assessment, and treatment. The book covers a variety of topics, ranging from assessments to treatments to support for families affected by autism. It offers an excellent comprehensive study of the topics that are important to someone treating or living with someone affected by the disorder. The parts used specifically for this were the three chapters that cover assessment. The book details diagnostic assessment, assessment of cognitive and adaptive skills, and communication development assessment. It offers insight on what assessments are most beneficial, which are most accurate, and how they compare and contrast with each other. It explains many of the same assessments found in the other articles I read, but it provides more detail regarding how autism is diagnosed.
The following authors discuss methods of prevention and treatments for children with autism, including preventative treatments during pregnancy and treatment methods for toddlers.
Cohen, S. (2006). Targeting autism: What we know, don't know, and can do to help young children with autism spectrium disorders. (3rd ed.). Berkeley and Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press.
- Dr. Shirley Cohen is a Professor in the Department of Special Education at Hunter College and has years of experience in researching autism and working with autistic children. She published the first version of Targeting Autism in 1998 and it is now in its third edition. The book is divided into three components: What is Autism, Treating Autism, and Looking for Cures, Recovery, and Better Lives. The book is packed with information for each part but also includes personal stories from Dr. Cohen, which sets it apart from the other sources used in my project. The section regarding treatments discusses Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) as a possible treatment but also discusses a number of other less conventional treatments, including medicine, diets, and auditory integration training. Unlike other sources that discuss treatments, this book discusses treatments that are proven and treatments that have not been tested, currently used or not currently used, and conventional and unconventional.
Berry, R. J., Crider, K. S., & Marshalyn, Y. A. (2013). Periconceptional folic acid and risk of autism spectrum disorders. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 309(6), 611-613. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.198.
- Robert Berry is an adjunct professor working in the Hubert Department of Global Health and Epidemiology. He has worked for the CDC in the division of Birth Defects and Development Disabilities. This article assesses possible prenatal factors that can increase autism or developmental disorders in unborn children, such as genetics or environmental exposure. Specifically, it focuses on a mother’s consumption of folic acid, which is a substance used in many prenatal vitamins. The article says that increased use of folic acid may result in decreased risk of autism and also prevent neural tube birth defects. This article is interesting because it offers new and exciting information for mothers who are trying to take preventative measures against developmental disorders. Although the intake of folic acids is not proven to completely prevent autism, it is a start to some exciting research and is reassuring to families affected by autism.
Other Sources
Emory genetics laboratory. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://genetics.emory.edu/egl/featuredtests/index.php/1641
How to prevent autism today. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.prevent-autism.org/
New gene screen flags autism risk in infant siblings. (2012, April 09). Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/new-gene-screen-flags-autism-risk-infant-siblings
Picture credits
(1) http://www.alphaxidelta.org/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Autism_Speaks&category=Philanthropyhttp://www.myaspergerschild.com/2008/10/autism-comprehensive-overview.html
(2) http://www.sheknows.com/sheknows-cares/articles/804624/the-official-dsm-ivtr-diagnostic-criteria-for-autistic-disorder
(3) http://www.zipheal.com/autism/autism-treatment/4485http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/what-every-parent-should-know-about-vaccines
(4) http://autism.about.com/b/2008/08/30/do-you-need-an-advanced-degree-to-understand-the-genetics-of-autism.htm
(5) http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/my_pregnancy_rebellion/
(6) http://www.buzzle.com/articles/autism-in-infants-and-toddlers.html
(7) http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/app/iautism-toddler-screening.html
(2) http://www.sheknows.com/sheknows-cares/articles/804624/the-official-dsm-ivtr-diagnostic-criteria-for-autistic-disorder
(3) http://www.zipheal.com/autism/autism-treatment/4485http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/what-every-parent-should-know-about-vaccines
(4) http://autism.about.com/b/2008/08/30/do-you-need-an-advanced-degree-to-understand-the-genetics-of-autism.htm
(5) http://www.salon.com/2012/04/11/my_pregnancy_rebellion/
(6) http://www.buzzle.com/articles/autism-in-infants-and-toddlers.html
(7) http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/app/iautism-toddler-screening.html
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