About Autism
Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three
years of life. It is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning
of the brain, and occurs in approximately one out of every 88 births. Autism is
five times more prevalent in boys than girls and knows no racial, ethnic or social
boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the chance
of autism’s occurrence.
Autism is a brain disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, to reason,
and to interact with others. It is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals
differently and to varying degrees of severity, and it is often found in combination
with other disabilities. The three “autism spectrum disorders” are: Autistic Disorder,
Asperger’s Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified
(PDD-NOS). The other Pervasive Developmental Disorders which are less common are:
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett’s Disorder.
Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties with verbal and nonverbal
communication, social interactions and relationships, and leisure or play activities.
The disorder interferes with the ability to communicate with others or become independent
members of the community. Some individuals with autism may exhibit repeated body
movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to
objects, and resist any changes in routines. In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious
behavior may be present.
It is conservatively estimated that nearly 1.5 million people in the United States
today have some form of autism. It is the third most common developmental disability
- even more common than Down’s Syndrome. Yet the majority of the public, including
many professionals in the medical, educational and vocational fields, are still
unaware of how autism affects people, and how to work effectively with individuals
with autism.
What are the Symptoms of Autism?
Children with autism often appear relatively normal in their development until the
age of 18-30 months, when parents may notice delays in language, play, or social
interaction. Any of the following delays by themselves would not result in a diagnosis
of autism. Autism is a combination of developmental challenges. The following are
among those which may be affected by autism:
- Communication: language develops slowly or not at all; words may be used without attaching the usual meaning to them; gestures may be used instead of words; may have short attention spans.
- Social interaction: individual may spend time alone rather than with others; may show little interest in making friends; may be less responsive to social cues such as eye contact or smiles.
- Sensory Impairment: May be over-sensitive or under-responsive to pain, light, sound, smell or touch.
- Play: may demonstrate lack of spontaneous or imaginative play; may not imitate others’ actions; may not initiate pretend games.
- Behaviors: may be overactive or very passive; may throw frequent tantrums for no apparent reason; may become over-focused or absorbed with a single item, idea, or person; many demonstrate apparent lack of common sense; may display aggressive behavior or injure self.
There are great differences among people with autism. Some individuals may exhibit
only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions.
Some may have average to above average verbal, memory, or spatial skills but find
it difficult to be imaginative. Others may require intensive support to manage even
the basic tasks and needs of living day to day. Contrary to popular belief, many
children and adults with autism make eye contact, show affection, smile and laugh,
and show a variety of other emotions but to varying degrees.
What Causes Autism?
Although these is no single specific cause of autism, current research links autism to
biological and neurological differences in the brain, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans show abnormalities in the structure
and function of the brain and frontal lobe. In some families, there appears to be a pattern
of autism or related disabilities which suggests there may be a genetic basis to this disorder.
Several older theories about the cause of autism have now been proven false. Autism is
not a mental illness, and individuals with autism do not choose to behave differently.
Autism is not caused by bad parenting. Furthermore, no known psychological factors in the
development of the individual have been shown to cause autism.
How is Autism Diagnosed?
There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. Many professionals utilize a medical
diagnostic reference, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual now in its fourth edition (DSMIV-TR)
to diagnose the five Pervasive Developmental Disorders. Autism typically appears by age 3,
though diagnosis and intervention can and should begin earlier. In order to be diagnosed
accurately, an individual must be observed by professionals skilled in determining
communication, behavioral, and developmental levels. Ideally, an individual should be
evaluated by a multidisciplinary team which may include a neurologist, psychologist,
developmental pediatrician, speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, education
consultant, or other professional knowledgeable about autism.
However, because many of the behaviors associated with autism are shared by other disorders, a
doctor may complete various medical tests to rule out other possible causes. A brief observation
in a single setting cannot present a true picture of an individual’s abilities and behavior
patterns. At first glance, the person with autism may appear to have mental retardation, a
learning disability, or problems with hearing. However, it is important to distinguish autism
from other conditions, since an accurate diagnosis can provide the basis for building an appropriate
and effective educational, vocational, and treatment program.
Is there a Cure for Autism?
Our understanding of autism has grown tremendously since it was first described in 1943 by Leo
Kanner. There is currently no known cure for autism; however, we are finding better ways to understand
the disorder and help people cope with the various symptoms of the disability. Some of these
symptoms may lessen as the individual ages; others may disappear altogether. With appropriate
intervention, many of the behaviors associated with autism can be positively changed, even to the
point that the child or adult may appear to the untrained person to no longer have autism. The
majority of children and adults will, however, continue to exhibit some of the symptoms of autism to
some degree throughout their lives.
More Information
You can get more information on the symptoms and treatments for autism by visiting the official website of the Autism Society of America.