| Autism is a pervasive development disorder, | | | | disorder. Some parents of children with |
| it affects the way a person communicates and | | | | autism suspected that there is a link between |
| relates to other people. Children affected by | | | | measles, mumps, rubella vaccine and autism, |
| this disorder have problems with the | | | | but there wasn't found any convincing |
| understanding of reality, interacting with | | | | evidence. |
| people, places, events, sounds and lights, | | | | |
| and they can also have problems with their | | | | Autism is a disorder that appears 4 times |
| imagination. | | | | more often in boys than in girls, and there |
| | | | are about 10 - 20 cases of autism to every |
| It is known that children affected by autism | | | | 10,000 people. |
| also have a limited range of interests, and | | | | |
| about 75% of them can have mental retardation | | | | In order to diagnose autism, if the symptoms |
| as well. | | | | are present, the doctor will perform a |
| | | | complete medical history and physical |
| The symptoms of autism usually appear before | | | | examination. Then, he will do some tests, |
| a child is 3 years old, and last all his | | | | like X-rays and blood tests, to find out if |
| life. These symptoms can vary, they can be | | | | the symptoms are caused by a physical |
| sometimes mild, or very severe. | | | | disorder. |
| | | | |
| There can appear difficulty with verbal | | | | If there isn't found a physical disorder, the |
| communication, the inability to take part to | | | | child is sent to a specialist in childhood |
| a conversation even when the child has the | | | | development disorders, trained to diagnose |
| ability to speak, difficulty to interact with | | | | and treat autism. The doctor analyzes the |
| people and with the surrounding reality, lack | | | | child's level of development, speech and |
| of imagination, inability to make friends and | | | | behavior, and often can ask the parents of |
| the preference to play alone. | | | | the child, or other adults that are familiar |
| | | | with him about the symptoms that they found. |
| We can also mention the preoccupation with | | | | |
| unusual objects or parts of objects, an | | | | At this moment there is no cure for autism, |
| unreasonable insistence on following routines | | | | but there is treatment that can reduce |
| in detail, difficulty with non-verbal | | | | undesirable behaviors, and allow relatively |
| communication and repetitive body movements | | | | normal development in the child. |
| or patterns of behavior (for example head | | | | |
| banging, flapping, spinning). | | | | Treatment can include medications in order to |
| | | | treat specific symptoms, like anxiety, |
| There exists a form of autism called | | | | hyperactivity and behavior that may result in |
| savantism, and those affected by this illness | | | | injury, there are also necessary therapies |
| have exceptional skills in specific areas | | | | that increase the child's functional |
| like music, art, numbers, and are able to | | | | abilities, and strategies for supporting |
| perform these skills without any practice. | | | | positive behavior. The special education is |
| | | | structured in order to satisfy the child's |
| A child could be suspected of autism, if he | | | | unique educational needs. |
| does not gesture, such as point or wave, does | | | | |
| not babble or coo by 12 months of age, does | | | | It is known that autism cannot be prevented |
| not say single words by 16 months, or does | | | | or cured. Early diagnosis and treatment is |
| not say two-word phrases on his own by 24 | | | | very important, in order to maximize the |
| months. Another sign of autism, a sign that | | | | ability to speak, learn and function. |
| can appear at any age is the loss of any | | | | |
| language and social skills. | | | | The severity of symptoms varies very much, |
| | | | and improves with intervention or as the |
| The cause of autism in not known, but there | | | | children age. Some people with autism are |
| are some possible factors that may lead to | | | | able to have a normal or almost normal life, |
| autism. Researchers believe that some people | | | | but it is known that many children with |
| can have a genetic predisposition to autism, | | | | autism do not develop enough functional and |
| it is possible that this condition to be | | | | communication skills to live independently as |
| passed on from parents to children. It is | | | | adults. |
| possible that in some children, environmental | | | | |
| factors to play a role too. | | | | Researchers are looking for genes that may |
| | | | increase the risk of autism, and are studying |
| There are also other theories that say that | | | | abnormalities of the brain that can cause |
| antibodies inappropriately produced by the | | | | autism. Other studies are looking after |
| body's immune system may attack the brain of | | | | possible biologic markers present at birth |
| children, causing autism. It was also said | | | | that may show a child has a risk for |
| that it is possible that children with autism | | | | developing autism, or are analyzing how |
| have abnormal timing of the growth of their | | | | different brain regions develop and function |
| brains. | | | | in relation to each other and how can the |
| | | | alteration of this relationship cause |
| It appeared the question if some vaccines can | | | | symptoms of autism. |
| cause autism or other kind of behavioral | | | | |