92 Olfaction and Autism
fragrances. Therefore, while we applaud the extensive attention given to
FASDs, we encourage more attention on other toxins. Such studies will be
mutually reinforcing, deepen our understanding of olfactory and other sensory
functioning, and promote greater public awareness of fragrance abuse, which,
unlike alcohol abuse, may be done by individuals who do not knowingly imbibe
or inhale substances that would damage them and their fetus. We further urge
that public health officials, and particularly obstetricians and gynecologists,
alert women who have conceived, or are attempting to do so, that alcohol,
tobacco, and synthetic fragrances are dangerous to their future offspring, and
that damage can take place even before they know they have conceived. When
one reviews the types of behavioral problems commonly ascribed to gesta-
tional exposure to alcohol, it is easy to think of persons diagnosed with ASDs:
poor adaptive abilities, inappropriate social interactions, weak communication
skills, depression, hyperactivity, conduct problems, and attention deficits.
Children on FASDs or ASDs have an increased likelihood of being unofficially
labeled or officially classified as delinquent, impulsive, disruptive, and to
perform poorly in structured academic settings.Summary and Conclusions
Evidence has suggested that atypical sensory and, particularly, olfactory
processing is present in many neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative
conditions, including ASDs, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, schizophrenia
and depression. This chapter has outlined the mechanisms of olfaction and the
organs and brain compartments involved in odor processing and suggested
the possible involvement of olfactory impairment in ASDs, underlining the
importance of olfactory evaluation in the clinical assessment of ASDs. Olfaction
deficits are not universally reported in ASD patients since ASD is a spectrum
and there is probably never going to be a biomarker or test that can clearly
diagnose an ASD in a perfect fashion.References
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