| The surprisingly high rate of the condition known as | | | | research focused in parts on environmental factors |
| autism is reported by Centers for Disease Control and | | | | too is good but of course an adequate funding is |
| Prevention to be one in 166 children. Most people find it | | | | necessary in order to reach any further in the search |
| even a bit scary, especially ones who have never | | | | of autism's actual cause. |
| been exposed to statistics or to anyone affected by | | | | Some of the projects for autism research concentrate |
| this condition. The lack of publicity on the problem | | | | their efforts on analyzing high-functioning autistic |
| causes troubles to autism research, as those research | | | | toddlers. As these children still can not speak well |
| funds are being diverted to other causes with much | | | | enough due to their early age, the tests they are given |
| bigger publicity as cancer and heart disease. We don't | | | | are non-verbal and are made with the use of a |
| try to say that those are not important, we just say | | | | computer. The age of the children which are chosen |
| that with such a high rate of people affected by | | | | for those tests is 18 months to 2 years as this is the |
| autism it should be considered a worthy cause too. | | | | age when the basis of everybody's character is |
| Despite the high number of affected children, their | | | | formed. The aim is to be studied how the information is |
| parents often complain about the lack of intensity in | | | | assimilated by autistic children and what is their |
| that research if any is done nowadays. Of the total | | | | development during these early years of their lives. |
| amount of the National Health Budget, which adds up | | | | Tests are also made with children who have autistic |
| to $30 million, the part that goes to autism research is | | | | brothers or sisters. Thus a comparison can be made |
| as tiny as two thirds of a percent, according to Mr. | | | | between an autistic child and his siblings provided that |
| Wright of Autism Speaks. And that is not at all enough, | | | | they have one and the same living conditions and are |
| according to the affected ones and their relatives. | | | | exposed to the same environmental conditions and |
| That foundation called Autism Speaks, is trying to raise | | | | stimuli. Unfortunately the chance for a child with an |
| research funds that most people hope will eventually | | | | autistic brother or sister to become autistic himself is |
| provide a cure for that disease. Such a cure for | | | | higher and this fact is used by researchers. What they |
| autism will not only help children escape their trapped | | | | want to do is to have a control group of children with |
| worlds but will help their families too. | | | | autistic siblings which to examine from the moment |
| At this time one of the most important factors that are | | | | they were born. Researchers hope that thus they can |
| being handled in autism research, is determining the | | | | gather a lot of useful information. |
| cause of that disease, because you first need to | | | | In spite of all the above mentioned efforts, there is a |
| know what causes that condition in order to be able to | | | | long way to be passed in order to find a cure. This |
| cure it. | | | | main aim can be only reached with doing much more |
| Although not many of the researchers believe it there | | | | researches that of course will require much bigger |
| are some who think that there is a relation between | | | | funding. |
| exposure to mercury and autism. Having the autism | | | | |