anomaly / a . nom . a. ly / noun/  something different, abnormal, peculiar, deviating from the common rule

I hope that you find thinking about words and working with them as interesting as I do. This week’s word, anomaly, is one that I’m sure you’re familiar with. In our day anomalies abound both in the things that are “peculiar” and in those things that in their “deviation from the common rule” point out what is different from what we would expect. They are everyday happenings as well as  out-of-the ordinary occurrences that can’t be easily explained. This brings to mind something most of us have noticed recently regarding how public discourse in our society has deviated from the norm of conversational  etiquette. This certainly is something of a  puzzle, a modern anomaly that can’t be accounted for, at least, not by the older generation who knew a time when things were different.

Anomalies happen in science, in the financial markets, and very often in nature. For instance, in the work world, we find that people doing the same job often get different wages. Why is that? It goes against what we expect should happen.  Another example occurs when  two people sometimes look so much alike they could pass for twins, but they are not related at all. I know first-hand about this one because people often mistake me for someone they know and are stumped when they find that I am not the person or not remotely related to the person they know. And how about a doctor telling her patient that the analysis of the patient’s blood results shows an anomaly but there’s nothing to worry about. The doctor may be comfortable with such an explanation, but very likely it leaves the patient somewhat rattled.  I’m sure you have heard of the placebo effect. People can be “tricked” into believing that a certain treatment is effective. A placebo works, but scientists are still at a loss to tell why it does. And this well-known anomaly gets my attention. Left-handedness occurs in between 10 and 30 percent of the population, but what makes a person  left-handed? Nobody knows for sure.  A left-hander, I exhibit this anomaly–along with Leonardo da Vinci.

The world presents us with anomalies in almost every sphere of life. I wrote my memoir Mr. Michael: Journeying with My Special Son as the result of dealing with an anomaly–autism, which introduced into my life difference and deviation from the common rule as far as expectations for my child were concerned. Geneticist Lauren A. Weiss, Ph.D says that “in approximately 10% of patients, autism can be explained by genetic syndromes and known chromosomal anomalies.”  But she doesn’t have the answer to why some genes deviate from the norm and have a profound effect on a significant number of children in the population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 68 children in the U.S. is affected by autism–1 in 40 boys and 1 in 189 girls. The causes are believed to  be genetic and environmental, but isn’t it interesting that, according to researchers,  some of the same genetic changes associated with autism can also be found in people who do not have the disorder?

Because so many households are affected by autism, it is essential that autism awareness becomes a primary focus so that early intervention can take place. The problem is that some families go into denial, refusing to accept the result of this anomaly in their child. They tiptoe around the subject, sometimes refusing to discuss it. I wrote my book to help bring about awareness of the disorder and to motivate parents to accept what is and seek help for their child.

While I was preparing this post, I received an e-mail from a reader who said, “I just finished reading your book about Mr. Michael. I was excited by it.”  The person then went on to tell about someone she knows to whom she would like to give the book, but the family–well educated and bright–is in denial. I hope she will be able to share with them ideas learned from the book and create in them enlightened awareness of the condition and the wide range of help available to such parents today.

Spreading awareness is the best most of us can do as far as autism is concerned. I consider myself fortunate that I was able to embrace the situation right from the beginning.  My son had a condition that was an anomaly–which at the time had no name as far as I knew, but I set about providing him a safe, supportive  place in which to grow and reach his potential and to feel comfortable in the world. God has guided me along the journey with my special son, and the good news is that His help is available to all parents of children with autism.

Anomalies are part of the unexplainables in life, but we don’t have to be able to explain them. What we can do is adjust our focus and try to understand how best we can accommodate them. Awareness is the key.  I hope you will enlist in the effort to promote autism awareness.

Blessings,

Judith

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