| Autism (say: aw -tih-zum) causes kids to | | | | sounds. |
| experience the world differently from | | | | Injures himself or herself or is |
| the way most other kids do. Kids who | | | | unafraid of danger. |
| have autism usually keep to themselves | | | | Has a flat facial expression or uses a |
| and many can't communicate without | | | | monotone voice. |
| special help. Although treatment has | | | | Doesn't understand hand gestures or body |
| improved greatly in the past few | | | | language. |
| decades, autism cannot be cured. It's | | | | Is very concerned with order, routine or |
| estimated that three to six of every | | | | ritual. |
| 1,000 children have autism. It persists | | | | Treatment of Autism |
| throughout life. Some believe this | | | | Therapists use highly structured and |
| increase is largely due to changed | | | | intensive skill-oriented training |
| diagnostic criteria and/or societal | | | | sessions to help children develop social |
| factors, while others think the reason | | | | and language skills. Family counseling |
| is environmental. Although the specific | | | | for the parents and siblings of children |
| causes of autism are unknown, there is a | | | | with autism often helps families cope |
| large database of links between autism | | | | with the particular challenges of living |
| and genetic loci that span every | | | | with an autistic child. |
| chromosome. Other ASDs include Asperger | | | | Doctors often prescribe an |
| syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood | | | | antidepressant medication to handle |
| disintegrative disorder, and pervasive | | | | symptoms of anxiety, depression, or |
| developmental disorder not otherwise | | | | obsessive-compulsive disorder. |
| specified (usually referred to as | | | | Anti-psychotic medications are used to |
| PDD-NOS). Some autistic children and | | | | treat severe behavioral problems. |
| adults are opposed to attempts to cure | | | | Seizures can be treated with one or more |
| autism, because they see autism as part | | | | of the anticonvulsant drugs. |
| of who they are, and in some cases they | | | | There are a number of controversial |
| perceive attempts of a cure to be | | | | therapies or interventions available for |
| intensive and unnatural. | | | | autistic children, but few, if any, are |
| Symptoms of Autism | | | | supported by scientific studies. Parents |
| Some Symptoms of Autism : | | | | should use caution before adopting any |
| Avoids cuddling or making eye contact. | | | | of these treatments. |
| Doesn't respond to voices or other | | | | |