What is Autism
Autism is known as a brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. It is characterized by social impairments, communication difficulties, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Although autism varies significantly in character and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group. Three to six children out of ever 1,000 have autism. Males are four times more likely to develop the disorder than females.
The most common symptom of autism is impaired social interaction. As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. An autistic baby may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement. Autistic children may also fail to respond to their names and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. Repetitive movements are also common, such as rocking and twirling, biting or head-banging.
The exact cause of autism is unknown. However, scientists link autism to abnormal chemical and hormone levels in the brain. These abnormalities suggest that autism could result from the disruption of normal brain development early in fetal development, which is caused by defected geneses that control brain growth and regulate brain cell communication.
Other studies suggest a genetic predisposition to autism, especially in identical twins. If one twin is affected with autism, there is a 90 percent chance that the other twin will be affected. Also, in families with one child with autism, the risk of a second child developing the disorder is 5 percent.
There is no cure for autism. The ideal treatment plan includes therapies and behavioral interventions designed to help specific symptoms. Highly structured skill-oriented training sessions are designed to help autistic children, and doctors are able to prescribe a few medications to treat symptoms such as anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
