Autism cases show increase

21 декабря, 2002
Barbara Bibbo' 12/21/2002 Autism is affecting an increasing number of children in the UAE, despite greater attention and new measures taken by the local authorities to stem the problem, said local experts. Gulf News via NewsEdge Corporation : Barbara Bibbo' 12/21/2002 Autism is affecting an increasing number of children in the UAE, despite greater attention and new measures taken by the local authorities to stem the problem, said local experts. The disability which about 10 years ago in the UK was affecting 10 children in 10,000, is today detected in 63 out of 10,000, and the trend in the UAE is likely to mimic the international increase. According to Dr Derrick Smith, psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia, currently visiting the UAE, the increase is not only due to higher awareness about autism which contributes to detecting a bigger number of cases, but to a probable increase in the spectrum of the risk factors which scientific researches are trying to bring to surface. Although the UAE has no official studies on the incidence of autism in the country, an increased number of cases has led to the opening of five new centres in the last two years, a local expert added. Dr Mowafaq Mustafa, Deputy Director of the Abu Dhabi Future Centre, which hosts some patients, said that increased attention by the UAE authorities is contributing to dispel the confusion and ignorance about the disability, which was prevalent just two years ago. "Many centres have been opened in the last two years to treat autistic patients, including the Sharjah and Dubai centres for Autism, the Abu Dhabi Red Crescent's centre, the Abu Dhabi Sheikha Shamsa's centre and the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone Centre. "Knowledge about the disease is increasing but more has to be done to help these patients, since behavioural treatment which is very long and expensive is to date the only effective way to stem the problem." Speaking on the sidelines of a conference on autism the two specialists said the UAE could have a number of cases which remain undetected, since the disability is easily misdiagnosed. The conference was sponsored by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and honourary president of the Future Centre. "Autistic children reveal a wide spectrum of symptoms including attention deficit, social interaction problems, communication difficulties, in some cases hyperactivity and delay in the motor skills." Dr Smith added: "The main cause is genetic, but many other factors can contribute to the disorder to reveal itself like exposure to radiations, viral infections during pregnancy, lack of oxygen during childbirth, meningitis, brain infection, and others. Nevertheless, in many cases the cause remains unknown." According to him detection of the disability is often delayed, because the symptoms are mistaken for bad social behaviour. Patients are blamed of abnormal social conduct or mental retardation and this jeopardises their capability of playing a role in society forever. "Early detection and intensive behavioural treatment can help the patients to run almost a normal life, although they will never recover completely. Behavioural therapy is very long and expensive, requiring a one to one interaction with a therapist and up to 40 hours a week exercise with the patients." Dr Smith, who is in the UAE on a special visit to promote awareness, also assessed some cases. He announced the preparation of a visit by some international experts to be in the UAE in February next year to continue the awareness campaign on the disability. Copyright 2002. All Rights Reserved. Financial Times Information Limited - Asia Africa Intelligence Wire <> << Copyright ©2002 Financial Times Limited, All Rights Reserved >>
Разделы
Новости