Autism Screening Tops Obama's
Medical To-Do List
Nancy Shute for US News and World Report. tiny.pl/vw7w
Autism tops Barack Obama's medical to-do list, according to the
new president's website. Whitehouse.gov launched at 12:01 pm
yesterday, even before the new president had taken his oath of office
on the Capitol's West Front. Autism is the only disorder or disease
mentioned explicitly in Obama's 24-point agenda. Heart disease and
cancer don't get the call. Neither does diabetes, or other chronic
diseases. But there are four hefty bullet points addressing autism.
Obama called for:
1. Increased funding for research, treatment, screenings, public
awareness and support services for autism spectrum disorders.
2. "Life-long services" for people with autism spectrum
disorders, as children and as adults. Many parents struggle to find
and pay for screening and treatments for their children, but there is
even less coverage and capacity for adults with autism-based
impairments 3. More funding for the 2006 Combating Autism Act, as well
as improving state and federal autism programs.
4. Universal screening for all infants for autism disorders, as
well as re-screening for all 2-year-olds. This is the biggie; children
are currently screened only if parents or pediatricians voice a
concern, so too many children aren't diagnosed until they enter
elementary school. The earlier treatment starts, the more effective it
is, and a national screening program would help reduce the number of
kids falling through the cracks. It would also be a huge undertaking,
at a time when both government and privately insured health care is
foundering.
That second bullet point would be a huge help for families who
are struggling to provide care. In a recent survey, 52 percent of
parents of children with autism said their family finances were
drained by treatment and care, compared to 13 percent of typical families.
The 2006 Combating Autism act promised almost $1 billion over
five years for autism research and development, but Congress hadn't
appropriated $200 million per year, even before the economy hit the
skids. The Obama manifesto gives a big fat hint that for autism, at
least, the hard times cited in the new president's inaugural address
won't mean big cuts in funding.
Still, universal screening for autism will be a huge challenge.
There's no blood test that can be used to diagnose autism, as there is
for hereditary diseases like galactosemia and sickle cell, which are
screened for using a heel stick while a newborn is still in the
hospital. With autism, parents and doctors instead need to observe a
child and look for delays in language, social interactions, and gross
motor skills. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends that pediatricians screen children during well-baby visits
at 9 months, 18 months, and 24 or 30 months. (Here's the CDC's page on
screening for autism.) But many doctors don't get around to doing
those screens, and until very recently the recommended tests weren't
sensitive enough to pick up mild autism spectrum disorders. Early
screening for autism is a terrific idea. Making it happen will be a
tall order, even for the can-do Obama team.
*** We have a foot in the door to propose additional legislation for
other causes in regards to ASD. ***
Michael E. Robinson, The Office of Autism Advocacy
www.officeofautisma dvocacy.com
