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English Comp 111
Mary Ellen Kimbrue
English Comp 111
August 30, 2013

Reading Homework #1

1. Preview, read, re-read and annotate the essay by Hollingsworth (168-170.)

“Every day, we hear more and more about developmental disorders that afflict children in the United States, disorders that have been misunderstood, downplayed, or ignored.” Examples; ADD-Attention Deficit Disorder, ADHD-Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, OCD-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, to name a few of the disorders that Hollingsworth mentions.

“One health epidemic at the forefront of public consciousness is autism, a grain disorder that impairs a person’s ability to communicate, socialize and participate in group behavior.” In reading about autism, the diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. As stated in Wikpedia under Autism, [2] Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. [3] Some say that Autism has a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is unclear whether ASD is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants. [5] In rare cases, autism is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. [6] Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes, such as heavy metals, pesticides or childhood vaccines.

“Odds of a child becoming a top fashion designer: 1 in 7,000. Odds of a child being diagnosed with autism: 1 in 150.” This bold statement causes much concern for parents, partners or anyone else with young children creating over excessive need for not vaccinating, being germaphobic, among other crazy rituals. People tend to go overboard with trying to keep their children from just normal coughs and colds, let alone autism. This to me is like propaganda, scare tactics if you will.

“Like the pretty imagery in the

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