| Autism is the most characteristic condition | | | | |
| of the autistic spectrum disorders and is | | | | Autistic disorders can appear in mild to |
| defined by impaired social interaction, | | | | severe forms or be masked by other handicaps. |
| obsessive and narrow interests, repetitive | | | | Diagnose is not always easy and certain. The |
| actions and difficulties in verbal and | | | | clinical diagnose is established according to |
| nonverbal communication. Children with autism | | | | a list of the most characteristic signs. The |
| are mostly diagnosed at the age of 3 when | | | | group of symptoms orienting a specialist |
| they show symptoms of an increased | | | | towards diagnose of autism consists of |
| sensitivity to sound, light and touch and | | | | certain behavioral and physical changes. This |
| decreased sensation of pain. They avoid other | | | | group contains an impaired ability to make |
| children, resost cuddling, cannot understand | | | | connections with other children or begin and |
| other person's needs and feelings. | | | | sustain a conversation, the absence of |
| | | | imaginative social play methods, stereotyped |
| The exact causes of autism are not yet known | | | | and repetitive actions, limited interests, |
| to scientists but they tend to incriminate | | | | unusual language skills, obsessions regarding |
| for the occurrence of these disorders of both | | | | particular few objects and incapacity to |
| genetically and environmental factors. A | | | | accept certain rituals and routine changes. |
| series of genes on the chromosomes have been | | | | |
| identified to be connected to the causes of | | | | Doctors use questionnaires or other screening |
| autism. Also irregularities in certain brain | | | | instruments to evaluate the observations made |
| areas have been matched to these type of | | | | by parents or by both parents and doctors. |
| disorders. According to some particular | | | | Certain questions regarding behavior and |
| studies, an important trigger of autistic | | | | development are asked and related to obvious |
| disorders is a low level of neurotransmitters | | | | observations. A further evaluation when the |
| like serotonin in the brain tissues. The | | | | suspicion of autism persists must be |
| genes responsible for the growth and | | | | performed by a multidisciplinary team |
| interaction of the brain tissues and neurons | | | | consisting of neurologists, psychiatrist, |
| could be blamed for an abnormal intrauterine | | | | speech analyst and other professionals. A |
| development leading to later manifestations | | | | hearing evaluation must be completed in order |
| of some fetal life problems. | | | | to eliminate disorders caused by hearing |
| | | | difficulties. |
| Another theory of the parental practices | | | | |
| responsible for the apparition of autism is | | | | After the completion of the testing, the |
| still discussed and researched. All theories | | | | parents are informed about results and |
| regarding the cause of autism are still | | | | possible therapy methods. |
| preliminary and yet to be proven. | | | | |