|
||
Did you realize that autism affects approximately 6 out of every 1000 people? Those numbers are actually staggering when you think about how much they have increased in the past several years. Even though autism can leave a person unable to deal with life at all, some people have a form of autism that allows them to live a life that is fairly normal. In fact, there are plenty of famous people with autism that you may not have ever realized had the disease.
One of the most famous people with autism, by today's standards, is Daryl Hannah. She is an actress in America that has played some very high profile roles in movies throughout her life. Some of these movies have included Blade Runner, Kill Bill and Splash. She was diagnosed as a child as having autism, or more specifically being borderline autistic and has been able to develop to the point where she can function in society quite regularly.
Also on the list of famous people with autism are many individuals that you may not recognize. They include names such as Christopher Knowles, Katherine McCarran, Sue Rubin and Robert Gango. These individuals all have different levels of autism and range in their abilities from actors and actresses to authors and high school basketball players. Some of them have even played autistic individuals in movies, even when they had no oral skills whatsoever.
It is also interesting to note that some of the famous people with autism actually are quite revered for their intellect. An individual who was not only an author and a poet but also revered as a philosopher was Tito Mukhopadhyay. It is true that some individuals with autism have a unique ability to be able to see through and recognize certain things that others may not recognize because they are obvious.
There are other names on the list of famous people with autism, many of them that you would never even recognize had a problem with the disease. It gives many of us hope that someday our own loved ones may be able to overcome their problems and live normal or even high-achiever life styles.
Becoming famous and successful despite having autism is extremely difficult and these exceptional individuals should be honored and looked to for inspiration. However, for everyone who has become famous there are hundreds, if not thousands, of others who have overcome autism and achieved personal success in their lives without most of us having ever heard of them. These people should be applauded as well.
As with any illness, disease, or disorder, there are a number of medicine options available to help control these symptoms. It is important to remember that none of these medications will "cure" autism; they simply help control some of the effects of the disorder. There are advantages and disadvantages to each drug, as they all have side effects as well as benefits. When choosing medicines to effectively treat autism, your doctor can make recommendations, but since autism is a disorder which varies from person to person, you should use drugs very carefully, watching to see how the body reacts to the treatments.
First, consider the safety of the drug. Some cannot be used in children or in people under a certain weight. Make sure the dosage is easy to understand and before you choose one medicine or another find out how it is administered (pills, injections, liquid, etc). This is important if you are not comfortable with certain methods, such as injecting yourself or your child. Also find out how safe the drug is to individuals who do not suffer from autism. If you have small children in the house, you'll want to be sure that the drug is not lethal if it gets into the wrong hands. Find out what to do in case this happens, just to be on the safe side.
Also consider the side effects of the drugs you are considering. While they may be very good at controlling aggression, responsiveness, hyperactivity, or other autistic tendencies, they may also cause sedation or other side effects such as nausea or dizziness. Weigh your options carefully before beginning one of these treatments, or you could find yourself with ten bottles of pills, each taken to counteract the side effects of another. Also remember that medications may have long-term effects. Will you or your child become dependent on the drug? Will you be tolerant? How else will it affect the body over time? These are all important questions to ask your doctor before beginning any medication.
You can research the many studies on these drugs at your local library or on the Internet. Publications such as journals and healthcare magazines are probably most current and most reliable, whereas you may get some altered information on the World Wide Web, so be careful about following advice you find without first consulting your doctor. He or she may also be able to provide you with literature about the medication options available for autistic patients. Do your researching on the many choices before making any decisions, and you'll be able to better control your health.