What is Autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that limits learning and slows intellectual development. People with autism have great difficulty relating and responding to persons, events or objects. People who have mild autism have very limited interests. They may demonstrate some repetitive actions and a marked lack of sensitivity to other people. People who have more severe autism have difficulty listening to and communicating with others. Their interactions with people can be confusing or uncertain at best. They may have multiple repetitive behaviors, for example rocking and unusual hand movements, and can be highly resistant to change. Autisms cause is still unknown, however most researchers believe it has a biological basis which is probably genetic. It often is possible to diagnose autism before someone is two years old.
Autism is known as a complex developmental disability. Experts believe that Autism presents itself during the first three years of a person’s life. The condition is the result of a neurological disorder that has an effect on normal brain function, affecting development of the person’s communication and social interaction skills. People with autism have issues with non-verbal communication, a wide range of social interactions, and activities that include an element of play and/or banter. ASD stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder and can sometimes be referred to as Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In this text Autism and ASD mean the same. ASDs are any developmental disabilities that have been caused by a brain abnormality. A person with an ASD typically has difficulty with social and communication skills. A person with ASD will typically also prefer to stick to a set of behaviors and will resist any major (and many minor) changes to daily activities.
En Español | Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. Autism was first identified in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner of Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the same time, a German scientist, Dr. Hans Asperger, described a milder form of the disorder that is now known as Asperger Syndrome (read more). These two disorders are listed in the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual o
