Autism
Introduction:
My name is Widad Nasser and I am a Human Biology Major at Michigan State University. This website is designed to give a better understanding of autism from an anthropological point of view. Each page will explain autism through each theoretical approach of medical anthropology; Biological, ecological, ethnomedical, experiential, critical and applied. Examples from articles and trusted sites will be given to give you a better understanding of each approach.
I chose to analyze autism for a few reasons. Working towards a career in healthcare, I have come across many autistic individuals while volunteering in clinics. Also, autism is a growing illness and there are more and more cases of the autism spectrum and no cure has been found. This illness is not understood by society and my goal is to use the anthropological approach to make awareness for autism.
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by impaired social interactions, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism usually develops by the age of 3 and affects each individual differently. This illness has become the most commonly diagnosed childhood developmental disorder. According to statistics from the U. S Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism diagnoses are increasing at a rate 10 to 17 percent per year (National Institutes of Health, 2012). This is a great increase every year.
When studying an illness, it is very important to study not only the biological factors of the illness, but also the non-medical factors such as culture, environment, economics etc. The way an illness is viewed is different among different cultures. Understanding the culture and environmental influences to an illness can help you better understand causes and therefore implement the proper treatment. Although genetic defects are known to be the cause of autism, they are not the only contributor to the cause of the disorder. Environmental factors such as advanced parental age during conception, or maternal illness during pregnancy or even difficulties during birth (Autism Speaks, 2014).
Citations:
"Learning About Autism." National Human Genome Research Institute. October 22, 2012. Accessed August 10, 2014. http://www.genome.gov/25522099.
"What Is Autism?" Autism Speaks.2014. Accessed August 10, 2014. http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.
My name is Widad Nasser and I am a Human Biology Major at Michigan State University. This website is designed to give a better understanding of autism from an anthropological point of view. Each page will explain autism through each theoretical approach of medical anthropology; Biological, ecological, ethnomedical, experiential, critical and applied. Examples from articles and trusted sites will be given to give you a better understanding of each approach.
I chose to analyze autism for a few reasons. Working towards a career in healthcare, I have come across many autistic individuals while volunteering in clinics. Also, autism is a growing illness and there are more and more cases of the autism spectrum and no cure has been found. This illness is not understood by society and my goal is to use the anthropological approach to make awareness for autism.
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by impaired social interactions, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism usually develops by the age of 3 and affects each individual differently. This illness has become the most commonly diagnosed childhood developmental disorder. According to statistics from the U. S Department of Education and other governmental agencies, autism diagnoses are increasing at a rate 10 to 17 percent per year (National Institutes of Health, 2012). This is a great increase every year.
When studying an illness, it is very important to study not only the biological factors of the illness, but also the non-medical factors such as culture, environment, economics etc. The way an illness is viewed is different among different cultures. Understanding the culture and environmental influences to an illness can help you better understand causes and therefore implement the proper treatment. Although genetic defects are known to be the cause of autism, they are not the only contributor to the cause of the disorder. Environmental factors such as advanced parental age during conception, or maternal illness during pregnancy or even difficulties during birth (Autism Speaks, 2014).
Citations:
"Learning About Autism." National Human Genome Research Institute. October 22, 2012. Accessed August 10, 2014. http://www.genome.gov/25522099.
"What Is Autism?" Autism Speaks.2014. Accessed August 10, 2014. http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism.