What is Autism?

Answer:
Autism falls under the category of pervasive developmental disorders

(PDD), a group of five disorders characterized by the delay in the development of multiple basic functions.

Autism is a neurological disorder that results in a complex developmental disability. This disorder typically displays its self during the first three years of a child's life. Autism effects normal brain function. This effects social interaction and other social skills. Children and adults that have autism display a difficulty with both verbal and non-verbal communications with others, playing with others, and social interaction.

There are three areas of impairment that are significant in diagnosing autism.

The first is impaired reciprocal social interaction such as:

A poor use of body language and nonverbal communication with others, including eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures.

Lack of awareness of others feelings and the expression of their emotions.

Preferring to be alone. Aloofness.

Finding it difficult to make friendships with peers and generally having a hard time interacting with others.

Resists cuddling.

Lack of or abnormal social play.

Does not respond to verbal cues.

Secondly they will display impaired communication skills such as:

Delay in, or a complete lack of speech development.

If speech is actually developed, it will be poor in quality and understanding.

Difficulty expressing to others things that they want or need.

Showing signs of echolalia, or repeating words and phrases back when spoken to.

Difficulty in initiating or sustaining a conversation.

Poorly developed imaginary play.

A lack in the number of the interests, behaviors, and activities that others may have including:

Often insists on following the same routine and resisting any kind of change.

Sustained odd play.

Ritualistic or compulsive behaviors.

Body movements and gestures that are repetitive such as hand flapping and rocking.

Preoccupation or fascination with repetitive movements like spinning objects of turning a light switch off and on.

Narrow range of interests.

Although there is no cure nor no known way to prevent autism, research into the genetics of autism could reveal interventions that can correct errors in genetics before the signs and symptoms of autism develop.

Autism is growing at the alarming rate of 10 to 17 percent per year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The cases of autism could reach 4 million in the United States in the next decade at this rate.