McKenzie Fleeman
mdf001@marietta
Dr. Jennifer Stapel-Wax discussed advances in autism in the McDonough Auditorium as a part of the Krause Lecture Series on April 13.
Stapel-Wax is an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, the director of infant toddler clinical research operations, and the director of infant toddler community outreach care at Marcus Autism Center.
Stapel-Wax emphasized that autism seems to be increasing in prevalence and said we need to keep in mind that there have been a lot of changes in the diagnosis. Abroader continuum means that more individuals will fall somewhere on the continuum, and frequently, high functioning children are not diagnosed.
“We have a lot of adults saying ‘I think I have autism’,” Stapel-Wax said.
Stapel-Wax said that there are a lot of advantages when the diagnosis process is started early.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for autism at 18-24 months,” she said.
Despite this recommendation, there is a low uptake of the screening. Most parents opt for a wait-and-see approach. After diagnosis, between one-third and one-half of parents’ recall that they saw some sign before the child’s first birthday, whether it be that the child was struggling to develop language or displayed repetitive behaviors.
“A lot of parents think ‘he’s a boy, he will talk later’,” Stapel-Wax said.
The median age of diagnosis in United States middle class families is between 4 1/2 and 5 years. In rural areas the diagnosis occurs about a year later.
“We don’t have good community-based care,” Stapel-Wax said.
She said that if we spend money now, we can save money later. Autism is the fourth most expensive condition in the United States behind trauma, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The average lifetime cost per child is between $1.5 and $3 million.
Stapel-Wax has two major priorities: to reduce the age of diagnosis and improve access to early treatment. Her goals are to maximize the potential of children today and to make people realize that pediatricians are the first line of defense.
“We want to change the nature of autism for children tomorrow,” Stapel-Wax said.
Dr. Stapel-Wax takes a three-perspective approach to autism. First, she emphasizes the importance of information. If you know the signs early, diagnosis and treatment can start earlier. Second, routine screening with follow up questions are crucial. Third, practicing enhancement and making the technology accessible is very important.
“Children have to fall in love with the social world,” Stapel-Wax said.
Devin Brooker, a freshman health science major at Marietta College, recalls that the lecture was much more in depth than anything he has been exposed to in the classroom.
“I learned a lot more about autism than I ever did in high school,” Brooker said.
Sydney Gregory, a junior at Marietta College, related to the lecture on a personal level.
“The information was incredibly eye-opening for me,” Gregory said. “I have had a personal connection to autism for many years going back to my involvement with local Early Intervention programs, to having friends with autism, to my involvement with my sorority Alpha Xi Delta’s national philanthropy being Autism Speaks.”
Gregory says that she has learned a lot from real life experiences, but it is also nice to be reminded of the facts of autism and the current research advancements.
“It gives me hope for the future of individuals impacted by autism,” she said.
