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